_Sept._ Ay, ay, sir. But here’s father and mother Gale; age is creeping upon them: who is to take care of them? No, no! let the dream pass. They might have left me to die upon the sands: but they took me to their hearts; and, with Heaven’s help, I’ll be a true son to them in their old age. (_Enter MARCH, L._)
_March._ (_Aside._) Halloo! what’s going on here! Something about me.
_Sept._ March? Oh! he’s a queer fish; his head is filled with whimsical notions regarding his parentage.
_March._ (_Aside._) Don’t be too sure of that.
_Ray._ Has he any recollection of a mother?
_March._ (_Breaking in._) Most certainly he has.
_March._ That is, I think I must have had one; and my father,--I know where he is, and just what he looks like.
_March._ Yes: he’s rather tall, gray hair, dresses well, and looks like me.
_Ray._ (_Laughing._) A very accurate description.
_March._ Yes; and he’s got his eye on me. He’s looking after me. He’s only waiting to see how I take it. He fears it will overcome me: but when he finds I am instinctively drawn towards him; when he finds I only wait to hear a voice say-- (_Enter KITTY, L._)
_Ray._ Well, well, March, remember the old adage, “Patient waiting, no loss.” Come, Sept., let’s go down and look at the captain’s boat. (_Exit with SEPT., C._)
_March._ Kitty Gale, you’re enough to try the patience of Job: just when I was on the brink of a discovery, you must pop in, and spoil every thing.
_Kitty._ How could I help it? I did’nt know you was on the brink of any thing.
_March._ In another moment, I should have found my father.
_Kitty._ Oh, pshaw! you’re always finding a father. I don’t believe you ever had one.
_March._ You don’t, hey? I have got one, and he’s rich too; got a fine horse--
_Kitty._ Then why don’t you find him? Bige Parker don’t have to hunt for his father!
_March._ Bige Parker! Do you dare to speak his name to me?
_Kitty._ To be sure I do. I’m going to walk with him to-night: perhaps he’ll see more beautiful rainbows.
_March._ We’ll see about that. I’ll just go and hunt him up, and he’ll ketch the darndest licking ever he got: you see if he don’t. (_Dashes out, C._)
_Kitty._ Now he’s gone off mad. Well, I don’t care. (_Enter MRS. GALE, L._)
_Mrs. Gale._ Come, Kitty, hurry and set the table (_pulls table out, C., spreads it; she and KITTY get cloth and dishes, and lay the table, during the scene_).