Scene 3 Sitting-Room — Chairs and Table
Enter Hannah, R.
Hannah. I don’t keer what missis says; I don’t like Cato, an’ I won’t live wid him. I always love my Sammy, an’ I loves him now.
[Knock at the door—goes to the door.
Enter Maj. Moore, M. D.
Walk in, sir; take a seat. I’ll call missis, sir; massa is gone away.
[Exit Hannah, R.
Maj. Moore. So I am here at last, and the Colonel is not at home. I hope his wife is a good-looking woman. I rather like fine-looking women, especially when their husbands are from home. Well, I’ve studied human nature to some purpose. If you wish to get the good will of a man, don’t praise his wife, and if you wish to gain the favor of a woman, praise her children, and swear that they are the picture of their father, whether they are or not. Ah! here comes the lady.
Enter Mrs. Gaines, R.
Mrs. G. Good morning, sir!
Maj. M. Good morning, madam! I am Maj. Moore, of Jefferson. The Colonel and I had seats near each other in the last Legislature.
Mrs. G. Be seated, sir. I think I’ve heard the Colonel speak of you. He’s away, now; but I expect him every moment. You’re a stranger here, I presume?
Maj. M. Yes, madam, I am. I rather like the Colonel’s situation here.
Mrs. G. It is thought to be a fine location.
Enter Sampey, R.
Hand me my fan, will you, Sampey?
[Sampey gets the fan and passes near the Major, who mistakes the boy for the Colonel’s son. He reaches out his hand.
Maj. M. How do you do, bub? Madam, I should have known that this was the Colonel’s son, if I had met him in California; for he looks so much like his papa.
Mrs. G. [To the boy.] Get out of here this minute. Go to the kitchen.
[Exit Sampey, R.
That is one of the niggers, sir.
Maj. M. I beg your pardon, madam; I beg your pardon.
Mrs. G. No offence, sir; mistakes will be made. Ah! here comes the Colonel.
Enter Dr. Gaines, M. D.
Dr. Gaines. Bless my soul, how are you, Major? I’m exceedingly pleased to see you. Be seated, be seated, Major.
Mrs. G. Please excuse me, gentlemen; I must go and look after dinner, for I’ve no doubt that the Major will have an appetite for dinner, by the time it is ready.
[Exit Mrs. Gaines, R.
Maj. M. Colonel, I’m afraid I’ve played the devil here to-day.
Dr. G. Why, what have you done?
Maj. M. You see, Colonel, I always make it a point, wherever I go, to praise the children, if there are any, and so to-day, seeing one of your little servants come in, and taking him to be your son, I spoke to your wife of the marked resemblance between you and the boy. I am afraid I’ve insulted madam.
Dr. G. Oh! don’t let that trouble you. Ha, ha, ha. If you did call him my son, you didn’t miss it much. Ha, ha, ha. Come, we’ll take a walk, and talk over matters about old times.
[Exit, L.