Six Plays by Lady Florence Henrietta Fisher Darwin Part 77

JANE. If you go careful and don't drop it in the snow may be as I'll wrap my big shawl around of you, Dorry, what's hanging behind the door.

ROSE. Give me my cloak, Steve--O, how I do love a bit of dancing, don't you, Mr. Davis?

GEORGE. I be about as much use in the ball room as one of they great drag horses, Miss Rose.

ROSE. O, get on, Mr. Davis! I don't believe half what you do say, no more does Annie.

ANNIE. If Mr. Davis don't know how to dance right, you're the one to learn him, Rose. Come, Dorry, you take hold of my hand, and I'll look after you on the way. Good-night, Mrs. Browning. Good-night, Mrs. Reed.

DORRY. Why, Granny's sound asleep, Miss Sims, you know.

JANE. And about time, too. 'Tis to be hoped as we shan't have no more trouble with her till morning.

DORRY. [Her eyes raised to the door latch.] Just look, why the latch is up.

ANNIE. Whoever's that, I wonder?

ROSE. 'Tis very likely someone with a horse what's lost a shoe, Steve.

JANE. I guess as 'tis a coffin wanted sudden, George Davis.

STEVE. I bain't a-going to shoe no horses this time of night, not if 'twas the King hisself what stood at the door.

GEORGE. If 'tis a corpse, I guess her'll have to wait till the dancing's finished, then.

[VASHTI groans in her sleep and turns over in the chair, her face to the fire.

STEVE. [Going to the door and speaking loudly.] Who's there?

GEORGE. Us'll soon see.

[GEORGE unbolts the door and opens it, first a little way, and then wide. MAY is seen standing in the doorway. Her shawl is drawn over head and the lower part of her face.

GEORGE. Here's someone what's missed their way, I count.

ROSE. Why, 'tis like the poor thing we seed beneath the hedge, I do believe.

ANNIE Whatever can she want a-coming-in here at this time of night!

JANE. [Advancing firmly.] 'Tis one of they dirty roadsters what there's too many of all about the country. Here, I'll learn you to come to folks' houses this time of night, disturbing of a wedding party. You take and get gone. We don't want such as you in here, we don't.

[MAY looks fixedly into JANE'S face.

GEORGE. I count 'tis very nigh starved by the cold as she be.

STEVE. Looks like it, and wetted through to the bone.

JANE. Put her out and shut the door, George, and that'll learn the likes of she to come round begging at folks' houses what's respectable.

GEORGE. 'Tis poor work shutting the door on such as her this night.

STEVE. And that 'tis, George, and what's more, I bain't a-going for to do it. 'Tis but a few hours to my wedding, and if a dog was to come to me for shelter I'd not be one to put him from the door.

JANE. 'Tain't to be expected as I shall let a dirty tramp bide in my kitchen when 'tis all cleaned up against to-morrow, Steve.

STEVE. To-morrow, 'tis my day, Mother, and I'll have the choosing of my guests, like. [Turning to MAY.] Come you in out of the cold.

This night you shall bide fed and warmed, so that, may be, in years to come, 'twill please you to think back upon the eve afore my wedding.

[STEVE stands back, holding the door wide open. MAY, from the threshold, has been looking first on one face and then on another.

Suddenly her eyes fall on ANNIE, who has moved to STEVE'S side, laying her hand on his arm, and with a sudden defiance, she draws herself up and comes boldly into the room as the curtain falls.

ACT II.--Scene 3.

The same room, two hours later. VASHTI REED seems to be sleeping as before by the fireside. On the settle MAY is huddled, her head bent, the shawl drawn over her face. JANE BROWNING moves about, putting away work things, cups and plates, seeing that the window is closed, winding the clock, etc. There is a tap at the outer door and JANE opens it. STEVE, ANNIE and DORRY enter.

JANE. Whatever kept you so late, Steve, and me a-sitting up for to let you all in and not able to get away to my bed?

DORRY. O, Gran'ma, it was beautiful, I could have stopped all night, I could. We comed away early 'cause Miss Sims, she said as the dancing gived her the headache, but the New Year han't been danced in yet, it han't.

JANE. You get and dance off to bed, Dorry, that's what you've got to do--and quickly.

DORRY. All right, Gran'ma. Good-night, Miss Sims; good-night, Dad.

O, why, there's Granny! But her's tight asleep so I shan't say nothing to her. O, I do wish as there was dancing, and lamps, and music playing every night, I do!

[DORRY goes towards the staircase door.

JANE. [Calling after her.] I'm a-coming along directly. Be careful with the candle, Dorry.

[JANE opens the door and DORRY goes upstairs. STEVE and ANNIE come towards the fireplace.

STEVE. Was there aught as you could do for yonder poor thing?

JANE. Poor thing, indeed! A good-for-nothing roadster what's been and got herself full of the drink, and that's what's the matter with she. See there, how she do lie, snoring asleep under the shawl of her; and not a word nor sound have I got out of she since giving her the drop of tea a while back.

STEVE. Well, well--she won't do us no harm where she do bide. Leave her in the warm till 'tis daylight, then let her go her way.

JANE. She and Gran' be about right company one for t'other, I'm thinking.

STEVE. Ah, that they be. Let them sleep it off and you get up to bed, Mother.

JANE. That I will, Steve. Be you a-going to see Annie safe to home?

ANNIE. Do you bide here, Steve, and let me run back--'tis but a step--and I don't like for you to come out into the snow again.

STEVE. I'm coming along of you, Annie. Get off to bed, Mother.