NANCY (pausing in dance, with little shriek of dismay).  Oh, mercy!  The corn!  I smell it burning!

ALL (gathering about her, and thus hiding corn-popper from view of audience).  Is it burnt?  No!  Yes!  No!  Oh, it’s saved. (Lincoln, who has risen, goes back to his supper.)

JOHN. 
I didn’t mean to!

NANCY (relenting).  But when Francois plays the fiddle you can’t think of anything else, eh?

AMY (as they group themselves in fire-glow).  Sit over here, Nancy.  Isn’t the corn splendid?

LINCOLN (from where he is sitting).  Any news, Tom?  How’s the wolf-hunting getting on?  Anybody got one?

TOM.  I heard in the store to-night that Hugh Foster had killed one.  It may be only a rumor.  You’re not fond of hunting, are you, Abe?

LINCOLN.  Oh, I try at it once in a while, Tom, but I’m not very keen.  You boys get more out of it than I do.

TOM. 
Remember the raccoon hunt we had last summer?

LINCOLN.  Yes, I remember. (Facing about.) To tell you the truth, Tom, I don’t mind if things have to be killed outright; but I hate to see them in cages.  I like to see ’em free.

TOM. 
I know you do, Abe.

POLLY
(merrily). 
Oh, Abe, before you came we were all guessing——­

LINCOLN. 
Guessing?

POLLY (nodding).  What you were going to be.  Tom said you’d be a lawyer.  Amy said you’d be a great teacher, and I said you’d be a mender!

LINCOLN
(slowly). 
A mender—!  I never once thought of being a mender, Polly.

NANCY
(with a little cry). 
Polly Prentice, look!  Look what the time is!  Ten minutes to eight! 
We’ll be late for the corn-husking.

LINCOLN
(surprised). 
Corn-husking?

POLLY
(dancing about). 
Didn’t you know there was to be one?  Oh, I thought we’d surprise you! 
We’re all going.  You, too.

[Lincoln shakes his head.

POLLY
(pouting). 
That means you think you have to study.  Oh, Abe—!

NANCY (aside).  Don’t tease him, Polly.  After we’ve called for Jason and Lucy we’ll come back this way—­gracious!  Look how the minutes are flying!  We must be starting.  Where did I put my cloak?  Oh, here it is!  Hurry, Amy!

[They all dart out the door with every sign of haste, little John following as fast as his legs can carry him.  Sounds of laughter from without, growing fainter.

LINCOLN
(to himself). 
A corn-husking—!

[Shakes his head.  Goes over and gets a book and stretches out in front of fire.  A pause.

NOCTAH
(quietly entering). 
How!

LINCOLN
(turning). 
How!

[Noctah, with the quiet of an accustomed visitor, sits on bench by fire:  pulls out a long pipe.

LINCOLN
(after a pause, looking up). 
Supper?

NOCTAH,
No.  Noctah only want to warm at fire.  Like to watch Lincoln.  Lincoln
get wisdom out of books.