Vavasour. Yiss, yiss, 'tis better for ye here, dearie. [Then there is silence between them. Catherine still breathes heavily from the running, and Vavasour shuffles his feet. While they are both sitting there, unable to say a word, the door opens without a sound, and Eilir's curly head is thrust in. A guttural exclamation from him makes them start and look towards the door, but he closes it before they can see him. Catherine then takes off her beaver and looks at Vavasour. Vavasour opens his mouth, shuts it, and opens it again.]
Vavasour [desperately]. Did ye have a fine time at Pally's?
Catherine. Aye, 'twas gay an' fine an'—an'—yiss, yiss, so 'twas an' so 'twasn't.
Vavasour [his eyes seeking the clock]. A quarter past eleven, uch! Katy, do ye recall Pastor Evan's sermon, the one he preached last New Year?
Catherine [also glancing at the clock]. Sixteen minutes after eleven—yiss—yiss—
Vavasour [catching Catherine's glance at the clock]. Well, Catherine, do—
Catherine. Yiss, yiss, I said I did whatever. 'Twas about inheritin' the grace of life together.
Vavasour. Kats, dear, wasn't he sayin' that love is eternal, an' that—a man—an'—an'—his wife was lovin' for—for—
Catherine [glancing at the clock and meeting Vavasour's eyes just glancing away from the clock]. Aye, lad, for ever-lastin' life! Uch, what have I done?
Vavasour [unheeding and doubling up as if from pain]. Half after eleven! Yiss, yiss, dear, didn't he say that the Lord was mindful of us—of our difficulties, an' our temptations an' our mistakes?