Joe. It wasn't anything, Lydia.
Lydia. Here is what you want.
[She brings a large bound volume from the piano and places it upon his knees.]
Joe. Thank you. [Settling himself to draw.] Where is she, by the way?
Lydia. Out looking at the rose-hedge, where I cut a hole in it.
Joe. A hole in the sacred rose-hedge! Where did you suddenly get the courage? I've heard you talk about doing such things before, but you never really did them.
Lydia [timidly]. I don't know, Joe, where I got my courage. I think it's leaving me, too.
[She puts out her hand as if trying to detain some one.]
Joe [cheerfully]. Come stand by me. I have—I have a great deal of courage this morning.
[Lydia stands behind Joe and looks over his shoulder.]