A MOTHER, NAMED JULIEANNA, IS SITTING BY THE FIRE, SEWING ON HER DAUGHTER'S WEDDING QUILT. A CAT IS SITTING ON THE ARM OF HER CHAIR, SLEEPING.

JUILEANNA:Thy daughter! Where art thou? *she looks at the clock above the mantle* Blast! That child, ever so late, it will be the death of me. Thy responsibility is ever so lacking! Marriage unto her should be such a mistake, she might forget a morn' she is married. Oh ginger *she pets the cat; it yawns sleepily* thy daughter is mine only child. Whatever shall I do without her? It will be like a night without a moon, or a day without a sun.

AMILIE:(comes through the door, with snow blowing all around the little cabin) (says cheerfully) Hello mother, and again, I say hello. Blasted cold day, I forget how the cold likes to dry my hands so!

JUILEANNA:(says angerily) Watch your tounge, child! Where hast thou been? Thou'st late, as usual! Where did thou spend thy time today? In the library, such a waste? Or was't thou dreaming upon a snowy evening, sitting in the woods?

AMILIE: Mother, thy temper is of such no importance! Please, pacitence with you to let me explain!

JUILEANNA: Patience! What a word for thou to tell me! Yea, I will listen with ears of an impacient mother, whose only worry is for her only child, her daughter, is to simply be at ease in life.

AMILIE: Yea, not forget, mother, it is only thou who so desires the peace and tranquility of a peaceful and boring life, not I.

JUILEANNA: AMILIE! Shame, daughter, for tormenting me so! How could thou say such a horrid thing!

AMILIE: (says fast and angrily) How could thou so desire such a thing, when thou will have it when thou is in a coffin!

JUILEANNA: (gasps, and puts a hand to her mouth)

AMILIE: I am not so restless such as thou, dearest mother. I wish to leave at once. The brute thou wishes for me to be with is of no one I wish to ever be with.

JULIEANNA: My restless daughter, does thou have NO shame? That wonderful man, who is such a gentleman, is but upon one of the wealthies men in all of this place, this crooked place. Marry the man, and change him in thou imagination, but take not the flight upon leaving him, you ungreatful child!

AMILIE:(says tearfully) Have I no shame? Look in the lake, and tell me, does thou see no shame? Am I like a work horse, who only serves one master? Who must be forced to do something against it's own will? Why must thou promise me to a man of such age? (says sternly)Men, as mine eyes tell me and mine ear hear for me, are of such a waste of time. I wish not for children, work, or a married life!

JULIEANNA: Daughter! Does thou not wish for an old age with someone to take care of thou? Children are a blessing! Men? Men are what help the world make sense, darling daughter, and be not afraid of them.

AMILIE: (says softly) I wish not for one of my own, to call my own. (turns her back and walks to stage left, then turns back) I wish to live alone with only that of friendly woman neighbors.

JULIEANNA: Daughter, thou still does not answer a question. Why art thou late?

AMILIE: (pauses) Mother, I do not know. I dread days where hence I sit (sits on a stool by the window) and wait for that intolerable man! Such a fate, is mine! (throws her hand to her forhead dramatically) Why is this world so cruel? Why is this man, not of mine, such a cruel.....cruel man? What is in a name of a man, and what can he possible understand of women? (stays in position, looking at her mother, glossy-eyed)

JUILEANNA: AMILIE! Pick thy words carefully, should the man hear thou, oh, bless it! Thou wedding day would come the day the pigs learn to fly! (looks out the window) Amilie, Amilie, I say! The man, thou man! He comes hither! He comes! (rushes to the chimney) Quick, child and pick thou self up! Dust off thou clothes, make haste!!!(JUILEANNA rushes around, and starts to stir the stew on the fire, and making tea, while AMILIE looks carefully out the window)

AMILIE: (says under her breath) Not mine own, that wretched man!(dusts dress off, and removes her shoes, and sets them nicely by the fire). Mother, thou done making the stew? (there is a knock on the door)

JULIEANNA: Child, thou should not worry! Answer the door!

AMILIE: (sighs, and goes to the door, but looks in a mirror, pets back her hair, then decides to take it down, and opens the door.) Mr. Rennil, so very nice to see thou.(bows)

MR. RENNIL: Amilie, how art thou? I told thou, do not bow before me. I am not a master, except of a dog, not such a beautiful woman as thou.

AMILIE: (ignores comment)Please, come in and remove thy hat and coat. Warm thy self by the fire.

(MR. RENNIL comes in, and AMILIE takes his coat and hangs it up on on the coat rack with his hat.)

MR. RENNIL: Ah, Mrs. Winter, how art thou?

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