Dorry. O, there you are. Are you going out on the road afore ’tis got light?
May. [In a hoarse whisper.] And that I be. ’Tis very nigh to daybreak, so ’tis.
Dorry. Stop a moment. [Calling up the stairs.] Daddy, the tramp woman, she’s moving off already.
Steve. [From upstairs.] Then give her a bit of bread to take along of she. I don’t care that anyone should go an-hungered this day.
Dorry. [Turning to May.] There—you bide a minute whilst I cuts the loaf. My Dad’s going to get married this day, and he don’t care that anyone should go hungry.
[May comes slowly back into the room and stands watching Dorry, who fetches a loaf from the pantry and cuts it at the table. Then she pulls aside the curtain and a dim light comes in.
Dorry. The snow’s very nigh gone, and ’tis like as not as the sun may come out presently. Here’s a piece of bread to take along of you. There, it’s a good big piece, take and eat it.
[May hesitates an instant, then she stretches out her hand and takes the bread and puts it beneath her shawl.
May. And so there’s going to be a wedding here to-day?
Dorry. ’Tis my Dad as is to be married.