Vashti.  And I up and says to they, “Ah, and you would hustle a poor old woman what’s never harmed so much as a hair out of the ugly heads of you.  You would hunt and drive of her till she be very nigh done to death.  But there shall come a day when you shall be laid down and a-taking of your bit of rest, and the thing what you knows of shall get up upon you and smite you till you do go screeching from the house, and fleeing to the uttermost part of the land—­whilst me and mine —

[The door opens and Harry moss enters.

Harry.  Beg pardon, old Missis, but I couldn’t make no one hear me.

Vashti.  Seeing as them be sick of the abomination which was inside of they. [Perceiving Harry.] Well, and what be you as is comed into this room?

Harry.  ’Tis Moss as I be called, old Missis.  And as I was a-going by this place, I thought as I’d look in a moment, just for to ask how ’twas with May.

Vashti.  They be all gone out from the house.  All of them.  They be in clothes what do lie in boxes most of the time with lumps of white among they.  Them be set out in the best as they has, and in grand things of many colours.  There ’tis.

Harry.  And be you th’ old lady what’s Steve’s mother?

Vashti.  I be not, sir.  ’Tis mother to May as I be.  May, what’s comed back, and what’ll set t’other old vixen in her place soon as they get home.

Harry.  Then May, she be gone out, too, have her?

Vashti. [Looking round vaguely.] Ah, I counts as her be gone to church along of t’other.

Harry.  To church, Missis?

Vashti.  There’s marrying being done down here to-day.

Harry.  Marrying, be there?  Well, but I was ’most feared as how it might have been t’other thing.

Vashti.  Ah, that there be—­marrying.  But there bain’t no more victuals got into the house as I knows of.  Th’ old woman’s seen to that.

Harry.  And be May gone out, too, along of them to see the marrying?

Vashti.  Ah, I counts as her be.  But her’s a-coming back in a little while, and you may sit down and bide till she does.

Harry.  I’d sooner be about and on my way, Missis, if ’tis all the same to you.  But I thanks you kindly.  And you get and tell May when she do come home, that ’tis particular glad I be for to know as her bain’t took worse, nor nothing.  And should I happen in these parts again, ’tis very likely as I’ll take a look in on she some day.

Vashti.  Ah, her’ll have got t’other old baggage set in the right place by then.

Harry. [Looking round him.] Well, I be rare pleased to think of May so comfortable, like, for her was got down terrible low.

Vashti.  T’other’ll be broughted lower.