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UNCLE DANIEL
Why bless your heart honey, wasn't I wid de dear chile?
CLAY
O, I forgot that.
UNCLE DANIEL
I should think you did forgot sum'fin.
(Exit UNCLE DANIEL with CHILDREN.)
CLAY
Now Laura, why won't you say yes? Why won't you consent?
LAURA
What a dear old tease you are Clay; all these weeks and weeks and months, you do keep at a body so!
CLAY
Because I love you Laura, and I can't help it; indeed, I don't want to help it.
LAURA
Well, you know I love you too— as a brother.
CLAY
I know that; but that's not it! Laura Hawkins, you know we're not brother and sister, although we are adopted by the same family. Ever since I was ten years of age, I've known no Father and Mother but Mr. and Mrs. Hawkins and they seem like Father and Mother to me, and you seemed a Sister to me long ago, when they found you, a parentless and friendless little child, and added you to their family in their noble, unselfish way; but there's no blood of ours in their veins—there's no blood of yours in mine, and now for a long time Laura, ever since I have been of age—you have ceased to be a sister to me. But, O, you've become a thousand times dearer to me than any sister! Can't you love me a little more, just a little more than as a brother? You know how it would please Father and Mother.
LAURA
I do, indeed, I do—and they've been so loving and generous to me.
CLAY
Their hearts are set on this one desire— bound up in it, Laura!
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