[Here Jane, who has been making a cup of tea, and who has poured something in it from a bottle, advances to Vashti.

Jane.  Here, Vashti Reed, here’s a nice cup of hot tea for you.  Take and drink it up and very likely ‘twill warm th’ inside of you, for I’ll lay as you haven’t seen a mouthful of naught this day.

Steve.  Ah, that’s it, that’s it.  When folks do go leer ’tis a powerful lot of fancies as do get from the stomach to the heads of they.

[Vashti takes the cup and slowly drinks.

Dorry.  O, Miss Sims, you do look nice.  Look, Gran’ma, at what Miss
Sims have got on!

Vashti. [Putting down her cup and leaning forward.] Which of you be clothed for marriage?

Jane.  Get along of you, Gran, ’tis for the dance up at the school as they be come.

Vashti.  Come you here—­her what’s to wed our Steve.  Come you here and let I look at you.  My eyes bain’t so quick as they was once.  Many tears have clouded they.  But come you here.

Dorry.  Go along to her, Miss Sims, Granny wants to look at your nice things.

Annie. [Steps in front of Vashti.] Here I be, Mrs. Reed.

Vashti.  Be you the one what’s going to wed our Steve come New Year.

Annie.  That’s it, Mrs. Reed, that’s it.

Vashti.  And be these garments which you be clothed in for marriage or for burial?

Steve.  Come, Granny, have another cup of tea.  Annie, don’t you take no account of she.  ’Tis worry and that as have caused the mind of she to wander a bit, but she don’t mean nothing by it.

Annie.  All right, Steve.  She don’t trouble me at all. [To Vashti.] ’Tis to be hoped as I shall make a good wife to Steve, Mrs. Reed.

Vashti.  Steve!  What do Steve want with another wife?  Han’t he got one already which is as a rose among the sow-thistles.  What do Steve want for with a new one then?

Steve.  Come on, girls.  I can’t stand no more of this.  Let’s off, and call in to George’s as we do go by.

Rose.  We did meet Mr. Davis as we was coming along and he said as how ’twouldn’t be many minutes afore he joined us here, Steve.

Steve.  That’s right, then we’ll bide a bit longer till George do call for we, only ‘tis more nor I can stand when th’ old lady gets her tongue moving.

Dorry.  Why, look, Gran’s fell asleep!  O, Miss Sims, now that Gran’s dropped off and can’t say none of her foolish things any more, do stand so as Dad and Gran’ma can see the frock which you’ve got for the dance.

Annie.  O, Dorry, you’re a little torment, that’s the truth.

[She gets up and turns slowly round so that all can see what she has on.

Rose.  Well, Steve?