VIOLA: I'm not surprised at your embarrassment. The idea of making love to our colored cook the minute my back is turned.
CHARLIE: If you'll just let me explain—
VIOLA: Explain nothing. I'm going to tell my father how you've insulted me. He doesn't like you, anyhow, and if he ever catches you on the premises, your life won't be worth 23 cents in Confederate money. (VIOLA exits into house.)
CHARLIE: Ain't she the exasperating creature! I declare, she's made me so peevish, I could crush a grape. The idea of telling me her father doesn't like me. Why shouldn't he like me? (ARTHUR MAYNARD appears in back-ground unnoticed by CHARLIE.) But, anyhow, I'm not afraid of her father. Why, if he were to stand before me right at this moment, I'd—
MAYNARD: (Stepping suddenly to the front.) Well, what would you do?
CHARLIE: I'd run like the devil. (Runs off stage at R.)
MAYNARD: I'm going to keep that disgusting fellow off the premises if I have to notify the dog-catcher. (Notices pedestal.) Ever since a tornado knocked that statue off its pedestal, this garden has looked rather bare, so I've put an advertisement into the newspaper, offering five hundred dollars for a suitable statue to take its place.
(Mrs. Wilson enters from R. and coughs gently to attract MR.
MAYNARD'S attention.)
MAYNARD: (Turning around.) Why, Mrs. Wilson!
MRS. WILSON: Good morning, Mr. Maynard!