Evans.  Here’s Southern hospitality for you.  A party out to meet us (they all come forward, some crashing through the shrubs, breaking down the fence, some walk through flower beds.  They come up to the porch).  Hello, ladies! (without removing his cap) Come on, boys!

[He starts up the steps; other soldiers have come on; some join
the group near steps, others go around the house.  Mrs. S.
takes a step forward, her head held very high.

Mrs. S. I beg your pardon, sir!

[Evans stops, then laughs in an insolent manner.

Evans.  What are you doing out here on the front porch, anyway?

Mrs. S. I always receive my visitors at my front door.

Evans.  Visitors, eh?  Well, we’ll make ourselves at home.

Mrs. S. You are are mistaken, sir!

Evans.  We are going in there.

Mrs. S. You are not!

[The man tries to push past her, but Cupid steps forward with
the ax.

Cupid (in a rage).  You darsent tuch my mistis!

Evans.  I’ll break your head in, damn you!

[He starts to strike him with his sword.  Mrs. S. steps quickly
between them.

Mrs. S. You will not dare to touch my servant.

Evans (very angry).  Get him out of the way, then, or I’ll show you.

[Here the door of the house is kicked open from within.  Several
soldiers enter from house.

A Soldier.  We’re in from the back way.  Come on!

[Mrs. S., Charlotte, Fair, Bev, Cupid and Marthy come down into
yard and cross to the garden gate.  All the soldiers except
the corporal and two or three others exit into house.

Evans.  I’ll stay out here with the ladies (laughs).  What’s past that gate?

Mrs. S. My garden, sir.

Evans.  Men, I believe they are hiding some one here.  What’s in that garden?

Mrs. S. The memory of my blessed dead.

Evans.  What!

Mrs. S. My son, sir.

Evans.  Where is he? (Quickly).

Mrs. S. Beyond your reach.  His grave is in the garden.

Evans (in an uneasy way steps back).  I—­I beg your pardon, mam!

[Enter from the house all the soldiers.  They carry a large cedar
chest.  Others have china, pictures, rugs, some furniture
and ornaments.  These they throw roughly on the ground. 
Nearly all are eating.  They throw the chest lid back and
lift out the silver, quarreling loudly for its possession.

Cupid.  Fo’ Gaud, ef de ain’t got de silber!

[Horses hoofs are heard, but the men are too engrossed to notice.

[Enter hurriedly from the lane Col.  Stephen Winthrop and Maurice
Hopkins.  Winthrop is a handsome, soldierly young man of
about twenty-five.  He wears the regular U.S. uniform of
Colonel.  Hopkins is younger and somewhat smaller than
Winthrop, though a handsome, manly-looking fellow.  They
rush in among the men, beating them over the backs with
sabers.