E. (_looking round_). What! are they not here yet? I supposed they were
coming directly downstairs. However, I will sit down and await their
coming. Ah! there they are now.
(_MRS. A. and BLANCHE enter, L._)
MRS. A. (_coming forward_). I didn’t know you had arrived, Eunice. I have
just returned from—
E. (_interrupting her by advancing and throwing her arms around her
neck_). Why, haow d’ye do, Aunt Tildy? I’m proper glad to see ye. (_MRS.
A. withdraws from the embrace with a disgusted expression of countenance,
and smooths down her collar, which was disarranged by it. E. advances to
BLANCHE, who, fearing a like salutation, takes a step backward, and holds
out the tips of her fingers to her cousin. E. grasps them vigorously,
and, stepping forward, bestows a loud kiss upon her cousin’s cheek.
BLANCHE, with a slight frown, takes her handkerchief and wipes it off._)
How d’ye do, Cousin Blanche? I’m dreadful tickled to meet ye.
B. (_smiling_). And I am glad to make your acquaintance, Eunice. When did
you leave home?
E. Day before yesterday.
MRS. A. You must be quite fatigued (_E. stares_)—tired, perhaps I should
say—with your journey.
E. No; I aint tired a mite.
B. Were you ever in the city before?
E. I guess not. I don’t remember it if I was. It looks queer enough to
see the houses crowded so thick together. And I haven’t seen a barn since
I came. I suppose, though, they’re all in back of the houses; but then I
don’t see how folks get their caows in and out. I s’pose they pastur’ ’em
on the common.
B. Oh, no, they wouldn’t be allowed in any of the parks. It is too
thickly settled here for any one to keep cows.
E. You don’t mean to say that you have to buy all your butter! It must
cost a sight. Why, if I’d a’ known it, I’d have brought you a mess. We
churned the day before I came away, and the butter came tip-top.
(_MRS. A. quietly leaves the room, R._)
E. (_noticing her aunt’s exit_). I s’pose your mother’s gone out to get
tea. If you want to help her, don’t let me hinder you. And if there’s
anything that I can do, jest let me know, for I’d just as lieves help as
not.
B. Thank you, but there’s no need. We leave that for the servants.
E. How many helps do you keep?
B. There are four, I believe.
E. And how many have you in family?
B. (_smiling_). Four persons.
E. (_in assumed amazement_). Well, that beats all that ever I heard. What
do they all do?
B. We have a cook, housemaid, chambermaid, and seamstress, and they all
seem to find enough to occupy their time.
(_Bell rings._)
E. What’s that bell for?
B. (_rising_). That is to call us to dinner.
E. (_rising_). What, dinner at six o’clock! At home we have dinner at
twelve, and supper at five. And you ought to see our bell! Why, you can
hear it most half a mile. We have it to call the men from the field to
their meals.
(_Exeunt, R. Curtain falls._)