Dorothy (frigidly). Go on, Jennie.
Jennie. Just then the front-door bell rings and Mr. Barlow comes,
and there wasn't no more importunity for me to speak; but when I got
down-stairs into the kitchen, mum, Mr. Hicks he comes in, an' (sobs)--
an' I breaks with him.
Yardsley. You've broken with Hicks for me?
Jennie. Yes, I have--but I wouldn't never have done it if I'd known--
boo-hoo--as how you'd behave this way an' deny ever havin' said a
word. I--I--I 1-lo-love Mr. Hicks, an'--I--I hate you--and I wish
I'd let him come up and kill you, as he said he would.
Dorothy. Jennie! Jennie! be calm! Where is Hicks now?
Yardsley. That's so. Where is Hicks? I want to see him.
Jennie. Never fear for that. You'll see him. He's layin' for you
outside. An' that, Miss Dorothy, is why--I was a-wavin' at him an'
sayin' "pst" to him. I wanted to warn him, mum, of his danger, mum,
because Hicks is very vi'lent, and he told me in so many words as how
he was a-goin' to _do--him--up_.
Barlow. You'd better inform Mr. Hicks, Jennie, that Mr. Yardsley is
already done up.
Yardsley. Do me up, eh? Well, I like that. I'm not afraid of any
coachman in creation as long as he's off the box. I'll go see him at
once.
Dorothy. No--no--no. Don't, Mr. Yardsley; don't, I beg of you. I
don't want to have any scene between you.
Yardsley (heroically). What if he succeeds? I don't care. As
Barlow says, I'm done up as it is. I don't want to live after this.
What's the use. Everything's lost.
Barlow (dryly). Jennie hasn't thrown you over yet.
Jennie (sniffing airily). Yes, she has, too. I wouldn't marry him
now for all the world--an'--and I've lost--lost Hicks. (Weeps.) Him
as was so brave, an' looks so fine in livery!