AUNT REBECCA (_jumping up with a shriek_)
Me an’ Mink Hall--an’ some oder niggahs--in a game ovah by dem coal chutes. She sneak ’long by Graley’s ice house--den run out on de wharf an’ th’u it in. Me an’ Mink seen ef we would save it--but it was’n’ no use. It--it was too da’k. Soon as ’Luce seen me she run’ as fas’ as she coul’. I believe she gone plum crazy.
Gawd-a-massy! Gawd-a-massy! Dat po’ chile! I knowed somefin’ tumble gwine ter happen.
(_Aunt Rebecca and Slim go out, Back. In the course of a brief interval Lucy Belle enters stealthily, Back,--dishevelled and terrified. She moves agitatedly about the room, twining and intertwining her fingers. Presently Sam enters, Back._)
LUCY BELLE (_in tremulous tones--as she pulls herself together with a mighty effort_)
No, no! Honey-baby! Mah ole budigee honey-baby! I’se so scar’t I did’n’ know w’at ter do.
She say yo’ all been foolin’ ’roun’ wid Chick Avery.
SAM (_grabbing her and searching her face with a gaze of tense scrutiny_)
No, no! Sam! Fo’ Gawd’s sake! Yo’ don’ believe a devil like her, d’yo’?
Ef I ketches yo’ runnin’ wid anabody else I’se gwine ter kill yo’!
Sam-boy! Hones’ ter Gawd--I ain’ had nuffin’ ter do wid nobody since yo’ been gone! Nuffin’ at all! Yo’ believe yo’ lil’ budigee, don’ yo’? Don’ yo’, honey-baby?
Git out-a yere! D’yo’ wan’ me ter kill yo’?
Sam--Sam--she got-a baby! It Chick Avery’s. It’s yere! Dat’s de way she treat yo’ all! Ha! Ha! Makin’ a damn fool ob yo’! I allas knowed yo’s an easy mark!
It’s a lie! It’s a lie! Don’ yo’ believe her, Sam!
(_Sam starts for Lizzie. She backs out of the door, Back._)
LIZZIE (_just outside of the doorway--at the top of her voice_)
I tol’ yo’ I’d git yo’! I tol’ yo’ I’d git yo’! Ha! Ha!
(_Sam starts to rush out after her. He hesitates, however, and finally bangs the door shut and turns to Lucy Belle._)
It ain’ so! It’s a lie! Yo’ knows she could’n’ tell de truf! She nuffin’ but a dirty, lyin’ hussy--! Yo’ don’ believe her, do yo’?
Ain’ no use, honey. Yo’ ain’ gwine ter see nuffin’.
Ain’ nobody but Fanny an’ Israel in dere!
Ef yo’ try any funny bus’ness wid me I’ll kill yo’! Damn yo’ heart ter hell!
(_He goes out, Left, closely followed by Lucy Belle. The door stands open and their voices can be heard._)