_With pa.s.sion._
Say it, say it! What am I?
MRS. BEELER.
Don"t be hurt, Rhoda, but--you have a wild nature. You are like your father. I remember when he used to drive over to see sister Jane, with his keen face and eagle eyes, behind his span of wild colts, I used to tremble for my gentle sister. You are just like him, or you used to be.
_Rhoda breaks away from her aunt, and takes her hat and cloak. Mrs.
Beeler rises with perturbation, and crosses to detain her._
What are you going to do?
RHODA.
I am going away--I _must_ go away.
_Martha enters from the hall._
MRS. BEELER.
_Speaks lower._
Promise me you won"t! Promise me!
MARTHA.
To look at that, now! Seein" you on your feet, Mary, gives me a new start every time.
MRS. BEELER.
_To Rhoda._
You promise?
_Rhoda bows her head as in a.s.sent._
MARTHA.
Doctor"s in the parlor. Shall I bring him in here?
MRS. BEELER.
No. I think I will rest awhile. He can come to my room.
_She walks unsteadily. The others try to help her, but she motions them back._
No. It"s so good to feel that I can walk alone!
MARTHA.
It does beat all!
MRS. BEELER.
I"ll just lie down on the couch. I want to go out, before dark, and speak to the people.
_Mr. Beeler enters from the kitchen and crosses to help his wife.
The others give place to him._
Oh Mat, our good days are coming back! I shall be strong and well for you again.
BEELER.
Yes, Mary. There will be nothing to separate us any more.
MRS. BEELER.
_Points at his books._
Not even--them?
_He goes to the alcove, takes the books from the shelf, raises the lid of the window-seat, and throws them in._
_Mrs. Beeler points to the pictures of Darwin and Spencer._
Nor them?
_He unpins the pictures, lays them upon the heap of books, and returns to her._
You don"t know how happy that makes me!
_They go out by the hall door, Martha, as she lowers the lid of the window-seat, points derisively at the heap._
MARTHA.
That"s a good riddance of bad rubbish!
_She comes to the table and continues packing the basket._
You"d better help me with this basket. Them folks will starve to death, if the neighborhood round don"t give "em a bite to eat.
_Rhoda fetches other articles from the cupboard._
I"d like to know what they think we are made of, with b.u.t.ter at twenty-five cents a pound and flour worth its weight in diamonds!
RHODA.
All the neighbors are helping, and none of them with our cause for thankfulness.