May. [Fumbling in her shawl.] There, Harry—­’tis comed back to my mind now. [She takes out part of a loaf of bread.] Take you this bread.  And to-night, when you eats of it, think on me, and as how I be to home with Steve a-holding of my hand and little Dorry close against me; and plenty of good victuals, with a bed to lie upon warm.  There, Harry, take and eat.

[She holds the bread to him

Harry. [Taking the bread.] I count ’twill all be well with you now,
May?

May.  I warrant as ’twill, for I be right to home.  But go you towards the town, Harry, for ’tis late.  And God go with you, my dear, now and all time.

Harry.  I’ll set off running then.  For the night, ’tis upon us, May, and the snow, ’tis thick in the air.

[May turns to the stile and leans on it heavily, gazing across the field.  Harry sets off quickly down the road.

Act II.—­Scene 1.

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.