[MARY fills the kettle with water and puts it on the stove; closes
the door back; takes the lantern from the wall, tries twice before she
succeeds in blowing it out. Puts the lantern on the table before the
cubby-hole. Drags herself up the stairs, pausing a moment on the top
step for breath before she disappears from sight. There is a silence.
Then the door back is opened a trifle and a man's hand is seen.
Cautiously the door is opened wide, and a young NORTHERN SOLDIER is
silhouetted on the threshold. He wears a dirty uniform and has a bloody
bandage tied about his head. He is wounded, sick, and exhausted. He
stands at the door a moment, listening intently; then hastily crosses
to the centre table looking for food. He bumps against the chair and
mutters an oath. Finding nothing on the table, he moves toward the
cupboard. Suddenly the galloping of horses is heard in the distance. The
NORTHERNER starts; then rushes to the window nearer the audience. For a
moment the sound ceases, then it begins again, growing gradually louder
and louder. The NORTHERNER hurries through the door left. Horses and
voices are heard, in the yard, and almost immediately heavy thundering
knocks sound on the door back. A racket is heard above stairs. The
knockers on the door grow impatient, and push the door open. A large,
powerful SOUTHERN SERGEANT and a smaller, more youthful TROOPER of
the same army enter. At the same time, THADDEUS appears on the stairs,
carrying a candle.]
SERGEANT [to THADDEUS; not unkindly]. Sorry, my friend, but you were so
darn slow 'bout openin' the door, that we had to walk in. Has there been
a Northern soldier round here to-day?
THADDEUS [timidly]. I ain't seed one.
SERGEANT. Have you been here all day?
THADDEUS. I ain't stirred from the place.
SERGEANT. Call the rest of your family down.
THADDEUS. My wife's all there is. [Goes to foot of stairs, and calls
loudly and excitedly.] Mary! Mary! Come down right off.
SERGEANT. You better not lie to me or it'll go tough with you.
THADDEUS. I swear I ain't seed no one.
[MARY comes downstairs slowly. She is all atremble.]