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[_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
