Winthrop. If we were all in health, the delay would not matter so much. But when half our people are too sick to leave their beds, we long to give them some of the comforts they left in England.
[Knock on front door. Servant enters at left, and opens door. Enter Mrs. Garrett, who curtseys to the company. Exit Servant.]
Ah! Mistress Garrett! I was lamenting to Mistress Freeman that we had few English comforts for our sick, but I did not forget that we brought the best nurse in England with us!
Mrs. Garrett. Your Excellency is very kind. I could only wish that I might do more in all the homes where sickness has entered. I thought, however, that you might like to hear that Master Humphrey and his wife are much better of their fever. [Sits at center.]
Winthrop. I rejoice to hear such good news, and I trust that you can give as good an account of your other patients.
Mrs. Garrett. I would that I could, Your Excellency, but what with this biting cold and our poor victuals, it goes hard with them. Is there still no hope of the Lyon?
Winthrop. No immediate hope, madam, but I am expecting that we may be able to buy corn from the Narragansetts.
[Knock on the front door. Enter Servant at left, opens door to admit Dudley, Wilson, the Narragansett chief, and the young brave. Dudley and Wilson greet the company, and, with the Indians, come forward to right center of stage. Servant stands in background, at left of front door.]
Dudley. [To Winthrop.] We have brought the chief back with us, Your Excellency, as you directed, but he does not seem favorable to making a trade. However, we can but try. [Dudley and Wilson then endeavor to conduct the trade, in dumb show, as follows: Dudley beckons the chief over to the flour barrel, and indicates to him by gesture that it is empty. He and Wilson then go to the chest, and take from it several long and showy strings of beads, which they offer to the chief, suggesting by their motions that the Indians may have the beads if they will fill the barrel. The chief shakes his head. Both men urge him in vain for some time. Winthrop then takes a red blanket from the chest, approaches the chief, and offers it in similar fashion. Finally, after all three men have persisted in their offers for some time, both the chief and the young brave shake their heads decidedly, and by pointing to their own mouths and showing their empty hands, indicate that they themselves have not enough to eat. Upon this Winthrop lays down the blanket upon the table, and Dudley and Wilson cease their offers, in apparent despair. The Indians then file stolidly out of the front door, which is opened for them by the Servant. Exit Servant.]