THE GIRL.  You been so long.

SOLDIER.  So I ’ave.  My Gawd!  It’s a way they ’ave in the Army.  I said when I got out of it I’d laugh.  Like as the sun itself I used to think of you, Daise, when the crumps was comin’ over, and the wind was up.  D’ you remember that last night in the wood?  “Come back, and marry me quick, Jack!” Well, ’ere I am—­got me pass to ‘eaven.  No more fightin’, an’ trampin,’ no more sleepin” rough.  We can get married now, Daise.  We can live soft an’ ’appy.  Give us a kiss, old pretty.

THE GIRL (drawing back).  No.

SOLDIER (blankly).  Why not?

(THE MAN, with a swift movement, steps along the hedge to THE
GIRL’S side.)

THE MAN.  That’s why, soldier.

SOLDIER (leaping over the stile).  ’Oo are you, Pompey?  The sun don’t shine in your inside, do it?  ’Oo is ’e, Daise?

THE GIRL.  My man.

SOLDIER.  Your—­man!  Lummy!  “Taffy was a Welshman, Taffy was a thief”!  Well, soldier?  So you’ve been through it, too.  I’m laughin’ this mornin’, as luck will ’ave it.  Ah!  I can see your knife.

THE MAN (who has half drawn his knife).  Don’t laugh at me,
I tell you.

SOLDIER.  Not at you, soldier, not at you. (He looks from one to the other.) I’m laughin’ at things in general.  Where did you get it, soldier?

THE MAN (watchfully).  Through the lung.

SOLDIER.  Think o’ that!  An’ I never was touched.  Four years an’ never was touched.  An’ so you’ve come an’ took my girl.  Nothin’ doin’!  Ha! (Again he looks from one to the other—­then away.) Well!  The world’s before me. (He laughs.) I’ll give you Daise for a lung protector.

THE MAN (fiercely).  You won’t.  I’ve took her.

SOLDIER.  That’s all right, then.  You keep ’er.  I’ve got a laugh in me you can’t put out, black as you are!  Good-bye, little Daise!

(THE GIRL makes a movement toward him.)

THE MAN.  Don’t touch ’im!

(THE GIRL stands hesitating, and suddenly bursts into tears.)

SOLDIER.  Look ’ere, soldier; shake ’ands!  I don’t want to see a girl cry, this day of all, with the sun shinin’.  I seen too much o’ sorrer.  You an’ me’ve been at the back of it.  We’ve ’ad our whack.  Shake!

THE MAN.  Who are you kiddin’?  You never loved ’er!

SOLDIER.  Oh!  I thought I did.

THE MAN (fiercely).  I’ll fight you for her.

(He drops his knife.)

SOLDIER (slowly).  Soldier, you done your bit, an’ I done mine. 
It’s took us two ways, seemin’ly.

THE GIRL (pleading).  Jim!

THE MAN (with clenched fists).  I don’t want ’is charity.  I only want what I can take.

SOLDIER.  Daise, which of us will you ’ave?

THE GIRL (covering her face).  Oh! Him.