George. [Heavily.] Come on, Dorry—you take hold of me. You and me, we’ll keep nigh one to t’other this day, won’t us?
Rose. [Calling from outside.] Come on, Mr. Davis.
[They all go out.
ACT III.—Scene 2.
Nearly an hour later. The cottage room is full of sunlight.
Vashti Reed is awake and gazing vacantly about her from the same chair by the fire. Someone knocks repeatedly at the door from outside.
Vashti. And ’tis no bit of rest as I gets for my bones, but they must come and hustle I and call I from the dreams which was soft. [The knocking is heard again.
Vashti. And I up and says to they, “Ah, and you would hustle a poor old woman what’s never harmed so much as a hair out of the ugly heads of you. You would hunt and drive of her till she be very nigh done to death. But there shall come a day when you shall be laid down and a-taking of your bit of rest, and the thing what you knows of shall get up upon you and smite you till you do go screeching from the house, and fleeing to the uttermost part of the land—whilst me and mine—”
[The door opens and Harry Moss enters.
Harry. Beg pardon, old Missis, but I couldn’t make no one hear me.