STEVE. I"m blest if I do know, George. I never gived another thought to she. What"s up?
GEORGE. They was getting the body of her from out of Simon"s Pool as I did come by. That"s all.
STEVE. From Simon"s Pool, George?
GEORGE. I count her must have went across the plank afore "twas fairly daylight. And, being slippery, like, from the snow, and her-- her--as you did say.
STEVE. In liquor.
GEORGE. I reckon as her missed her footing, like.
STEVE. Well, upon my word, George, who"d have thought on such a thing!
GEORGE. I count as her had been in the water and below the ice a smartish while afore they catched sight of she.
STEVE. Well, "tis a cold finish to a hot life.
GEORGE. They took and laid her on the gra.s.s, Steve, as I comed by.
STEVE. If it had been me, I"d have turned the head of me t"other side.
GEORGE. There was summat in the fashion her was laid, Steve, as drawed I near for to get a sight of the face of she.
STEVE. Well, I shouldn"t have much cared for that, George.
GEORGE. Steve--did you get a look into the eyes of yon poor thing last night?
STEVE. No, nor wanted for to, neither.
GEORGE. There was naught to make you think of -
STEVE. Of what, George?
GEORGE. There--Steve, I can"t get it out, I can"t.
STEVE. Then let it bide in.
GEORGE. "Twas the way her was laid, and the long arms of she, and the hands which was clapped one on t"other, as it might be in church.
STEVE. [Looking through the window.] You shut up, George. Here"s Annie with Rose a-coming up to the door. Don"t you get saying another word about yon poor wretch nor the end of her. I wouldn"t have my Annie upset for all the world to-day. "Tis a thing as must not be spoke of afore they, nor Dorry neither, do you hear?
[He moves towards the door and puts his hand to the latch.
GEORGE. Hold back, Steve, a minute. There"s summat more as I"ve got to say.
STEVE. You take and shut your mouth up, old George, afore I opens the door to the girls.
GEORGE. "Tis bound for to come from me afore you goes along to church, Steve.
STEVE. I warrant "twill keep till us do come home again, George.
[He throws the door wide open with a joyous movement. ANNIE and ROSE in white dresses stand outside.
STEVE. Well, Annie, this is a rare surprise, and that"s the truth.
[ANNIE and ROSE come into the room.
ROSE. Father, he"s outside, and Jim and Bill and Katie, and all the rest. We said as "twould be pleasanter if we was all to go up together along to the church.
STEVE. So "twould be--so "twould be--"Twas a grand thought of yourn, Rosie.
ANNIE. Steve -
STEVE. [Taking her hand.] Annie, I"m fair beside myself this day.
ANNIE. O, Steve, there was never a day in my life like this one.
[DORRY and JANE come down.
DORRY. O, Miss Sims, you do look nice! Gran"ma, don"t Miss Sims look nice? And Rosie, too. O, they have nice gowns and hats on, haven"t they, Dad?
STEVE. I don"t see no gowns nor hats, and that"s the truth. But I sees summat what"s like--what"s like a meadow of gra.s.s in springtime afore the sun"s got on to it.
DORRY. Why, Dad, "tis white, not green, as Miss Sims is wearing.
STEVE. "Tis in the eyes of her as I finds my meadow.
DORRY. O, let me see, Dad, let me look, too!
ROSE. [Going up to GEORGE, who has been standing aloof and moody in the background.] Come, Mr. Davis, we must have a look, too.
JANE. "Get along, get along. We han"t time for such foolishness.
It be close on twelve already.
ANNIE. O, let me be, all of you! I declare, I don"t know which way to look, I don"t.
STEVE. I"ll show you, Annie, then.
ROSE. [To GEORGE.] Well, Mr. Davis, you don"t seem over bright this morning.
STEVE. "Tis with the nerves as he be took!
DORRY. Look at what he"s wearing in his b.u.t.tonhole, Rosie.
ROSE. "Tis kept beautiful and fresh.
STEVE. Come on, come on, all of you. "Tis time we was at the church.
ROSE. Hark to him! He"s in a rare hurry for to get out of the house to-day.