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.