-8-

UNCLE DANIEL

Miss Laura, here comes Mars Selby.

(EMILY kisses LAURA & exit.)

LAURA

Very well, show him in.

UNCLE DANIEL

Miss Laura, I hopes you'll excuse me, but you knows the war am ober now, an I'se only a free niggah, but if you says so, I'll tell Mars Selby you ain't at home. 'Deed I'll tell him.

LAURA

But I am at home, you good old impudence.

(Exit UNCLE DANIEL.)

Even Uncle Daniel is uneasy.

(Enter COLONEL SELBY, a man about forty,
handsomely dressed, erect soldierly bearing, heavy
moustache, slight limp, walks with cane. She advances
and throws herself into SELBY'S arms.)

Oh! George, George, I am so glad you have come!

COL. SELBY
(Looking down in her face and caressing her.)

What is it, my pet, has anything happened?

LAURA

Nothing has happened, but everything may happen at any moment.

COL. SELBY

Well, we won't hurry events.

LAURA

But how much longer is this to last?

COL. SELBY

I really don't know.