Dorry. Yes, Grannie, sit you down along of we.
[Vashti sits stiffly down by the hearth, leaning on her stick. Jane resumes her place, and Dorry puts her little stool between them.
Vashti. And in the night when I was laid down, against the windowpane it fled a three times. A three time it fled and did beat the pane as though ’twould get in. And I up and did open the window. And the air it ran past I, and ’twas black, with naught upon it but the smell of a shroud. So I knowed.
Dorry. What did you know, Granny?
Vashti. [Leaning forward and warming her hands at the fire, speaking as though to herself.] Summat lost—summat lost, and what was trying to get safe away.
Dorry. Safe away? From what, Granny?
Vashti. And there be one what walks abroad in the night time, what holds in the hand of him a stick, greater nor this staff what I holds here, and the knife to it be as long again by twice.
Dorry. O, Granny, I’ll be a-feared to go across the garden after dark, I shall.
Jane. What do you want to go and put that there into the child’s head for? I’d like for Steve to hear you talking of such stuff.
Vashti. I sat me down at the table, but the victuals was as sand in the mouth, and the drink did put but coldness within I. And when the door was closed, ’twas as if one did come running round the house and did beat upon it for to be let in. Then I did go for to open it, but the place outside was full of emptiness, and ’twas they old carrion crows what did talk to I out of the storm.