John—When we come home he says: “What have you seen and heard today?” He never asks, “What have you said?”
Kate—He trusts you?
John—Undoubtedly. Sometimes we say, “We saw a hawk flying,” or, “A badger passed,” and sometimes we bring him the best treat of all——
Kate—Well?
John—Something dead.
Kate—Dead?
Henry—Anything that has destroyed the crops—a mole—a field-mouse.
Kate—And never anything that’s harmless?
John—Never.
Kate—Well, see here, I’ll give you those letters. Suddenly my heart says to me, “Kate, give the oxen the rope, they won’t run away.”—Isn’t it so? Very well, I put my hand on a certain package and all is over—I’m about to be married, you know. [She has risen and gone over to a little box standing on the desk. Out from this she takes a package of letters tied with a red ribbon. She turns and walks straight up to John.] I’ll give them to you. You are the youngest, the gentlest, and you have the nicest hands. [She sits down, breathing with difficulty.]