WILL.  Just a word.  Is it settled?

LAURA. [Impatiently.] I said I didn’t know.  I would know to-day—­that’s what I’m waiting for.  Oh, I don’t see why he doesn’t come. [WILL turns up to seat looking over Pass.

WILL. [Pointing up the Pass.] Is that the fellow coming up here?

LAURA. [Quickly running toward the balustrade of seat, saying as she goes:] Where? [Kneels on seat.

WILL. [Pointing.] Up the road there.  On that yellow horse.

LAURA. [Looking.] Yes, that’s John. [She waves her handkerchief, and putting one hand to her mouth cries:] Hello!

JOHN. [Off stage with the effect as if he was on the road winding up toward the house.] Hello yourself!

LAURA. [Same effect.] Hurry up, you’re late.

JOHN. [Same effect, a little louder.] Better late than never.

LAURA. [Same effect.] Hurry up.

JOHN. [Little louder.] Not with this horse.

LAURA. [To WILL, with enthusiastic expression.] Now, Will, does he look like a yellow reporter?

WILL. [With a sort of sad smile.] He is a good-looking chap.

LAURA. [Looking down again at JOHN.] Oh, he’s just simply more than that. [Turns quickly to WILL.] Where’s Mrs. Williams?

WILL. [Motioning with thumb toward left side of ranch house.]
Inside, I guess, up to her neck in bridge.

LAURA. [Goes hurriedly over to door.] Mrs. Williams!  Oh, Mrs.
Williams!

MRS. WILLIAMS. [Heard off stage.] What is it, my dear?

LAURA.  Mr. Madison is coming up the path.

MRS. WILLIAMS. [Off stage.] That’s good.

LAURA.  Sha’n’t you come and see him?

MRS. WILLIAMS. [Same.] Lord, no!  I’m six dollars and twenty cents out now, and up against an awful streak of luck.

LAURA.  Shall I give him some tea?

MRS. WILLIAMS. [Same.] Yes, do, dear; and tell him to cross his fingers when he thinks of me.

In the meantime WILL has leaned over the balustrade, evidently surveying the young man, who is supposed to be coming up the, path, with a great deal of interest.  Underneath his stolid, businesslike demeanour of squareness, there is undoubtedly within his heart a very great affection for LAURA. He realizes that during her whole career he has been the only one who has influenced her absolutely.  Since the time they lived together, he has always dominated, and he has always endeavoured to lead her along a path that meant the better things of a Bohemian existence.  His coming all the way from New York to Denver to accompany LAURA home was simply another example of his keen interest in the woman, and he suddenly finds that she has drifted away from him in a manner to which he could not in the least object, and that she had been absolutely fair and square in her agreement with him. WILL is a man who, while rough and rugged in many ways, possesses many of the finer instincts of refinement, latent though they may be, and his meeting with JOHN ought, therefore, to show much significance, because on his impressions of the young man depend the entire justification of his attitude in the play.