Vavasour [puzzled]. Nay, how could she know. But she seems queer,—as if she felt the evil comin'. Well, indeed, each day was sweeter than the one before, an' we were man an' wife in love an' kindness at last, but all the while I was thinkin' of that figure by the churchyard. Lad, lad, ye'll be marryin' before long,—be good to her, lad, be good to her! [Vavasour lets go the lapels of Eilir's coat and sinks back on to the settle, half sobbing. Outside the roar of wind and rain growing louder can be heard.]
Vavasour [looking at the clock]. An' here 'tis Allhallows' Eve again, an' the best year of my life is past, an' she must die in an hour an' a half. Ow, ow! It has all come from my own evil heart an' evil wish. Think, lad, prayin' for her callin'; aye, goin' there, hopin' ye'd see her spirit, an' countin' on her death!
Eilir Morris [mournfully]. Aye, Uncle, 'tis bad, an' I've no word to say to ye for comfort. I recollect well the story Granny used to tell about Christmas Pryce; 'twas somethin' the same whatever. An' there was Betty Williams was called a year ago, an' is dead now; an' there was Silvan Griffith, an' Geffery, his friend, an' Silvan had just time to dig Geffery's grave an' then his own, too, by its side, an' they was buried the same day an' hour.
Vavasour [wailing]. Ow—w—w! [At that moment the door is blown violently open by the wind; both men jump and stare out into the dark where only the dimmed lights of the rain-swept street are to be seen, and the very bright windows of Pally Hughes's cottage.]
Eilir Morris. Uch, she'll be taken there!
Vavasour. Aye, an', Eilir, she was loath to go to Pally's, but I could not tell her the truth.
Eilir Morris. Are ye not goin', Uncle?
Vavasour. Nay, lad, I cannot go. I'm fair crazy. I'll just be stayin' home, waitin' for them to bring her back. Ow—w—w!
Eilir Morris. Tut, tut, Uncle, I'm sorry. I'll just see for ye what they're doin'. [Eilir steps out and is gone for an instant. He comes back excitedly.]
Vavasour [shouting after him]. Can ye see her, lad?