Olive. Nay.

Paul. Come over here on the settle, there is something I would tell thee.

Olive. Tell it, then.  I can hear a distance of three feet or so.

Paul. I know thou canst, but come.

Olive. Nay, I will not.  This is no courting night.  I cannot idle every night in the week.

Paul. Thou wouldst make a new commandment.  A maid shall spin flax every night in the week save the Sabbath, when she shall lay aside her work and be courted.  There be young men here in Salem Village, though you may credit it not, Olive, who visit their maids twice every week, and have the fire in the fore room kindled.

Olive. My mother thinks it not well that I should sit up oftener than once a week, nor do I; but be not vexed by it, Paul.

Paul. I love thee better for it, sweetheart.

Olive. My stint is done.

Paul. Then come. (She obeys.) Now for the news.  This morning I bought of Goodman Nourse his nine-acre lot for a homestead.  What thinkest thou of that?

Olive. It is a pleasant spot.

Paul. ’Tis not far from here, and thou wilt be near thy mother.

Olive. Was it not too costly?

Paul. I had saved enough to pay for it, and in another year’s time, and I have the help of God in it, I shall have saved enough for our house.  What thinkest thou of a gambrel-roof and a lean-to, two square front rooms, both fire-rooms, and a living-room?  And peonies and hollyhocks in the front yard, and two popple-trees, one on each side of the gate?

Olive. We shall need not a lean-to, Paul, and one fire-room will serve us well; but I will have laylocks and red and white roses as well as peonies and hollyhocks in the front yard, and some mint under the windows to make the house smell sweet; and I like well the popple-trees at the gate.

Paul. The house shall be built of fairly seasoned yellow pine wood, with a summer tree in every room, and fine panel-work in the doors and around the chimbleys.

Olive. Nay, Paul, not too fine panel-work; ’twill cost too high.

Paul. Cupboards in every room, and fine-laid white floors.

Olive. We need a cupboard in the living-room only, but I have learned to sand a floor in a rare pattern. [Paul attempts to embrace Olive. She repulses him.

Paul. I trow you are full provident of favors and pence, Olive.

Olive. I would save them for thee, Paul.

Paul. And thou shalt not be hindered by me to any harm, sweetheart.  Was’t thy mother taught thee such wisdom, or thine own self, Olive?

Olive. ’Twas my mother.

Paul. Nay, ’twas thine own heart; that shall teach me, too. [Nine-o’clock bell rings.