(Aunt Rebecca sits in a brown study.)

AUNT REBECCA (as Lucy Belle nears the door, Left)

AUNT REBECCA

Lucy Belle—!

LUCY BELLE (pausing)

LUCY BELLE

Yas.

AUNT REBECCA

AUNT REBECCA

Who de fader ob Fanny?

LUCY BELLE

LUCY BELLE

Ed Cales. (Hesitatingly) Is-Israel is—is Jeff’s.

(Aunt Rebecca grunts and nods. Lucy Belle goes out, Left. Aunt Rebecca sits pondering for several moments and then begins to chant.)

AUNT REBECCA (chanting)

AUNT REBECCA

Um—a—um—a—um—a—um—a—um—a! Trouble in mah soul! Um—a—um—a—um—a—um—a—um—a—um—a—um—a! Trouble in mah soul! Um—a—um—a—um—a—um—a—um—a—um—a—um—a! Trouble in mah soul! Um—a—um—a—um—a—um—a—um—a—um—a!

(A knock sounds on the door, Back. Aunt Rebecca glances toward the door and gives an annoyed grunt. The knock sounds again. Aunt[28] Rebecca gets up, grumbling to herself, goes to the door and opens it. Lizzie Gibbs steps in. She is a large, voluptuous, mulatto woman. She has straight hair, high cheek bones, and large coarse features. Her manner is over-bearing and insolent.)

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