Catherine [shaking all over]. Is that a step at the door?
Vavasour [unheeding].'Tis goin' to strike now in a minute.
Catherine [her eyes in horror on the clock]. Five minutes before twelve!
Vavasour [almost crying, his eyes fixed on the clock's face]. Uch, the toad, the serpent!
Catherine [her face in her hands]. Dear God, he's goin' now!
Vavasour [covering his eyes]. Uch, the devil! Uch, the gates of hell! [Catherine cries out. Vavasour groans loudly. The clock is striking: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven, Twelve! The last loud clang vibrates and subsides. Through a chink in her fingers Catherine is peering at Vavasour. Through a similar chink his agonized eyes are peering at her.]
Catherine [gulping]. Uch!
Vavasour. The devil!
Catherine [putting out her hand to touch him]. Lad, dear! [They embrace, they kiss, they dance madly about. Then they do it all over again. While they are doing this, Eilir opens the door again and thrusts in his head. He stares open-eyed, open-mouthed at them, and leans around the side of the door to see what time it is, saying audibly "five minutes past twelve," grunts his satisfaction, and closes the door.]
Vavasour [mad with joy]. Kats, are ye here, really here?