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_ ACT II - SCENE I
The living room in the Brownings' cottage. The room is divided by a curtain which screens the fireside end from the draught of the principal door.
To the right of the fireplace is a door leading upstairs. Chairs are grouped round the hearth, and there is a table at which JANE BROWNING is ironing a dress by the light of one candle. DORRY leans against the table, watching her.
JANE.
[Putting aside the iron.]
There, you take and lay it on the bed upstairs, and mind you does it careful, for I'm not a-going to iron it twice.
[She lays the dress carefully across DORRY'S arms.]
DORRY.
Don't the lace look nice, Gran'ma?
JANE.
You get along upstairs and do as I says, and then come straight down again.
DORRY.
Couldn't I put it on once, Gran'ma, just to see how it do look on me?
JANE.
And get it all creased up afore to-morrow! Whatever next! You go and lay it on the bed this minute, do you hear?
DORRY.
[Leaving the room by the door to the right.]
I'd like to put it on just once, I would.
[JANE BROWNING blows out the candle and puts away the iron and ironing cloth. She stirs up the fire and then sits down by it as DORRY comes back.]
DORRY.
Dad's cleaning of himself ever so--I heard the water splashing something dreadful as I went by his door.
JANE.
'Tis a-smartening of hisself up for this here dancing as he be about, I reckon.
DORRY.
[Sitting down on a stool.]
I'd like to go along, too, and see the dancing up at the schools to-night, I would.
JANE.
And what next, I should like to know!
DORRY.
And wear my new frock what's ironed, and the beads what Miss Sims gived me.
JANE.
[Looking out at the window.]
I'm thinking as we shall get some snow by and bye. 'Tis come over so dark all of a sudden.
DORRY.
Couldn't I go along of they, Gran'ma, and wear my new frock, and the beads, too? I never see'd them dance th' old year out yet, I haven't.
JANE.
Get along with you, Dorry. 'Tis many a year afore you'll be of an age for such foolishness. And that's what I calls it, this messing about with dancing and music and I don't know what.
DORRY.
Katie Sims be younger nor me and she's let to go, she is.
JANE.
You bain't Katie Sims, nor she you. And if the wedding what's to-morrow isn't enough to stuff you up with nonsense, I don't know what is.
DORRY.
I wish it was to-morrow now, Gran'ma, I do. Shall you put on your Sunday gown first thing, or wait till just afore we goes to church?
JANE.
How your tongue do go! Take and bide quiet a bit, if you knows how.
DORRY.
I shall ask Dad if I may go along of him and Miss Sims to the dance, I shall. Dad's got that kind to me since last night--he gived me a sixpence to buy sweets this morning when I hadn't asked. And won't it be nice when Miss Sims comes here to live, and when you has someone to help you in the work, Gran'ma?
JANE.
Well--'tis to be hoped as 'twill be all right this time.
DORRY.
This time, Gran'ma! Why, wasn't it all right when Dad was married afore, then?
JANE.
[Getting the lamp from a shelf.]
I don't light up as a rule till 'tis six o'clock, but I count it's a bit of snow coming as have darkened the air like.
DORRY.
Gran'ma, isn't Miss Sims nice-looking, don't you think? I'd like to wear my hair like hers and have earrings a-hanging from me and a-shaking when I moves my head, I would.
JANE.
[Setting the lamp on the table.]
Here, fetch me the matches, do.
DORRY.
[Bringing the matches.]
Was my mammy nice-looking, like Miss Sims, Gran'ma?
JANE.
I'm one as goes by other things nor looks--For like as not 'tis fine looks as is the undoing of most girls as has them--give me a plain face and a heart what's pure, I says, and 'tis not far out as you'll be.
DORRY.
Was my mammy's heart pure, Gran'ma? [A moment's silence. JANE lights the lamp. DORRY leans at the table, watching her.
DORRY.
Was my mammy's
--[A loud knock on the outside door.]
JANE.
Who's that come bothering round! Run and see, Dorry, there's a good child.
DORRY.
It'll be Gran'ma Vashti, I daresay. She do mostly knock at the door loud with her stick.
[DORRY runs to the window and looks out.]
DORRY.
'Tis her, and the snow white all upon her.
[DORRY goes to the door to open it.]
JANE.
[To herself.]
Of all the meddlesome old women--why can't her bide till her's wanted.
[DORRY opens the door wide, and VASHTI Comes slowly in to the room, leaning on a big staff.]
JANE.
Well, Vashti Reed, and what brings you down from the hill to- day? 'Twould have been better had you bid at home, with the dark coming on and the snow.
DORRY.
[Who has closed the door.]
Sit down, Granny--there, close against the fire, do.
[VASHTI stands in the middle of the room, looking from one to another.]
DORRY.
Sit down, Granny, by the fire, do.
VASHTI.
'Tis in the house and out of it as I have went. And down to the pool where the ice do lie, and up on the fields where 'tis fog, And there be summat in I what drives I onward, as might the wind. And no where may the bones of me rest this day.
JANE.
If 'tis to talk your foolishness as you be come, you'd best have stopped away. Here, sit you down, Vashti Reed, and behave sensible, and maybe as I'll get you summat warm to drink presently.
DORRY.
Yes, Grannie, sit you down along of we.
[VASHTI sits stiffly down by the hearth, leaning on her stick. JANE resumes her place, and DORRY puts her little stool between them.]
VASHTI.
And in the night when I was laid down, against the windowpane it fled a three times. A three time it fled and did beat the pane as though 'twould get in. And I up and did open the window. And the air it ran past I, and 'twas black, with naught upon it but the smell of a shroud. So I knowed.
DORRY.
What did you know, Granny?
VASHTI.
[Leaning forward and warming her hands at the fire, speaking as though to herself.]
Summat lost--summat lost, and what was trying to get safe away.
DORRY.
Safe away? From what, Granny?
VASHTI.
And there be one what walks abroad in the night time, what holds in the hand of him a stick, greater nor this staff what I holds here, and the knife to it be as long again by twice.
DORRY.
O, Granny, I'll be a-feared to go across the garden after dark, I shall.
JANE.
What do you want to go and put that there into the child's head for? I'd like for Steve to hear you talking of such stuff.
VASHTI.
I sat me down at the table, but the victuals was as sand in the mouth, and the drink did put but coldness within I. And when the door was closed, 'twas as if one did come running round the house and did beat upon it for to be let in. Then I did go for to open it, but the place outside was full of emptiness, and 'twas they old carrion crows what did talk to I out of the storm.
JANE.
How you do go on, to be sure! Why don't you speak of summat what's got some sense to it? Come, don't you know as Steve, his wedding day, 'tis to-morrow as ever is.
DORRY.
'Tis the New Year, too, Granny, as well as Dad's marriage.
VASHTI.
[Suddenly.]
Be this house made ready for a-marrying, then?
DORRY.
Why, of course it be, Granny. Don't you see how 'tis cleaned and the new net curtains in the windows, and the bit of drugget 'gainst the door where the old one always tripped me up?
VASHTI.
I see naught but what 'tis more like a burial here. So 'tis. And 'tis a burial as I've carried in my heart as I comed down from the hills.
DORRY.
[Looking out of the window.]
Granny, you'll be forced to bide the night along of we, 'cause the snow be falling thick, and 'twill be likely as not as you'll lose your way if you start for to go home again when 'tis snowing.
JANE.
Th' old thing may as well bide the night now she be come. Hark you, Vashti, 'twill save you the journey down to-morrow like, if you bides the night, and the chimney corner is all as you ever wants.
VASHTI.
And what should I be journeying down to-morrow for, Jane Browning?
DORRY.
Why, Granny, 'tis Dad's wedding day to-morrow, and 'tis a white frock with lace to it as I'm going to wear, and beads what Miss Sims gived me, and the shoes what was new except for being worn to church three times. Shall I fetch them all and show to you, Granny?
JANE.
Yes, run along and get them, Dorry; very likely 'twill give her thoughts a turn, looking at the things, seeing as she be in one of her nasty moods to-day when you can't get a word what isn't foolishness out of her. [DORRY runs upstairs.
VASHTI.
[Leaning forward.]
Was her telling of a marriage?
JANE.
Why, yes, Vashti Reed. And you know all about it, only you don't trouble for to recollect nothing but what you dreams of yourself in the night. 'Tis our Steve what's going to marry Annie Sims to-morrow.
VASHTI.
Steve Browning?
JANE.
I haven't patience with th' old gipsy! Yes--Steve. And 'tis a twelvemonth or more as you'd knowed of it.
VASHTI.
Our Steve, what's husband to my May?
JANE.
'Tis a fine thing to fetch up May this evening, that 'tis. May, what went out trolloping along the roads 'stead of she biding at home to mind the house and child! 'Tis how you did breed she up, Vashti Reed, what led her to act as her did. And if you'd have bred her different, 'twould have been all the same; for what's in the blood is bound to out and show; and when you picks a weed and sets it in the room, 'tain't no flower as you must look for.
VASHTI.
'Tis summat like a twelve year since her went. But in the blinking of an eye the latch might be raised, and she come through the door again. God bless the head an feet of she!
JANE.
There you are, Vashti, talking so foolish. A bad herb like she, was bound for to meet her doom. And 'twas in the river up London way where the body of her was catched, floating, and the same petticoat to it as I've seed on May a score of times. Don't you recollect how 'twas parson as brought the news to we?
VASHTI.
'Taint with no parsons as I do hold, nor with what may come from the mouths of they, neither.
JANE.
And Steve, I knowed what was in his mind when parson was gone out. 'Twas not much as he did say, being a man what hasn't many words to his tongue. But he took and fetched down his big coat what do hang up yonder, and told I to put a bit of black to the sleeve of it. Leastways, he didn't speak the words, but I seed what he was after, and I took and sewed a bit on, and he's wore it ever since till yesterday--And that's eleven year ago it be--so there.
VASHTI.
Her be moving about upon the earth, her be. And I seems to feel the tread of she at night time, and by day as well. Her bain't shrouded, nor boxed, nor no churchyard sod above the limbs of she-- you take my words--and there shall come a day when the latch shall rise and her be standing among us and a-calling on her child and husband what's forgotten she.
JANE.
For goodness sake, Vashti, have done speaking about such things to-night. If Steve was to hear you, why I shouldn't wonder if he was to put you out of the door and into the snow--and 'tis most unfitting for to talk so afore the child.
VASHTI.
[Calling out loudly.]
Come back to I, May--you come back to I--there bain't no one what thinks on the name of you, or what wants you but your old mother. You come back to I!
JANE.
I'll thank you for to shut your mouth, old Vashti! 'Tain't nothing to be proud on as you've got, and 'twould be better if you was to be less free in your hollering. Look, here's Dorry coming.
[DORRY comes into the kitchen; she is wearing her new white frock.]
DORRY.
See, Granny, I've been and put it on for to show you better. See the lace? Isn't it nice? And the beads, too. I didn't stop for to put on my shoes, nor my new stockings. Nor my hat, what's got a great long feather all round of it.
JANE. You bad, naughty girl, Dorry, you'll crease and tumble that frock so as it's not fit to be seen to-morrow! Whatever did you go to put it on for?
DORRY.
So as that Gran should see something pretty, and so as she should come out of her trouble. Gran's always got some trouble in her mind, han't you, Granny?
VASHTI.
A twelve year gone by, my child.
JANE.
I'll give it you if you starts off again.
VASHTI.
A twelve year gone by -
DORRY.
A twelve year gone by, what then, Granny?
VASHTI.
'Tis more'n eleven years since her wented out of the door, my child--your poor mammy. Out of the door, out of the door! And likely as not 'twill be feet first as her shall be brought in again.
DORRY.
Granny, was my poor mammy, what's dead, nice looking like Miss Sims as is going for to marry Dad, to-morrow?
VASHTI.
'Twas grand as a tree in full leaf and the wind a-moving all the green of it as was your mammy, my dear.
DORRY.
And did she have fine things to her, nice gowns and things, like Miss Sims, Granny?
JANE.
'Twas the looks of her and the love of finery and pleasuring what was her undoing, as 'twill be the undoing of you, too, Dorry, if you don't take care. 'Tis she as you favours, and none of your father's people, more's the pity, and 'tis more thoughtful and serious as you'll have to grow if you don't want to come to harm. You take and go right up, and off with that frock, do you hear me?
DORRY.
O, I wanted to be let to go to the dancing now I'd got it on, I did.
JANE.
Dancing, there you are! Dancing and finery, 'tis all as you do think on, and 'tis plain to see what's got working in the inside of you, Dorry. 'Tis the drop of bad blood as you has got from she what bore you. But I might as well speak to that door for all you cares. Only, hark you here, you'll be sorry one of these days as you han't minded me better. And then 'twill be too late.
[STEVE comes down the stairs, pushes open the door and enters.]
STEVE.
Well, Mother, what's up now? Gran, you here? Why, Dorry, what be you a-crying for?
DORRY.
I wants to be let to go to the dancing, Dad--now that I've got my frock on and all.--O, I wants to be let to go.
STEVE.
Well, Mother--what do you say? 'Twouldn't hurt for she to look in about half an hour, and Annie and me we could bring her back betimes.
DORRY.
O, Dad, I wants to go if 'twas only for a minute.
STEVE.
There, there--you shall go and we'll say no more about it.
JANE.
I never knowed you give in to her so foolish like this afore, Steve.
STEVE.
Well, Mother, 'tain't every day as a man's married, that 'tain't.
VASHTI.
And so you're to be wed come to-morrow, Steve? They tells me as you're to be wed.
STEVE.
That's right enough, Gran.
VASHTI.
[Rising.]
And there be no resting in me to-day, Steve. There be summat as burns quick in the bones of my body and that will not let me bide.--And 'tis steps as I hears on the roadside and in the fields--and 'tis a bad taste as is in my victuals, and I must be moving, and peering about, and a-taking cold water into my mouth for to do away with the thing on my tongue, which is as the smell of death--So 'tis.
JANE.
Now she's off again! Come, sit you down, Vashti Reed, and I'll give you summat as'll very likely warm you and keep you quiet in your chair a while. Just you wait till I gets the water boiling.
[She begins to stir up the fire and sets a kettle on it.]
DORRY.
[From the window.]
Here's Miss Sims coming up the path, and Rosie too. O, they're wrapped up all over 'cause 'tis snowing. I'll open, I'll open.
[She runs to the door and unlatches it. ANNIE and ROSE SIMS come in, shaking the snow from them and unbuttoning their cloaks, which STEVE takes from them and hangs on the door.] _
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