To think that Jim—and after all these years ...
And then, to come like that! I wonder what ...
I wish he hadn’t gone without the boots.
(She resumes her knitting, musing in silence, until she is roused by the click of the latch. The door opens, and Bell Haggard stumbles into the room and sinks to the floor in a heap. Her brow is bleeding, and her dress, torn and dishevelled.)
Judith (starting up):
Bell! What has happened, woman? Are you hurt?
Oh, but your brow is bleeding!
Bell:
I’d an inkling
There must be blood somewhere: I seemed to smell it.
Judith:
But what has happened, Bell? Don’t say ’twas Jim!
Bell:
Nay ... nay ... it wasn’t Jim ... I stumbled, Judith:
And, seemingly, I cracked my cruntle a bit—
It’s Jill fell down, and cracked her crown, this journey.
I smelt the blood ... but, it’s not there, the pain ...
It’s in my side ... I must have dunched my side
Against a stone in falling ... I could fancy
A rib or so’s gone smash.