_
LAURA. Annie!
ANNIE. Yassum.
LAURA. Do you remember in the boarding-house--when we finally packed
up--what you did with everything?
ANNIE. Yassum.
LAURA. You remember that I used to keep a pistol?
ANNIE. Yo' all mean dat one yo' say dat gemman out West gave yuh once?
LAURA. Yes.
ANNIE. Yassum, Ah 'membuh it.
LAURA. Where is it now?
ANNIE. [_Crosses to writing-desk._] Last Ah saw of it was in dis heah
draw' in de writin'-desk. [_This speech takes her across to desk; she
opens the drawer, fumbles among a lot of old papers, letters, &c., and
finally produces a small thirty-two calibre, and gingerly crosses to_
LAURA.] Is dis it?
LAURA. [_Slowly turns around and looks at it._] Yes. Put it back. I
thought perhaps it was lost. [ANNIE _complies, when the bell rings._
LAURA _starts suddenly, involuntarily gathering her negligee gown
closer to her figure, and at once she is under a great stress of
emotion, and sways upon her feet to such an extent that she is obliged
to put one hand out on to the table to maintain her balance. When
she speaks, it is with a certain difficulty of articulation._]
See--who--that is--and let me know.
ANNIE. [_Turning._] Yassum. [_Crosses, opens the first door, and
afterwards opens the second door._
ELFIE'S VOICE. [_Off stage._] Hello, Annie,--folks home?
ANNIE. Yassum, she's in.
LAURA _immediately evinces her tremendous relief, and_ ELFIE, _without
waiting for a reply, has shoved_ ANNIE _aside and enters,_ ANNIE
_following and closing the door.
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