That’s a fact. A mind the day when the pit wis on fire. A wis only a wee lassie then, bit ma mither had nae mair sense nor tae let me oot tae the pit—heid tae see the bodies brung up. A’ll never forget that sicht. A dream aboot it tae this day.
ELLEN
Sit doon, Polly. A bit o’ comp’ny comes handy at a time like this.
POLLY
(sitting) Thenk ye.
ELLEN
Aye. It’s a thing ye cannae forget. Seems as if it wis only the ither day A heard the bell ringin’ an’ saw ma man brung up. He wis that charred A only kent him by the earrin’s he wore because his eyes wis weak. They tell’t me efter that a rabbit had crossed his road on the wey tae the pit, but he always wis obstinate, wis ma Joe an’ he widnae tak’ warnin’ and noo the cage has slipped wi’ ma son in her and A’ll hae nae menfolk noo.
[The door from the bedroom has been opening slowly, and Mary listens. The others do not see her.
POLLY
Ye never ken. Mebbe he’ll no’ be kill’t.