_Crimp._ Same here, Massa _Rob._ I'm obleeged to you. Golly! if I was only a white man, I'd jist go down dar, I would. Hi! I'd lay 'em out. I'd go for dem are fellars, like ole Jim, so (_butting_). But dey don't want no brack guards; oh, no! S'pect dey will, dough, glad to git 'em afore de war am ober; and, when de do, hi! Tumms Jeffsum Crimp am dare, he am. _Rob._ It strikes me, Crimp, you are rather monopolizing the conversation. Fall back, sir. _Crimp._ I'm obleeged to you, Massa Rob. I's dumb. (_Goes to window, and in dumb show pesters the imaginary_ JIM _by shaking his fist, throwing things out of the window, &c._) _Rob_ (L. C.). Yes, Gaylie, I am expecting daily orders to march. I only hope I shall have time to completely settle mother and Mattie in their new home. _Gaylie_ (R. C.). Their new home! what do you mean? _Rob._ The farm has been sold, Gaylie,—sold to-day, to satisfy the claim of Hosea Jenks. _Gaylie._ Sold! Why have I heard nothing of this? _Rob._ You must have known it. Pardon me: I see I have been mistaken. Your guardian— _Gaylie._ Has not written me a word concerning you; not a word have I heard of this. But 'tis not too late: the farm can and must be redeemed. Who is the purchaser? _Rob._ Your guardian, Wilder Rowell. _Gaylie._ He bought it? then it's all right. Dear, good fellow! he knew I could not desert you. That's just splendid! (_Enter hurriedly_, ROWELL, _door in_ F.) _Rowell._ Miss Gaylie, I have this moment heard of your arrival. Welcome home! (_Gives his hand._) _Gaylie_ (_eagerly shaking it_). A thousand, thousand thanks, Guardy: you have indeed made me welcome. So, sir, you have a surprise in store for me. Come, disclose it: I am all impatience. It's so splendid to be surprised, when you are all prepared for it! _Rowell._ A surprise? I do not understand. _Gaylie._ O Innocence! thy name is Wilder Rowell. But I know your secret. You have bought this farm. _Rowell._ Yes: a good piece of property, they say. _Gaylie._ Indeed it is! the very investment I should have proposed. Thank you for your thoughtful consideration. So it's my property? _Rowell._ No, it's my property. Not as your agent, but for myself, I bought this farm. I mean to settle down, and become a sober, plodding farmer, and, in time, take to myself a wife. (_Looks at_ ROB, _who is in_ L. _corner_.) _Gaylie._ Guardy, I _have_ been mistaken. But you will sell _me_ the farm. Come, you never yet refused me a request; and it is one of the dearest wishes I have, to possess this farm. _Rowell._ Sorry I cannot oblige you. But, for particular reasons, I would not sell this farm for ten times the money I gave for it. _Gaylie._ But you are turning from their dear home the best friends I have in the world.