Krindlesyke | Page 7

he is doing, and hobbles away with it to the high-backed settle by the fire, out of sight. Before JUDITH can move to follow him, steps are heard on the threshold._)
ELIZA:
Ah, God: they're at the door!
_As she speaks, JIM and PHOEBE BARRASFORD enter, talking and laughing. JUDITH ELLERSHAW shrinks into the shadow behind the door, while they come between her and the settle on which EZRA is nursing the baby unseen. ELIZA stands dazed in the middle of the room._
JIM:?And they lived happy ever afterwards,?Eh, lass? Well, mother: I've done the trick: all's over;?And I'm a married man, copt fair and square,?Coupled to Phoebe: and I've brought her home.?You call the lass to mind, though you look moidart??What's dozzened you? She'll find her wits soon, Phoebe:?They're in a mullock, all turned howthery-towthery?At the notion of a new mistress at Krindlesyke--?She'll come to her senses soon, and bid you welcome.?Take off your bonnet; and make yourself at home.?I trust tea's ready, mother: I'm fairly famished.?I've hardly had a bite, and not a sup?To wet my whistle since forenoon: and dod!?But getting married is gey hungry work.?I'm hollow as a kex in a ditch-bottom:?And just as dry as Molly Miller's milkpail?She bought, on the chance of borrowing a cow.?Eh, Phoebe, lass! But you've stopped laughing, have you??And you look fleyed: there's nothing here to scare you:?We're quiet folk at Krindlesyke. Come, mother,?Have you no word of welcome for the lass,?That you gape like a foundered ewe at us? What ghost?Has given you a gliff, and set you chittering??Come, shake yourself, before I rax your bones;?And give my bride the welcome due to her--?My bride, the lady I have made my wife.?Poor lass, she's quaking like a dothery-dick.
ELIZA (_to PHOEBE_):?Daughter, may you ...
EZRA (_crooning, unseen, to the baby_):
"Dance for your mammy,?Dance for your daddy ..."
JIM:
What ails the old runt now??You mustn't heed him, Phoebe, lass: he's blind?And old and watty: but there's no harm in him.
(_Goes towards settle._)
Come, dad, and jog your wits, and stir your stumps,?And welcome ... What the devil's this? Whose brat ...
EZRA:?Whose brat? And who should ken--although they say,?It's a wise father knows his own child. Ay!?If he's the devil, you're the devil's brat,?And I'm the devil's daddy. Happen you came?Before the parson had time to read the prayers.?But, he's a rum dad ...
(_JUDITH ELLERSHAW steps forward to take the child from EZRA._)
JIM:
Judith Ellershaw!?Why, lass, where ever have ...
(_He steps towards her, then stops in confusion. Nobody speaks as JUDITH goes towards the settle, takes the child from EZRA, and wraps it in her shawl. She is moving to the door when PHOEBE steps before her and closes it, then turns and faces JUDITH._)
PHOEBE:
You shall not go.
JUDITH:?And who are you to stop me? Come, make way--?Come, woman, let me pass.
PHOEBE:
I--I'm Jim's bride.
JUDITH:?And what should Jim's bride have to say to me??Come, let me by.
PHOEBE:
You shall not go.
JUDITH:
Come, lass.?You do not ken me for the thing I am:?If you but guessed, you'd fling the door wide open,?And draw your petticoats about you tight,?Lest any draggletail of mine should smutch them.?I never should have come 'mid decent folk:?I never should have crawled out of the ditch.?You little ken ...
PHOEBE:
I heard your name. I've heard?That name before.
JUDITH:
You heard no good of it,?Whoever spoke.
PHOEBE:
I heard it from the lips?That uttered it just now.
JUDITH:
From Jim's? Well, Jim?Kens what I am. I wonder he lets you talk?With me. Come ...
PHOEBE:
Not until I know the name?Of your baby's father.
JUDITH:
You've no right to ask.
PHOEBE:?Maybe: and yet, you shall not cross that doorsill,?Until I know.
JUDITH:
Come, woman, don't be foolish.
PHOEBE:?You say I've no right. Pray God, you speak the truth:?But there may be no woman in the world?Who has a better right.
JUDITH:
You'd never heed?A doting dobby's blethering, would you, lass--?An old, blind, crazy creature ...
PHOEBE:
If I've no right,?You'll surely never have the heart to keep?The name from me? You'll set my mind at ease?
JUDITH:?The heart! If it will set your mind at ease,?I'll speak my shame ... I'll speak my shame right out ...?I'll speak my shame right out, before you all.
JIM:?But, lass!
ELIZA (_to PHOEBE_):
Nay: let her go. You're young and hard:?And I was hard, though far from young: I've long?Been growing old; though little I realized?How old. And when you're old, you don't judge hardly:?You ken things happen, in spite of us, willy-nilly.?We think we're safe, holding the reins; and then?In a flash the mare bolts; and the wheels fly off;?And we're lying, stunned, beneath the broken cart.?So, let the lass go quietly; and keep?Your happiness. When you're old, you'll not let slip?A chance of happiness so easily:?There's not so much of it going, to pick and choose:?The apple's speckled; but it's best to munch it,?And get what relish out of it you can;?And, one day, you'll be glad to chew the core:?For all its bitterness, few chuck