Jane. Now she’s off again! Come, sit you down, Vashti Reed, and I’ll give you summat as’ll very likely warm you and keep you quiet in your chair a while. Just you wait till I gets the water boiling.
[She begins to stir up the fire and sets a kettle on it.
Dorry. [From the window.] Here’s Miss Sims coming up the path, and Rosie too. O, they’re wrapped up all over ’cause ’tis snowing. I’ll open, I’ll open.
[She runs to the door and unlatches it. Annie and Rose Sims come in, shaking the snow from them and unbuttoning their cloaks, which Steve takes from them and hangs on the door.
ACT II.—Scene 2.
Annie. [As Steve takes off her cloak.] ’Tis going to be a dreadful night. The snow’s coming down something cruel.
Rose. There won’t be many to the dance if it keeps on like this, will there?
Steve. Get you to the fire, both of you, and warm yourselves before we sets out again.
Dorry. Miss Sims, Miss Sims—Miss Rosie—I’m going along with you to the dance, Dad says as I may.
Jane. Bless the child! However her has worked upon her father, and he so strict, I don’t know.