Mum's my best friend, the only one ... though, whiles, It's seemed even he had blabbered out my secrets, And hollered them to rouse the countryside, And draw all eyes on me. But, I must mizzle.

JUDITH: You're going, Jim?

JIM: I'll not be taken here, Like a brock in his earth: I'll not be trapped and torn ...

Yet, I don't know. Why should I go? No worse To be taken here than elsewhere: and I'm dead beat: I'm all to rovers, my wit's all gone agate: And how can I travel in these boots? A week since The soles bid a fond farewell to the uppers: I've been Hirpling it, barefoot--ay, kind lady, barefoot.

You'd hardly care to be in my shoes, Judith?

While you've been sitting doose ...

JUDITH: I've known the road: I've trudged it, too, lad: and your feet are bleeding.

I'll bathe them for you, Jim, before you go: And you shall have a pair of Michael's boots.

JIM: So, I may have young master's cast-off boots, Since he's stepped into my shoes--a fair swap!

And tug my forelock, like a lousy tinker; And whine G.o.d bless the master of this house, Likewise the mistress, too ... By gox, I've come To charity--Jim Barrasford's come to mooch For charity at Krindlesyke! Shanks's mare's A sorry nag at best; and lets you down, Sooner or later, for certain--the last straw, When a man can't trust his feet, and his own legs Give under him, in his need, and bring him down A devasher in the ditch as the dogs are on him!

You're sorry? I don't know. How can I tell?

You're sly, you f.a.ggit; but don't get over Jim With jookery-pawkry, Judith: I may be maiselt, But I've a little rummelgumption left: I still ken a bran from a brimmer--bless your heart!

It suits you to get rid of me; and you judge It's cheaply done at the price of a pair of tackities.

Nay: I'll be taken here.

JUDITH: You cannot stay.

JIM: Do you take me for a cangling cadger, to haggle ...

Forgimety! I cannot ... G.o.d's truth, I dare not!

You've got me on the hop; and I must hirple; But if I go, I will not go alone: I've a mind to have a partner for this polka.

JUDITH: Alone? And who do you think that ...

JIM: Who but you?

JUDITH: I!

JIM: If I've got to take the road again, You've got to pad it with me: for I'm tired Of travelling lonesome: I've a mind to have My doxy with me. By crikes! I'm fleyed to face The road again, alone. You'll come ...

JUDITH: I cannot.

How could I leave ...

JIM: Then I'll be taken here: You'll be to blame.

JUDITH: But, Jim, how could I leave ...

JIM: The sooner it's over, the better I'll be pleased.

JUDITH: You mustn't stop: and yet, I cannot go.

How could I leave the bairn?

JIM: The brat's asleep.

JUDITH: It won't sleep long.

JIM: Its mammy'll soon be home.

JUDITH: Not for three hours, at earliest.

JIM: Then I'll wait Till then: they can't be on my track so soon: And when its dad and mammy come back ...

JUDITH: Nay, nay: They mustn't find you here.

JIM: Judith, you're right: For they might blab. I'd best be hooking it.

I'll go: but, mind, you're not yet shot of me.

(_As he is speaking, BELL HAGGARD appears in the doorway, and stands, with arms akimbo, watching them; but JIM has his back to the door, and JUDITH, gazing into the fire, doesn't see her either._)

JIM: I'll wait for you beneath the Gallows Rigg, Where the burn skirts the planting, in the slack We trysted in, in the old days--do you mind?

JUDITH: I mind.

JIM: Trust you for that! And I'll lie low: It's a dry bottom: and when the family's snoring You'll come to me. Just whicker like a peesweep Three times, and I'll be with you in a jiffy.

We'll take the road together, bonnie la.s.s; For we were always marrows, you and I.

If only that flirtigig, Phbe, hadn't come Between me and my senses, we'd have wed, And settled down at Krindlesyke for life: But now we've got to hoof it to the end.

My sang! 'twill be a honeymoon for me, After the rig I've run. But, hearken, Judith: If you don't turn up by ten o'clock, I'll come And batter on that door to wake the dead: I'll make such a rumpus, such a Bob-'s-adying, Would rouse you, if you were straked. I'll have you with me, If I've got to carry you, chested: sink my soul!

And for all I care, that luggish slubberdegullion May lounder my hurdies; and go to Hecklebarney!

I'm desperate, Judith ... and I don't mind much ...

But, you'll come, la.s.s?

JUDITH: I'll come.

JIM: Well, if you fail, They'll take me here, as sure as death.

BELL (_stepping forward_): That's so.

JIM (_wheeling round_): The devil!

BELL: Nay: not yet: all in good time.

But I question they'll wait till ten o'clock: they seemed Impatient for your company, deuce kens why: But then, what's one man's meat ...

JIM: What's that you say?

BELL: They seemed dead-set ... You needn't jump like that: I haven't got the bracelets in my pocket.

JIM: And who the h.e.l.l are you? and what do you mean?

BELL: You've seen my face before.

JIM: Ay--ay ... I've seen it: But I don't ken your name. You dog my heels: I've seen your face ... I saw it on that night-- That night ... and sink me, but I saw it last In the bar at Bellingham: your eyes were on me.

Ay, and I've seen that phisgog many times: And it always brought ill-luck.

BELL: It hasn't served Its owner so much better: yet it's my fortune, Though I'm no peachy milkmaid. Ay: I fancied 'Twas you they meant.

JIM: Who meant?