THE WORLD'S A STAGE
"Why, ma, you don't understand. Joe's somebody now. You ought to've heard how Miss Hattie talked about him. She said he's been her friend for a long while."
"Her frien', yes, an' his own inimy. You need n' pattern aftah dat gal, Kit. She ruint Joe, an' she's aftah you now."
"But nowadays everybody thinks stage people respectable up here."
"Maybe I'm ol'-fashioned, but I can't believe in any ooman's ladyship when she shows herse'f lak dem gals does. Oh, Kit, don't do it. Ain't you seen enough? Don't you know enough already to stay away f'om dese hyeah people? Dey don't want nothin' but to pull you down an' den laugh at you w'en you 's dragged in de dust."
"You must n't feel that away, ma. I'm doin' it to help you."
"I do' want no sich help. I'd rather starve."
Kit did not reply, but there was no yielding in her manner.
167
