KATE. [Rather tenderly.] I didn’t want you to call me Miss Kate,
Jim.

JIM.  Jes’ fun, you know—­an’ now, Kate, when you’re a woman, an’ it’s only nature for men to like you,—­I’ve got to ask you myself.

KATE. [Pause.] I’m awful sorry you did it, Jim.

JIM.  Sorry!

KATE.  Yes, because I like you well enough, Jim—­but—­[Pause.  Enter
JOE.  KATE stops.

JOE.  Say, Jim—­

JIM. [Motioning JOE to silence.] Go on, Kate—­I ain’t ashamed of it—­before Joe.

KATE.  That’s all there is to it—­I just like you.

JIM.  Well, I didn’t know—­you used to let me kiss you—­

KATE.  Yes, when I was coming home from school—­I did.  I thought I was going to love you then.  But there was the school. [Pauses] If I hadn’t gone to Lindenwood I might have thought so still.  But we could never be happy together, Jim—­you haven’t had proper advantages, I know, and it isn’t your fault.  My education has put the barrier between us.  Those four years at the Seminary—­

JOE. [Indignantly.] Why, Kate Vernon—­everything you know, Jim
Radburn—­

JIM. [Imperatively.] Hold on—­[Pause.] You’ve heard her say no, and—­that lets you out.  As far as I’m concerned—­why, Kate’s nearly right.  I don’t know any more’n the law allows—­but—­that’s for Kate to say—­

JIM extends his hand in appeal to KATE.  KATE turns her back to audience—­leans on anvil, firmly shakes her head “No," JIM motions silence to JOE; makes a struggle, and pulls himself together—­turns and kneels by dog, caressing it.

CURTAIN.

ACT III.

SCENE. Same as ACT I, but tidy.  Doors closed and lamp lighted.  Song in blacksmith shop before rise of curtain.

DISCOVERED. DAVE and LIZBETH playing checkers on home-made board. EM’LY and SAM looking on. JOE reading. KATE in walking dress looking out window. MRS. VERNON with glasses mending some garments.

JOE. [Annoyed by song—­frets.  Goes to the door.] Here, you boys—­don’t hang around that shop; go up in the square an’ sing.

MRS. VERNON.  What you sen’ ’em away fur?

JOE.  Oh, it’s one o’ them blamed “mother” songs.  Nobody ever sings anything about father—­except the “Old man’s drunk again,” or somethin’ like that.

DAVE.  Your move, Lizbeth.

LIZBETH. [Petulantly.] Don’t I know it?

SAM.  Move there.

DAVE.  Hold on, I can’t beat both of you.

LIZBETH.  Don’t tell me, Sam.  I’d a moved there anyway.  Come on, Dave.

KATE. [Solus.] A whole hour longer; I cannot wait.

MRS. VERNON.  What’s fretting you, Kate?

KATE.  Everything.