LAURA.  In Nevada.

ANNIE.  In Nevada?

LAURA.  Yes, Nevada.

ANNIE. [Draws her jacket closer around her as if chilly.] Must be mighty smaht to write yuh every day.  De pos’man brings it ’leven o’clock mos’ always, sometimes twelve, and again sometimes tehn; but it comes every day, don’t it?

LAURA.  I know.

ANNIE. [Crosses to right of armchair, brushes it off and makes an effort to read letter, leaning across chair.] Guess must be from yo’ husban’, ain’t it?

LAURA.  No, I haven’t any.

ANNIE. [Crossing to centre triumphantly.] Dat’s what Ah tole Mis’ Farley when she was down talkin’ about you dis morning.  She said if he all was yo’ husband he might do somethin’ to help you out.  Ah told her Ah didn’t think you had any husban’.  Den she says you ought to have one, you’re so pretty.

LAURA.  Oh, Annie!

ANNIE. [Sees door open; goes and bangs it shut.] Der ain’t a decent door in dis old house.  Mis’ Farley said yo’ might have mos’ any man you [Hangs clean towel on washstand.] wanted just for de askin’, but Ah said yuh [Takes newspaper and books off bed, and places them on table.] was too particular about the man yo’ ’d want.  Den she did a heap o’ talking.

LAURA.  About what? [Places letter open on table, looks at hem of skirt, discovers a rip, rises, crosses up to dresser, gets needle, crosses down to trunk; opens and takes thimble out; closes lid of tray, sits on it, and sews skirt during scene.

ANNIE. [At bed, fussing around, folds nightgown and places it under pillow.] Well, you know, Mis’ Farley she’s been havin’ so much trouble wid her roomers.  Yestuhday dat young lady on de second flo’ front, she lef’.  She’s goin’ wiv some troupe on the road.  She owed her room for three weeks and jus’ had to leave her trunk. [Crosses and fusses over table.] My! how Mis’ Farley did scold her.  Mis’ Farley let on she could have paid dat money if she wanted to, but somehow Ah guess she couldn’t—­

[Reads letter on table.

LAURA. [Sees her, angrily exclaims.] Annie!

ANNIE. [In confusion, brushing off table.]—­for if she could she wouldn’t have left her trunk, would she, Miss Laura?

[Crosses to armchair, and picks up kimono off back.

LAURA.  No, I suppose not.  What did Mrs. Farley say about me?

ANNIE.  Oh! nothin’ much. [Crosses left and stands.

LAURA.  Well, what?

ANNIE.  She kinder say somethin’ ‘bout yo’ being three weeks behind in yo’ room rent, and she said she t’ought it was ’bout time yuh handed her somethin’, seein’ as how yuh must o’ had some stylish friends when yuh come here.

LAURA.  Who, for instance?

ANNIE.  Ah don’t know.  Mis’ Farley said some of ’em might slip yo’ enough jest to help yuh out. [Pause.] Ain’t yo’ got nobody to take care of you at all, Miss Laura?