_Pete._ What's de use of your takin' it kind, and comfortin' de missus heart, if Minnie dere, and Louise, and Marie, and Julie is to spile it? _Minnie._ We won't, Pete; we won't. _Pete._ [_To the men._] Dar, do ye hear dat, ye mis'able darkies, dem gals is worth a boat load of kinder men dem is. Cum, for de pride of de family, let every darky look his best for the judge's sake--dat ole man so good to us, and dat ole woman--so dem strangers from New Orleans shall say, Dem's happy darkies, dem's a fine set of niggars; every one say when he's sold, "Lor' bless dis yer family I'm gwine out of, and send me as good a home." _Omnes._ We'll do it, Pete; we'll do it. _Pete._ Hush! hark! I tell ye dar's somebody in dar. Who is it? _Grace._ It's Missy Zoe. See! see! _Pete._ Come along; she har what we say, and she's cryin' for us. None o' ye ign'rant niggars could cry for yerselves like dat. Come here quite; now quite. [_Exit_ Pete _and all the_ Negroes, _slowly,_ R. U. E. _Enter_ Zoe [_supposed to have overheard the last scene_], L. U. E. _Zoe._ O! must I learn from these poor wretches how much I owed, how I ought to pay the debt? Have I slept upon the benefits I received, and never saw, never felt, never knew that I was forgetful and ungrateful? O, my father! my dear, dear father! forgive your poor child. You made her life too happy, and now these tears will be. Let me hide them till I teach my heart. O, my--my heart! [Exit, with a low, wailing, suffocating cry, L. U. E. _Enter_ M'Closky, Lafouche, Jackson, Sunnyslde, _and_ Pointdexter, R. U. E. _Point._ [_Looking at watch._] Come, the hour is past. I think we may begin business. Where is Mr. Scudder? Jackson, I want to get to Ophelensis to-night. _Enter_ Dora, R. _Dora._ Father, come here. _Sunny._ Why, Dora, what's the matter? Your eyes are red. _Dora._ Are they? thank you. I don't care, they were blue this morning, but it don't signify now. _Sunny._ My darling! who has been teasing you? _Dora._ Never mind. I want you to buy Terrebonne. _Sunny._ Buy Terrebonne! What for? _Dora._ No matter--buy it! _Sunny._ It will cost me all I'm worth. This is folly, Dora. _Dora._ Is my plantation at Comptableau worth this? _Sunny._ Nearly--perhaps. _Dora._ Sell it, then, and buy this. _Sunny._ Are you mad, my love? _Dora._ Do you want me to stop here and bid for it? _Sunny._ Good gracious! no. _Dora._ Then I'll do it, if you don't. _Sunny._ I will! I will! But for Heaven's sake go--here comes the crowd. [_Exit_ Dora, L. U. E.] What on earth does that child mean or want? _Enter_ Scudder, George, Ratts, Caillou, Pete, Grace, Minnie, _and all the Negroes. A large table is in the_ C., _at back._ Pointdexter mounts the table with his hammer, his Clerk sits at his feet. The Negro mounts the table from behind_ C. _The Company sit._