SCENE I]
MRS. HOLROYD
13
Blackmore
- Well—a rat is a nasty thing!
Mrs. Holroyd
- But I s’ll get used to them. I ’d give anything to be out of this place.
Blackmore
- It is rotten, when you ’re tied to a life you don’t like. But I should miss it if you were n’t here. When I ’m coming down the line to the pit in the morning—it ’s nearly dark at seven now—I watch the fire-light in here— Sometimes I put my hand on the wall outside where the chimney runs up to feel it warm— There is n’t much in Bestwood, is there?
Mrs. Holroyd
- There ’s less than nothing if you can’t be like the rest of them—as common as they ’re ’made.
Blackmore
- It ’s a fact—particularly for a woman— But this place is cosy— God love me, I ’m sick of lodgings.
Mrs. Holroyd
- You ’ll have to get married— I ’m sure there are plenty of nice girls about.
Blackmore
- Are there? I never see ’em. (He laughs)
Mrs. Holroyd
- Oh, come, you can’t say that.
Blackmore
- I ’ve not seen a single girl—an unmarried girl—that I should want for more than a fortnight—not one.
