5
M.: What like is the noise?
Jim: I don’t know is it cryin’ or sobbin’ or weenin’ some way it is.
Gr.: Praps some wan’s dog has got hurted.
M.: I’d bes’ go an’ see anyway. Here, Maggie, you come with me and houl the lanthern–you’re not afeard like Jim.
Jim [angrily]: I’m not feared, an’ I’m th’oul’es’. Maggie can mind the pudding.
M.: Of all quare things. Jus’ look at this?
Sets down little girl-child, dressed like a foreigner. Child puts finger in mouth and stares at them.
Gr.: Aw, the bogh milesh! Where in the world have she come from at all. Come to the fire, poor lamb. See how coul the lil hannies is. [All press round, taking off shoes, chatfing hands, caressing child’s hair, etc.] See the fine doll you’ve got now, Maggie veen. Reach the milk here, Jim.
Child drinks from basin.
Jim: Oh, Mammie, she’s drunk all our milk.
M.: Don’t you be passin’ such rude remarks, Jim. I think you childher is growin’ more imperent an’ more ignoranter every day.
Jim [sulkily]: I wasn't sayin’ nawthin’.
M.: Don’t you go for to give me no sauce now. I’m goin’ to fetch a rope’s end to you to teach you manners.
Makes as if to go to back-kitchen.
Jim [crying]: Get a sof’ wan, Mammie.
M.: Well you mind now an’ be good. [Smooths his hair. Jim sniffs and recovers.] I heard there were some of them Belgiums had took a house up the glen. The chile mus’ have strayed down here and lost herself. She was lyin’ by the big fir logs out theer sobbin’ mos’ pirriful, an’ the snow fallin’ on her too. It’s snowin’ bad now.
Gr.: An’ they’ll be in a worl’ of throuble up theer when they miss her. How can we let them know at all?
