Where are you now? What am I now to think?

Your minds run round in puzzles, like chased hares.

I cannot sight them.

Merrick:

Think of going to bed.

 

Sollers:

And dreaming prices for your pigs.

Merrick:

O Warp, You should have seen Vine crying! The moon, he said, The silver moon! Just like an onion "twas To stir the water in his eyes.

Sollers:

He"s left A puddle of his tears where he was droopt Over the table.

Vine:

There"s to be no ruin?-- But what"s the word of a molecatcher, to crow So ringing over a dowser"s word?

Warp:

I"ll tell you.

These dowsers live on lies: my trade"s the truth.

I can read moles, and the way they"ve dug their journeys, Where you"ld not see a wrinkle.

Vine:

And he knows The buried water.

Warp:

There"s always buried water, If you prod deep enough. A dowser finds Because the whole earth"s floating, like a raft.

What does he know? A twitching in his thews; A dog asleep knows that much. What I know I"ve learnt, and if I"d learnt it wrong, I"ld starve.

And if I"m right about the grubbing moles, Won"t I be right for news of walking men?

Merrick:

Of course you"re right. Let"s put the whole thing by, And have a pleasant drink.

Shale (to Mrs HUFF):

You must be tired With all this story. Shall we be off for home?

Huff:

You bra.s.s! You don"t go now with her! She"s mine: You gave her up.

Shale:

And you made nothing of her.

(To Mrs Huff)

Come on.

Mrs Huff:

Warp, will you do a thing for me?

Warp:

A hundred things.

Mrs Huff:

Then slap me these cur-dogs.

Warp:

I will. Where will I slap them, and which first?

Mrs Huff:

Maybe "twill do if you but laugh at them.

Warp:

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