er down; she gets cone; then Charlotte lifts
her again, and slowly exit (Left).

Winth. (gazing longingly after her). And they have come to
that--she teaching for her living! God! when will this end? And the
others--are they, too, working--Mrs. Stuart and Fair? Have they come to
this! If I could only see the old place. I wonder if it has gone to ruin
as all the rest has gone. (He gazes longingly across the river, as
Hopkins has done). Hello! what's that? A boat! and crossing the stream.
By George, it's old Aunt Marthy; she's rowing the boat herself. I wonder
where she's going. Poor soul! She's coming after Charlotte, I suppose.
She's landing; she can hardly climb the bank. I wonder who runs the
ferry now, and the old mill, where Fair and I used to ride together and
sit and watch the water on the wheel.

[His face has a white, set look.

Aunt Marthy (off Right). Ef I kin get up dis here bank. I ain't
fit ter be climbin' 'round dis way. Dar, I's up, I reckon.

Winth. Coming this way. I'll speak to her. She'll tell me how
they are.

[Enter Marthy (Right). She carries a small, covered basket.
She is looking down, picking her way over the rough ground,
and does not see Winthrop.

Winth. Aunt Marthy.

Marthy (looks up, sees him, starts, looks again). Fo' Gaud! ef
hit ain't Mars Winthrop.

Winth. I'm mighty glad to see you, Marthy. What are you doing
'way out here?

Marthy. Well, sir, I sho is sprised ter see you. I don come
'cross de river to fotch Miss Charlotte her dinner.

Winth. Where is she?

Marthy. She up dar at de school house. Ain't you don hear 'bout
dat? She's teachin' school.

Winth. I haven't heard anything about them for a long time now. I
haven't been here since the fight last May.

Marthy. I come hyer most every day to fotch de lunch for her. She
bin teachin' since September. I couldn't git nobody to row de ferry, so
I had ter get in de skiff and row dat way. Cos I bleeged ter get hyer
some way.

Winth. How are they all now, Marthy? I hope they are all well. I
have tried so hard to get some word of them, but no one seemed to know.
How are they?

Marthy. Well, sir, dey ant so well as what de might be. Pears
like hits hard ter say just how dey is, de trouble done change um so. I
reckon, do, deys well, and cose, sir, dey ant give up; nor, sir, ant ney
one ob um done dat. You heard bout Mars George bein