Dorry. [Going up to Vashti.] Granny, ’tis the New Year!  I’m come down to see to the fire and to get breakfast for Dad and Gran’ma.  Why, Granny, you’re sleeping still.  And where’s that poor tramp gone off to? [She looks round the room and then sees may by the door.

Dorry.  O, there you are.  Are you going out on the road afore ’tis got light?

May. [In a hoarse whisper.] And that I be.  ’Tis very nigh to daybreak, so ’tis.

Dorry.  Stop a moment. [Calling up the stairs.] Daddy, the tramp woman, she’s moving off already.

Steve. [From upstairs.] Then give her a bit of bread to take along of she.  I don’t care that anyone should go an-hungered this day.

Dorry. [Turning to may.] There—­you bide a minute whilst I cuts the loaf.  My Dad’s going to get married this day, and he don’t care that anyone should go hungry.

[May comes slowly back into the room and stands watching Dorry, who fetches a loaf from the pantry and cuts it at the table.  Then she pulls aside the curtain and a dim light comes in.

Dorry.  The snow’s very nigh gone, and ’tis like as not as the sun may come out presently.  Here’s a piece of bread to take along of you.  There, it’s a good big piece, take and eat it.

[May hesitates an instant, then she stretches out her hand and takes the bread and puts it beneath her shawl.

May.  And so there’s going to be a wedding here to-day?

Dorry.  ’Tis my Dad as is to be married.

May.  ’Tis poor work, is twice marrying.

Dorry.  My Dad’s ever so pleased, I han’t seen him so pleased as I can remember.  I han’t.

May.  Then maybe the second choosing be the best.

Dorry.  Yes, ’tis—­Gran’ma says as ’tis—­and Dad, he be ever so fond of Miss Sims—­and I be, too.

May.  Then you’ve no call to wish as her who’s gone should come back to you, like?

Dorry.  What’s that you’re saying?

May.  You don’t never want as your mammy what you’ve lost should be amongst you as afore?

Dorry.  I never knowed my mammy.  Gran’ma says she had got summat bad in her blood.  And Granny’s got the same.  But Miss Sims, she’s ever so nice to Dad and me, and I’m real pleased as she’s coming to stop along of us always after that they’re married, like.

May.  And th’ old woman what’s your gran’ma, Dorry?

Dorry.  However did you know as I was called “Dorry”?

May.  I heard them call you so last night.

Dorry.  And whatever do you want to know about Gran’ma?

May.  What have her got to say ’bout the—­the—­wench what’s going to marry your dad?

Dorry.  O, Gran’ma, she thinks ever such a lot of Miss Sims, and she says as how poor Dad, what’s been served so bad, will find out soon what ’tis to have a real decent wife, what’ll help with the work and all, and what won’t lower him by her ways, nor nothing.