me the bairn. You'll never learn
The father's name from me.

ELIZA:
Go, daughter, go.
What ill-chance made you come to-day, of all days?

JUDITH:
Why not to-day? Come, woman, I'd ken that,
Before I go. I've half a mind to stay.

ELIZA:
Nay, lass, you said ...

JUDITH:
I've said a lot, in my time.
I've changed my mind. 'Twas Jim I came to see--
Though why, God kens! I liked the singing-hinny:
Happen, there'll be some more for me, if I stay.
I find I cannot thrive on nettle-broth:
And it's not every day ...

ELIZA:
Judith, you ken.

JUDITH:
Ken? I ken nothing, but what you tell me.

ELIZA:
Daughter,
I'll tell you all. You'll never have the heart ...

JUDITH:
The heart!

ELIZA:
To stay and shame us, when you ken all.

JUDITH:
All?

ELIZA:
When you talked of weddings, you'd hit the truth:
And Jim brings home his bride to-day. Even now ...

JUDITH:
And Jim brings home ...

ELIZA:
I looked for them by this:
But you've still time ...

JUDITH:
The bride comes home to-day.
Brides should come home: it's right a man should bring
His bride home--ay! And we must go, my wean,
To spare her blushes. We're no company
For bride and bridegroom. Happen, we should meet them,
You must not cry to him: I must not lift
My eyes to his. We're nothing now to him.
Your cry might tell her heart too much: my eyes
Might meet her eyes, and tell ... It isn't good
For a bride to know too much. So, we must hide
In the ditch, as they pass by, if we should chance
To meet them on the road--their road and ours--
The same road, though we're travelling different ways.
The bride comes home. Brides come home every day.
And you and I ...

ELIZA:
There's nothing else for it.

JUDITH:
There's nothing else?

ELIZA:
Nay, lass! How could you bide?
They'll soon ... But, you'll not meet them, if you go ...

JUDITH:
Go, where?

ELIZA:
And how should I ken where you're bound for?
I thought you might be making home.

JUDITH:
Home--home!
I might be making home? And where's my home--
Ay, and my bairn's home, if it be not here?

ELIZA:
Here? You'd not stay?

JUDITH:
Why not? Have I no right?

ELIZA:
If you'll not go for my sake, go for Jim