[ANNIE assumes a most aggrieved appearance.

ANNIE.  Ah know, but twenty-five dollars ain’t a home, and I’m [Rises, crosses to rubbish heap, picks up old slippers and hat, puts hat on head as she goes out, looks into pier-glass.] losin’ my home.  Dat’s jest my luck—­every time I save enough money to buy my weddin’ clothes to get married I lose my job.

[Exit.

LAURA.  I wonder where John is.  We’ll never be able to make that train. [She crosses to window, then to desk, takes out time-table, crosses to armchair and spreads time-table on back, studies it, crosses impatiently to trunk, and sits nervously kicking her feet.  After a few seconds’ pause the bell rings.  She jumps up excitedly.] That must be he,—­Annie—­go quick. [ANNIE crosses and opens the door in the usual manner.

JIM’S VOICE. [Outside.] Is Miss Murdock in?

ANNIE.  Yassuh, she’s in.

LAURA is up stage and turns to receive visitor. JIM enters.  He is nicely dressed in black and has an appearance of prosperity about him, but in other respects he retains the old drollness of enunciation and manner.  He crosses to LAURA in a cordial way and holds out his hand. ANNIE crosses, after closing the door, and exits through the portieres into the sleeping-apartment.

JIM.  How-dy-do, Miss Laura?

LAURA.  Jim Western, I’m mighty glad to see you.

JIM.  Looks like as if you were going to move?

LAURA.  Yes, I am going to move, and a long ways, too.  How well you’re looking,—­as fit as a fiddle.

JIM.  Yes; I am feelin’ fine.  Where yer goin’?  Troupin’?

LAURA.  No, indeed.

JIM. [Surveying the baggage.] Thought not.  What’s comin’ off now? [Takes off coat, puts coat and hat on trunk.

LAURA. [Very simply.] I’m going to be married this afternoon.

JIM.  Married?

LAURA.  And then I’m going West.

JIM. [Leaving the trunk, walking toward her and holding out his hands.] Now I’m just glad to hear that.  Ye know when I heard how—­how things was breakin’ for ye—­well, I ain’t knockin’ or anythin’ like that, but me and the missis have talked ye over a lot.  I never did think this feller was goin’ to do the right thing by yer.  Brockton never looked to me like a fellow would marry anybody, but now that he’s goin’ through just to make you a nice, respectable wife, I guess everything must have happened for the best. [LAURA averts her eyes.  Both sit on trunk, JIM left of LAURA.] Y’ see I wanted to thank you for what you did a couple of weeks ago.  Burgess wrote me a letter and told me I could go ahead of one of his big shows if I wanted to come back, and offering me considerable money.  He mentioned your name, Miss Laura, and I talked it over with the missis, and—­well, I can tell ye now when I couldn’t if ye weren’t to be hooked up—­we decided that I wouldn’t take that job, comin’ as it did from you [Slowly.] and the way I knew it was framed up.