POLLY (merrily).

Oh, Abe, before you came we were all guessing----

LINCOLN.

Guessing?

POLLY (nodding).

What you were going to be. Tom said you'd be a lawyer. Amy said you'd be a great teacher, and I said you'd be a _mender_!

LINCOLN (slowly).

A mender--! I never once thought of being a mender, Polly.

NANCY (with a little cry).

Polly Prentice, look! Look what the time is! Ten minutes to eight!

We'll be late for the corn-husking.

LINCOLN (surprised).

Corn-husking?

POLLY (dancing about).

Didn't you know there was to be one? Oh, I thought we'd surprise you!

We're all going. You, too.

[Lincoln shakes his head.

POLLY (pouting).

That means you think you have to study. Oh, Abe--!

NANCY (aside).

Don't tease him, Polly. After we've called for Jason and Lucy we'll come back this way--gracious! Look how the minutes are flying! We must be starting. Where did I put my cloak? Oh, here it is! Hurry, Amy!

[They all dart out the door with every sign of haste, little John following as fast as his legs can carry him. Sounds of laughter from without, growing fainter.

LINCOLN (to himself).

A corn-husking--!

[Shakes his head. Goes over and gets a book and stretches out in front of fire. A pause.

NOCTAH (quietly entering).

How!

LINCOLN (turning).

How!

[Noctah, with the quiet of an accustomed visitor, sits on bench by fire: pulls out a long pipe.

LINCOLN (after a pause, looking up).

Supper?

NOCTAH, No. Noctah only want to warm at fire. Like to watch Lincoln. Lincoln get wisdom out of books.

LINCOLN (ruefully).

Not so much as I'd like to, Noctah. The books are so few that it's just learning by littles.

[Footnote: Lincoln's own words.]

NOCTAH.

Other people much talk. Lincoln heap silent: heap thinking. (Taps forehead.) Other people try to cheat Indian. Lincoln heap honest.

LINCOLN (twinkling).

Oh, come now, Noctah. I guess we're all pretty honest hereabout.

[A pause, during which Lincoln stares at the fire, above his book.

NOCTAH.

Lincoln look at fire. See visions of future.

LINCOLN.

There won't be any future if I don't work for it!

[Studies again.

NOCTAH.

Umph!

[Smokes pipe: a silence.

LINCOLN (after a moment or so, looking up).

Anything I can do for you, Noctah?

NOCTAH.

No. Noctah want nothing.

[Another short silence. Noctah smokes. Lincoln studies. Then Noctah moves towards door.

LINCOLN (looking up).

Going, Noctah? You know you're welcome to stay if you want to. (Noctah continues impa.s.sively towards door.) Well, then, good-night.

NOCTAH.

Good-night.

[Exit Noctah.

[A moment later there comes the sound of Francois' fiddle, and the same gay group breaks into the room, augmented by Jason and Lucy Brown. They surround Lincoln, who has risen.

TOM.

Now, Abe, you know you like a husking better than anything else.

LINCOLN.

Better than most things, Tom; but not better than all.