JOHN. Lizzie.
(Lizzie immediately comes into sight outside the door with a "Shsh.")
JOHN. Yer feyther's greetin'.
LIZZIE (with a touch of exasperation). Och, I'm no heedin'! There's another wean in there greetin' too, an' I'm no heedin' him neither, an' he's greetin' twicet as loud as the auld yin.
JOHN (shocked). Ye're heartless, wumman.
LIZZIE (with patience). No, I'm no' heartless, John; but there's too much heart in this family, an' someone's got to use their heid.
(DAVID cranes round the side of his chair to catch what they are saying. She stops and comes to him kindly but with womanly firmness.)
LIZZIE. I'm vexed ye should be disappointed, feyther, but ye see, don't ye—
(A singularly piercing wail from ALEXANDER goes up. LIZZIE rushes to silence him.)
LIZZIE. Mercy! The neighbors will think we're murderin' him.