Ned. O, I’ll obey. But I shan’t sleep a wink. Mary, are you sure I’m not dreaming?
Mary. There’s my hand. When you ask it, it is yours.
Ned. (Places his arm around her waist, takes her hand and raises it to his lips.) Mine! heart and hand mine! No; I’m not dreaming. ’Tis a blessed reality.
Exeunt, R.
(Knock at door, C., then it opens, and Jarius sticks his head in.)
Jarius. Jes’ so. (Enters.) Nobody to hum, or all gone to roost, except Sally. That air female I jest seen through the kitchen winder a slashin’ away in the bread trough like all possessed. She’s a powerful gal—she is. Her washin’ don’t hang round long arter breakfast, I reckon. O, Sally, ef yeou only knew what a powerful drubbin’ was goin’ on behind my ribs on your account, you’d take pity and help a feller out somehow. Plague take it! She knows it well enough. Didn’t I start right off, a year ago, on her hint, and git my hair cropped so short that I couldn’t lay on a piller, and sneezed and snorted, and wore out handkerchers with the influenza? Didn’t I go and git measured for a new pair of boots, so tight that I hobbled all day and howled all night with aching toes? Didn’t I git fitted to a bran new coat, that bust up the back the fust time I wore it? Ef that ain’t showin’ off one’s love, I’d like to know it! But it’s no use. She won’t help a feller a bit. She knows every time I come I’m a burnin’ to ask her to be my wife. But I can’t say it. It gits jes’ so fur, and there it sticks. Sally, I love you. Four words. I’m blamed ef they ain’t a bigger load to git rid of than a Fourth er July oration! But it’s no use. It’s got to come. So, Jarius, don’t be a fool. Spit it out, and she’s yourn. I will, the minute I see her. I won’t wait for nothin’, but jest shout, Sally—(Enter Sally, L., with her hands and arms covered with flour.) Sh, sh! How do you do? (Shakes hands quickly.)
Sally. Law sakes, Mr. Jerden, you’ve caught me this time, sure enough! I’m up to my elbows in flour. So jest excuse me a minute. (Going, L.)
Jarius. No, hold on a minute, or I shall bust. Now’s the appointed time, Sally. Sally, I’ve got something particular to say—Sally—Sally—old Hopkins has got the yaller janders.
Sally. Wal, I declare! Is that the particular somethin’? (Going, L.)