Essy did not see the Vicar's face thrust toward her. She was sidling to the door. She had her hand on the doorknob.
"Come back," said the Vicar. "I have something else to say to you."
Essy came no nearer. She remained standing by the door.
"Who is the man, Essy?"
At that Essy's face began to shake piteously. Standing by the door, she cried quietly, with soft sobs, neither hiding her face nor drying her tears as they came.
"You had better tell me," said the Vicar.
"I s'all nat tall yo'," said Essy, with passionate determination, between the sobs.
"You must."
"I s'all nat—I s'all nat."
"Hiding it won't help you," said the Vicar.