[_She has an armful of costumes which she drops nervously._

SUSAN

Mis' Let.i.tia, I believe you love him best of all!

LEt.i.tIA

No, I don't, but I always understood him, I think.

[_The voice below calls again_, "Where are you?"

Come up here, my boy. Come up to the lumber room.

[_Steps are heard on the stairs, young eager steps, and Nathaniel Clay bursts into the room. He is an eternally young man of thirty-five, who has touched the dregs and the heights of the world and remained himself._

NATHANIEL [_taking Let.i.tia in his arms, then holding her from him as he inspects her._

Aunt Letty! Not a day older.... But oh, so wise.

LEt.i.tIA

Nathaniel, my boy, my darling, darling boy.

NATHANIEL

Now, now. Don't cry.

LEt.i.tIA

My boy, my boy. My splendid boy.

[_Susan has forgotten her costume in her admiration for Nathaniel. She puts it down on the bench in front of the piano._

NATHANIEL

And this is--

LEt.i.tIA

This is Susan Sample.

NATHANIEL

Not--

LEt.i.tIA

Yes, time has been flying, Nathaniel. This young lady is Mary Sample's daughter.

NATHANIEL

How do you do? I can't believe it. You were only a little pink cherub up there in the sky when I ran--

LEt.i.tIA (_hurriedly interrupting him_)

Yes, Susan was born three years after you went away.

NATHANIEL

Oh!... And, Aunt Let.i.tia, you've opened Emily's trunk!

LEt.i.tIA

Yes, Susan is going to be in a pageant.

SUSAN

Who was Emily?

NATHANIEL

She was--

LEt.i.tIA

Nathaniel dear, you must not satisfy her curiosity.

(_To Susan_)

You go find Jonathan, dear, and tell him that his uncle is here.

(_To Nathaniel_)

I'll put these things away, and we'll go into the house.

SUSAN (_reluctantly_)

Good-bye, Mr. Clay.

NATHANIEL

Good-bye, Susan. You'll come back, won't you?

SUSAN

Oh, yes. Good-bye.

NATHANIEL