Just you be quiet. Be thankful you lie warm,

There’s some as won’t to-night. I can hear storm

A-coming on.

(She leaves door of cubby-bed half open.)

Matthew. Sing, mother, will ye sing?

Joan. (Putting away the bread and the milk-mugs and folding up the strewn garments; starts to sing in a dull toneless voice with little tune)

There come a man to a maid, and said,

All in a year and a day——

“So thou be mine now let us be wed

Out of the world and away.”