I reckon she ain’—an’ dat’s w’at got me so worried. Yo see, she yere Sam talk so much ’bout me dat it make her crazy jealous. W’en he gwine ’way ter Atlanta, she figure dat ef he come back he mos’ likely come ter me fust. Leas’-ways dat w’at I think she figure. So she move ovah dere ter Carter Street, an’ take a house near me, wid de idea dat maybe she kin bus’ me an’ Sam up—ef he come back. I was married ter Ed Cales den—but aftah while I takes up wid Jeff—like I done tol’ yo’—an’ all de time she’s watchin’ me like a hawk widout me knowin’ it—.

AUNT REBECCA

AUNT REBECCA

Tryin’ ter git somefin’ on yo’—!

LUCY BELLE

LUCY BELLE

Sho’! An’ now—now dat she found out whar I live—an’ dat he’s back—she’s comin’ at me agin—!

AUNT REBECCA

AUNT REBECCA

Put de po-lice on her!

LUCY BELLE

LUCY BELLE

Den she boun’ ter tell Sam—an’ lie an’ blackguard on me wuss den evah—! Don’ yo’ see—? (Twining and intertwining her fingers and staring[27] into space with a distraught expression.) I don’ know w’at ter do!

[27]

(The children suddenly give vent to shouts and can be heard romping wildly in the room, off Left.)

LUCY BELLE (rising)

LUCY BELLE

Listen ter dem chillen—! (Moving toward, Left.) ’Scuse me while I puts dem ter bed.

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