Six Plays by Lady Florence Henrietta Fisher Darwin Part 75

ROSE. All right! And is that about all as you've seen? Why, bless you, Steve, where have you gone and hid your tongue I should like to know!

STEVE. Well, there bain't nothing wrong, be there?

ROSE. Of course there isn't. But I never did see such a man as you, Steve. Why, I don't believe as you'd know whether Annie haves a pair of eyes to her face or not, nor if they be the same colour one to t'other.

STEVE. I sees enough for me. I sees as Annie is the girl as I've picked out of the whole world. And I know that to-morrow she and I is to be made man and wife. And that be pretty nigh enough for me this night, I reckon.

DORRY. O, Miss Sims, do you hear what Dad is saying? O, I wonder what I should feel if 'twas me that was going to be married!

ROSE. You get and ask Annie how 'tis with her, Dorry. I could tell a fine tale of how as she do lie tossing half the nights, and of the candles that's burned right down to the very end of them, I could.

ANNIE. Don't you go for to listen to her, Dorry, nor Steve, neither.

She's that fl.u.s.tered herself about the dance to-night that she scarce do know what she's a-saying of. But suppose you was just to ask her what she's got wrapped so careful in that there paper in her hand.

DORRY. O, Rosie, whatever is it?

STEVE. What's that you've got hold on now, Rosie?

ANNIE. Come, show them all, Rose.

[ROSE slowly unfolds the paper and shows them all a hothouse carnation and a fern.

ROSE. There 'tis, then.

DORRY. O my, Rosie--isn't it beautiful. Be you going to wear it to the dance?

ROSE. No, Dorry, 'tisn't for me.

ANNIE. You just ask her for whom it is, then, Dorry.

DORRY. O, who is it for, Rosie--who is it for?

ROSE. No--I'm not a-going to tell none of you.

[She wraps it up carefully again.

ANNIE. I'll tell then, for you.

ROSE. No, you shan't, Annie--that you shan't!

ANNIE. That I shall, then--come you here, Dorry--I'll whisper it to your ear. [Whispers it to DORRY.

DORRY. [Excitedly.] I know who 'tis--I know--'tis for Mr. Davis-- for Mr. Davis! Think of that, Dad--the flower 'tis for George Davis.

ROSE. O, Annie, how you could!

STEVE. George -

VASHTI. [Suddenly roused.] Who named George? There was but one man as was called by that name--and he courted my girl till her was faint and weary of the sound and shape of he, and so on a day when he was come -

DORRY. There's Gran gone off on her tales again.

[JANE crosses the hearth and puts a shawl over the head of VASHTI, who relapses again into sleep.

STEVE. [Sitting down by ROSE.] What's this, Rose? I han't heard tell of this afore. Be there aught a-going on with you and George, then?

ROSE. No, Steve, there isn't nothing in it much, except that George and me we walked out last Sunday in the evening like--and a two or three time before.

STEVE. And is it that you be a-keeping of that flower for to give to George, then?

ROSE. Well--'tis for George as I've saved it out of some what the gardener up at Squire's gived me.

STEVE. [As though to himself.] 'Tis a powerful many years since George he went a-courting. I never knowed him so much as look upon a maid, I didn't since -

ROSE. Well, Steve, I'm sure there's no need for you to be upset over it. 'Tis nothing to you who George walks out with, or who he doesn't.

STEVE. Who said as I was upset, Rose?

ROSE. Look at the long face what you've pulled. Annie, if 'twas me, I shouldn't much care about marrying a man with such a look to him.

ANNIE. What's up, Steve? What's come over you like, all of a minute?

STEVE. 'Tis naught, Annie, naught. 'Twas summat of past times what comed into the thoughts of me. But 'tis naught. And, Rose, if so be as 'twas you as George is after, I'd wish him to have luck, with all my heart, I would, for George and me--well, we too has always stuck close one to t'other, as you knows.

JANE. Ah--that you has, George and you--you and George.

ANNIE. Hark--there's someone coming up now.

DORRY. O, let me open the door--let me open it!

[She runs across the room and lifts the latch. GEORGE stands in the doorway shaking the snow from him. Then he comes into the room.

DORRY. I'm going to the dance, Mr. Davis. Look, haven't I got a nice frock on?

STEVE. Good evening, George, and how be you to-night?

GEORGE. Nicely, Steve, nicely. Good evening, Mrs. Browning. Miss Sims, good evening--Yes, Steve, I'll off with my coat, for 'tis pretty well sprinkled with snow, like.

[STEVE helps GEORGE to take off his overcoat.

ROSE. A happy New Year to you, Mr. Davis.

JANE. And that's a thing which han't no luck to it, if 'tis said afore the proper time, Rosie.

ROSE. Well, but 'tis New Year's Eve, isn't it?

GEORGE. Ah, so 'tis--and a terrible nasty storm as ever I knowed!

'Twas comed up very nigh to my knees, the snow, as I was a-crossing of the meadow. And there lay some poor thing sheltering below the hedge, with a bit of sacking throwed over her. I count 'tis very near buried alive as anyone would be as slept out in such a night.