'm dowf and blunkit, why, deuce only kens!
It seems as if Eliza had me fey:
And that old witch would be the death of me:
And these white walls ... 'Twould be the queerest start!
But, Michael's happy?

JUDITH:
He's the best of husbands--
The best of fathers: he ...

BELL:
I ken, I ken.
Well ... He's got what he wanted, anyway.

JUDITH:
And you?

BELL:
Ay ... I was born to take my luck.
But I must go.

JUDITH:
You'll not wait for them?

BELL:
Nay:
I'm dead to them: I've bid good-bye to them
Till doomsday: and I'm through with Krindlesyke,
This time, I hope--though you can never tell.
I hadn't ettled to darken the door again;
Yet here I am: and even now the walls
Seem closing ... It would be the queerest start
If, after all ... But, dod, I've got the dismals,
And no mistake! I'm in the dowie dumps--
Maundering and moonging like a spancelled cow:
It's over dour and dearn for me in this loaning
On a dowly day. Best pull myself together,
And put my best foot foremost before darkening:
And I've no mind to meet them in the road.
So long!

(_She goes out of the door and makes down the syke._)

JUDITH:
Good-bye! If you'd only bide a while ...
Come back! You mustn't go like that ... Bell, Bell!

(_She breaks off, as BELL HAGGARD is already out of hearing, and stands
watching her till she is out of sight; then turns, closing the door,
and sinks into a chair in an abstracted fashion. She takes up her
knitting mechanically, but sits, motionless, brooding by the fire._)

JUDITH:
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 jo