BE BARRASFORD enter, talking and laughing.
JUDITH ELLERSHAW shrinks into the shadow behind the door, while they
come between her and the settle on which EZRA is nursing the baby
unseen. ELIZA stands dazed in the middle of the room._

JIM:
And they lived happy ever afterwards,
Eh, lass? Well, mother: I've done the trick: all's over;
And I'm a married man, copt fair and square,
Coupled to Phoebe: and I've brought her home.
You call the lass to mind, though you look moidart?
What's dozzened you? She'll find her wits soon, Phoebe:
They're in a mullock, all turned howthery-towthery
At the notion of a new mistress at Krindlesyke--
She'll come to her senses soon, and bid you welcome.
Take off your bonnet; and make yourself at home.
I trust tea's ready, mother: I'm fairly famished.
I've hardly had a bite, and not a sup
To wet my whistle since forenoon: and dod!
But getting married is gey hungry work.
I'm hollow as a kex in a ditch-bottom:
And just as dry as Molly Miller's milkpail
She bought, on the chance of borrowing a cow.
Eh, Phoebe, lass! But you've stopped laughing, have you?
And you look fleyed: there's nothing here to scare you:
We're quiet folk at Krindlesyke. Come, mother,
Have you no word of welcome for the lass,
That you gape like a foundered ewe at us? What ghost
Has given you a gliff, and set you chittering?
Come, shake yourself, before I rax your bones;
And give my bride the welcome due to her--
My bride, the lady I have made my wife.
Poor lass, she's quaking like a dothery-dick.

ELIZA (_to PHOEBE_):
Daughter, may you ...

EZRA (_crooning, unseen, to the baby_):

"Dance for your mammy,
Dance for your daddy ..."

JIM:
What ails the old runt now?
You mustn't heed him, Phoebe, lass: he's blind
And old and watty: but there's no harm in him.

(_Goes towards settle._)

Come, dad, and jog your wits, and stir your stumps,
And welcome ... What the devil's this? Whose brat ...

EZRA:
Whose brat? And who should ken--although they say,
It's a wise father knows his own child. Ay!
If he's the devil, you're the devil's brat,
And I'm the devil's daddy. Happen you came
Before the parson had time to read the prayers.
But, he's a rum dad ...

(_JUDITH ELLERSHAW steps forward to take the child from EZRA._)

JIM:
Judith Ellershaw!
Why, lass, where ever have ...

(_He steps towards her, then stops in confusion. Nobody speaks as JUDITH