That’s where I thought you’d gone, mebbe. (then with deep sympathy ) It’s durned hard on you, Vinnie. It’s a durned shame.

LAVINIA —(stiffening — curtly ) I don’t know what you’re talking about.

SETH —(nods comprehendingly ) All right, Vinnie. Just as you say. (He pauses — then after hesitating frowningly for a moment, blurts out ) There’s somethin’ been on my mind lately I want to warn you about. It’s got to do with what’s worryin’ you — that is, if there’s anythin’ in it.

LAVINIA —(stiffly ) There’s nothing worrying me. (then sharply ) Warn me? About what?

SETH — Mebbe it’s nothin’— and then again mebbe I’m right, and if I’m right, then you’d ought t’be warned. It’s to do with that Captain Brant.

LAVINIA —(starts again but keeps her tone cold and collected ) What about him?

SETH — Somethin’ I calc’late no one’d notice ‘specially ‘ceptin’ me, because —(then hastily as he sees someone coming up the drive ) Here’s Peter and Hazel comin’. I’ll tell you later, Vinnie. I ain’t got time now anyways. Those folks are waitin’ for me.

LAVINIA — I’ll be sitting here. You come back afterwards. (then her cold disciplined mask breaking for a moment — tensely ) Oh, why do Peter and Hazel have to come now? I don’t want to see anyone! (She starts as if to go into the house. )

SETH — You run in. I’ll git rid of ’em fur you.

LAVINIA —(recovering herself — curtly ) No. I’ll see them. (Seth goes back around the corner of the house, left. A moment later Hazel and Peter Niles enter along the drive from left, front. Hazel is a pretty, healthy girl of nineteen, with dark hair and eyes. Her features are small but clearly modelled. She has a strong chin and a capable, smiling mouth. One gets a sure impression of her character at a glance — frank, innocent, amiable and good — not in a negative but in a positive, self-possessed way. Her brother, Peter, is very like her in character — straightforward, guileless and good-natured. He is a heavily built young fellow of twenty-two, awkward in movement and hesitating in speech. His face is broad, plain, with a snubby nose, curly brown hair, fine gray eyes and a big mouth. He wears the uniform of an artillery captain in the Union Army. )

LAVINIA —(with forced cordiality ) Good afternoon. How are you? (She and Hazel kiss and she shakes hands with Peter. )

HAZEL — Oh, we’re all right. But how are you, Vinnie, that’s the question? Seems as if we hadn’t seen you in ages! You haven’t been sick, I hope!

LAVINIA — Well — if you call a pesky cold sick.

PETER — Gosh, that’s too bad! All over it now?

LAVINIA — Yes — almost. Do sit down, won’t you? (Hazel sits at left of bench, Lavinia beside her in the middle. Peter sits gingerly on the right edge so that there is an open space between him and Lavinia. )

HAZEL — Peter can stay a while if you want him to, but I just dropped in for a second to find out if you’d had any more news from Orin.

LAVINIA — Not since the letter I showed you.

HAZEL — But that was ages ago! And I haven’t had a letter in months. I guess he must have met another girl some place and given me the go by.