=Pete.= (_in astonishment_) Why, no, missus. Dar was none passed out, fo' I were jist over dar (_pointing_) in de orchard, right opposite de window, an' nobody could pass out widout 'tractin' my 'tention. (_PETE goes to D. C. and looks out. The DEACON crosses L. near MISS A._)
=Mrs. T.= It's very strange. I can't account for your vision, brother, upon any other grounds, than that you were dreaming.
=Deacon.= (_angrily_) Then you think I didn't see a colored woman at all----
=Miss A.= And that my eye-sight failed me, too----
=Deacon.= And I'm telling a falsehood----
=Miss A.= And that I'm not to be believed? Oh, sister, sister! (_clasps hands. Noise heard off L., as of some one crying. PETE crosses up L. C._)
=Daisy.= (_angrily_) Pete, you horrid wretch, what did you mean by putting that cat in poor Billy's room. You know how mortally afraid he is of them.
=Daisy.= You did, for he saw you open his door, and he's scared almost out of his wits.
_The curtains at D. C. are pulled violently aside, and in rushes BILLY._
=Billy.= (_screaming with fright_) Take him away! Take him away! (_goes down C. Has left eye covered with cloth, left arm in sling, black patch on right cheek and nose swollen. Has on night-shirt and long white stockings. All the ladies scream. MRS. T. springs to support HELEN in her arms; MISS AMELIA faints in the DEACON'S arms_)
_MRS. THORNTON and HELEN R.; DEACON and MISS AMELIA L.; DAISY and PETE up C._
=Deacon.= Thank Heaven! At last I enfold thee!
=Scene.=--_MRS. THORNTON'S sitting-room, same as Act IV. MISS AMELIA seated on sofa, the DEACON beside her; PETE looks in upon them from behind curtain C., grinning._
=Deacon.= In a short time, my love, Helen will be the happy bride of Mr. Wheeler. Oh, that I could persuade you to become my blushing bride at the same time. (_places arm around her, and looks at her fondly_)
=Miss A.= (_half-playfully_) I declare, Deacon, the more one sees of you the more impressive your silliness becomes. The bare idea of a man of your age desiring to marry, is simply ridiculous.
=Deacon.= Perhaps it is, my darling, but let me enjoy the happiness of living over my youth again. I feel fifty years younger this morning than I did last night before I obtained your consent to bless my declining years with your sweet smile. But when we come to consider our age, and the subject of marriage in connection with it, it certainly does appear as though _both_ of us were silly geese.