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SELLERS

Covertly satirical?

[(Earnestly.)

Oh my dear child, if I caught any man making you a target for his satire, he would feel the weight of a hand that, when lifted in the cause of friendship,] falls heavy .

LAURA

Light or heavy, I hope it will never fall on me.

SELLERS

Never, my Dear, but I've [got] glorious news for you Nancy.

MRS. HAWKINS

Glorious News? It's so long since I've heard any.

SELLERS

I know, things have gone on outrageously lately, but the clouds are shining— No— I mean the sun is shining. Senator Dilworthy's here!

MRS. HAWKINS

Well, Senator Dilworthy may be a rich man, and a good man, and a great man, but what can he do for us?

SELLERS

Do for us? Why, the appropriation, Nancy. We're going to haul in two hundred thousand this year, next year we'll strike for a million, that's the way Dilworthy puts it up and he knows.

LAURA

Do you expect to get an appropriation Colonel Sellers, you a confederate soldier.

SELLERS

Confederate soldier? I'm reconstructed. I let bygones be bygones. I go in for the old flag,

(Pause.)

and an appropriation.