[Vashti drinks and then leans back in her chair again with half closed eyes.
May. [Putting away the bottle and glasses.] Her’ll sleep very like, now. And when her wakes, I take it ’twill appear as though she’d been and dreamt summat.
Vashti. Do you sit a-nigh me, May. The night be a wild one. I would not have you be on the roads.
May. [Sitting down beside her.] O, the roads be fine on nights when the tempest moves in the trees above and the rain falls into the mouth of you and lies with a good taste on your tongue. And you goes quick on through it till you comes to where the lights do blink, and ’tis a large town and there be folk moving this way and that and the music playing, and great fowls and horses what’s got clocks to the inside of they, a-stirring them up for to run, and girls and men a-riding on them—And the booths with red sugar and white, all lit and animals that’s wild a-roaring and a-biting in the tents—And girls what’s dancing, standing there in satin gowns all over gold and silver—And you walks to and fro in it all and ’tis good to be there and free—And ’tis better to be in such places and to come and to go where you have a mind than to be cooped in here, with th’ old woman and all—’Tis a fine life as you lives on the roads—and ’tis a better one nor this, I can tell you, Mother.
Vashti. [Who has gradually been falling into sleep.] I count ’tis so. ’Tis prime in the freshening of the day. I count I’ll go along of you, come morning.
May. That’s it, Mother, that’s it. Us’ll take a bit of sleep afore we sets off, won’t us? And when morning comes, us’ll open the door and go out.
Vashti. That’s it, when ’tis day.
[Her head falls to one side of the chair and she is presently asleep.
[May watches her for some moments. Then she gets up softly and wraps her shawl round her. The window shews signs of a gray light outside, May goes quietly towards the outer door. As she reaches it, Dorry comes into the room from the staircase.
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.