Krindlesyke Part 3

(_Breaks off abruptly, and stands, gazing before her, clasping the baby to her bosom._)

JUDITH: Why don't you finish?

"Ay, even though its mother ..." you were saying.

ELIZA: It's ill work, calling names.

JUDITH: You needn't fear To make me blush by calling me any name That hasn't stung me to the quick already.

My pious father had a holy tongue; And he had searched the Scriptures to some purpose.

ELIZA (_gazing before her in an abstracted manner_): Ay: likely enough.... Poor bairn, poor little bairn-- It's strange, but, as you snuggled to my breast, I could have fancied, a moment, 'twas Jim I held In my arms again. I'm growing old and foolish, To have such fancies.

JUDITH: Fancied 'twas Jim, your son-- My b.a.s.t.a.r.d brat?

ELIZA: Shame on you, woman, to call Your own bairn such, poor innocent. It's not To blame for being a chance-bairn. Yet ... O Jim!

JUDITH: Why do you call on Jim? He's not come home yet?

But I must go, before your son brings back ...

Give me the bairn ...

ELIZA (_withholding the baby_): Nay, daughter, not till I learn The father's name.

JUDITH: What right have you ...

ELIZA: G.o.d kens ...

And yet ...

JUDITH: Give me the bairn. You'll never learn The father's name from me.

ELIZA: Go, daughter, go.

What ill-chance made you come to-day, of all days?

JUDITH: Why not to-day? Come, woman, I'd ken that, Before I go. I've half a mind to stay.

ELIZA: Nay, la.s.s, you said ...

JUDITH: I've said a lot, in my time.

I've changed my mind. 'Twas Jim I came to see-- Though why, G.o.d kens! I liked the singing-hinny: Happen, there'll be some more for me, if I stay.

I find I cannot thrive on nettle-broth: And it's not every day ...

ELIZA: Judith, you ken.

JUDITH: Ken? I ken nothing, but what you tell me.

ELIZA: Daughter, I'll tell you all. You'll never have the heart ...

JUDITH: The heart!

ELIZA: To stay and shame us, when you ken all.

JUDITH: All?

ELIZA: When you talked of weddings, you'd hit the truth: And Jim brings home his bride to-day. Even now ...

JUDITH: And Jim brings home ...

ELIZA: I looked for them by this: But you've still time ...

JUDITH: The bride comes home to-day.

Brides should come home: it's right a man should bring His bride home--ay! And we must go, my wean, To spare her blushes. We're no company For bride and bridegroom. Happen, we should meet them, You must not cry to him: I must not lift My eyes to his. We're nothing now to him.

Your cry might tell her heart too much: my eyes Might meet her eyes, and tell ... It isn't good For a bride to know too much. So, we must hide In the ditch, as they pa.s.s by, if we should chance To meet them on the road--their road and ours-- The same road, though we're travelling different ways.

The bride comes home. Brides come home every day.

And you and I ...

ELIZA: There's nothing else for it.

JUDITH: There's nothing else?

ELIZA: Nay, la.s.s! How could you bide?

They'll soon ... But, you'll not meet them, if you go ...

JUDITH: Go, where?

ELIZA: And how should I ken where you're bound for?

I thought you might be making home.

JUDITH: Home--home!

I might be making home? And where's my home-- Ay, and my bairn's home, if it be not here?

ELIZA: Here? You'd not stay?

JUDITH: Why not? Have I no right?

ELIZA: If you'll not go for my sake, go for Jim's.

If you were fond ...

JUDITH: And, think you, I'd be here, If I had not been fond of Jim? And yet, Why should I spare him? He's not spared me much, Who gave him all a woman has to give.

ELIZA: But, think of her, the bride, and her home-coming.

JUDITH: I'll go.

ELIZA: You lose but little: too well I ken How little--I, who've dwelt this forty-year At Krindlesyke.

JUDITH: Happen you never loved.

ELIZA: I, too, was young, once, daughter.

JUDITH: Ay: and yet, You've never tramped the road I've had to travel.

G.o.d send it stretch not forty-year!