Mandy (excitedly). May de debbil carry me off, Miss Betty, if I ain’t tellin’ you de trufe. I don’ know where dose beads is. But I ’vises you to watch you’ aunt in de garden. If she finds dem——
Betty. True. I will be there to see. [Exit.
(Mandy wanders about the room in some excitement. She does a song and dance; anything appropriate to the period. Suddenly an idea strikes her. She goes to the hiding-place of the key, unlocks the cupboard, takes out the teapot and makes tea, drinks it with an exaggerated imitation of her mistress’ manner, looking about nervously all the time.)
Mandy. Dat am de stuff, sure. Missy drink tea, Mandy drink tea too. No one see me ’cept dat black witch-cat! He can’t tell. (Sound of the knocker.) Lawsy! Some one’s at de door! (She grabs the tea things and slams them into the cupboard, locks it and hides the key. She then exits at R. She returns with Mrs. S. and Mrs. C.) Please seat you’selves, ladies, while I tells Missy Boltwood you is here. [Exit at R.
Mrs. C. ’Tis best that friends should break her the unhappy news, not any chance comer. Think you not so?
Mrs. S. Truly. A privilege of friendship is to report the disagreeable. I wonder how she will relish such tidings? Stephen Ingram was always a near friend to her, though ’twould take a Solomon to tell whether she cared aught for him.
Enter Miss B.
Miss B. Good-afternoon, neighbors.
Mrs. C.
Mrs. S.}(together). Good-afternoon, Miss Boltwood.
Mrs. C. We trust we see you well and—and—of good fortitude. Mayhap you will need it.