here's Virginia! (Girls stop playing as Virginia joins
them)

Gert. How pretty you look!

Mab. You're a _real_ nymph!

Annie. Come, let's be off now! (Picks up a basket)

Vir. Girls--I--there isn't going to be any picnic.

Girls. No picnic!

Vir. But a wedding.

Girls. A wedding! Where? Where?

Vir. Right here--under the bay tree.

Girls. Who? Who?

Vir. Why--cousin Edgar--and--

Girls. You! you! (All talk at once in excited babble. Virginia
breaks from them and runs into the house. Girls keep
tumultuous talk partly distinguishable)

Gert. He's so handsome!

Sallie. He's a prince!

Annie. Too young to be married!

Ethel. He's twenty!

Gladys. Older!

Mab. No!

Mamie. Virginia is a baby!

Alma. She's taller than any of us!

Annie. But younger!

Sallie. Yonder's Allie Kirby!

Mamie. Won't she be surprised! I wasn't one bit!

Annie. Nor I!

Other Girls.
Nor I! Nor I!

Ethel. I'll tell her!

Annie. No, let me!

Other Girls.
I will! I will!

(As Allie enters all the girls rush to her and talk at
once, trying to tell her the news. Mrs. Clemm and Virginia
come out of the house and join them)

Mrs. C. My little yard never held so many flowers before.

Allie. Is it true, Mrs. Clemm?

Annie. Of course it is! But you're not going to let him take her
away from us!

Mrs. C. No, my dears. She will be one of you still.

Vir. Where is Edgar?

Bony. 'Deed, he wah in de orchard 'bout two drecklys ago.

Vir. He doesn't know I'm ready. I'll go tell him!

Girls. Do! do!

Mrs. C. Daughter!

Girls. Do let her go, Mrs. Clemm!

Mab. We'll all go! What fun!

Gert. We'll play 'hunt the bridegroom!'

(Girls run off, disappearing in various directions)

Mrs. C. What will Doctor Barlow think? (Goes in. Allie, the last
of the girls, pauses as she passes to the side door where
Zurie is sitting)

Allie. Why, Mum Zurie, you look as if Miss Virginia were going to
be buried instead of married.

Zu. (Jumping at the word 'buried') Sho' now, can't Zurie hab
de toothache wheneber she please, missus?

Allie. Toothache? O, I'm sorry, Mum Zurie.

Zu. Mars Edgah he's a mighty fine young man! Yo' won't see no