[_She pounds once more on the door with a heavy fist, rings, and then goes. Suddenly the door back centre opens, and_ NELI WILLIAMS _appears_.
NELI. [_She does not see_ HUGH _and peers around for him_.] What is all that bell-ringing about?
NELI. [_Amazed, and whispering to herself._] Under the table!
HUGH. [_Rising and putting up his hand as a sign for her to keep silent._] Nay, 'twas Mrs. Jones the Wash come to buy her soap whatever!
NELI. Aye, well, why didn't she come in whatever?
HUGH. [_Whispering._] I locked the door, Neli, so I could finish readin' those essays whatever! An' then she looked in at the window, an' I had to get under the table.
NELI. [_Indignantly._] Locked the door against a customer, an' after all I said! An' crawled under a table! Hugh Williams, your wits are goin' quite on the downfall!
HUGH. [_In a whisper._] Aye, but Neli, those essays--an' I thought ye had gone to market.
NELI. I had started, but I came back for my purse. Put down that book!
NELI. [_Angrily._] Much less of heaven an' much more of earth is what I need in a husband! Ye have sent away a customer; very like Mrs. Jones the Wash after soap will go elsewhere.
HUGH. [_Whispering still._] Aye, but Neli....
NELI. [_Angrily._] Put down that book, I say! [_She crunches over some eggshells._] Eggs? Broken?
HUGH. [_Putting down book._] Aye, Neli, my elbow an' the eggs in Babylon....
NELI. [_Sarcastically._] Aye, I see beasts in Babylon here together--doleful creatures smearin' one an' sixpence worth of eggs all over the floor. An' a half-dozen eggs gone last week. [_Wiping up eggs._] An' I'm to suppose Babylon had something to do with that half-dozen eggs, too? They were put in the basket after Mrs. Jones the Wash had left whatever, an' before Deacon Roberts came.
NELI. [_Still angrily._] Well, indeed, unlock that door!
HUGH. [_Going to unlock door._] But, Neli....
NELI. [_Disappearing through door back centre._] Not a word! Your mind has gone quite on the downfall--lockin' doors against your own bread and butter an' soap.
HUGH. [_Unlocking door sullenly._] But, Neli, salvation an' soap....
NELI. [_Snappily._] Salvation an' soap are as thick as thieves.
HUGH. But, Neli, a man is his own master.
[HUGH _opens street door left just as_ NELI _goes out through kitchen, by door back centre_. DEACON ROBERTS _enters the door_ HUGH _has unlocked. He looks at_ HUGH, _smiles, and goes over to counter in a businesslike way. He is a stout man, dressed in a black broadcloth cutaway coat, tight trousers, a drab vest, high collar and stock, woollen gloves, a muffler wound about his neck and face, and a tall Welsh beaver hat. Under his arm he carries a book._