Part 6 (1/2)

JUDITH: If Jim denies ...

PHBE: If Jim can look me in the eyes, and swear ...

JUDITH: Come, set her mind at ease. Don't spare me, Jim; But look her in the eyes, and tell her all; For she's your wife; and has a right to ken The bairn's no bairn of yours. Come, lad, speak out; And don't stand gaping. You ken as well as I The bairn ... Speak! Speak! Have you no tongue at all?

(_She pauses; but JIM hesitates to speak._)

Don't think of me. You've naught to fear from me.

Tell all you ken of me right out: no word Of yours can hurt me now: I'm shameless, now: I'm in the ditch, and spattered to the neck.

Come, don't mince matters: your tongue's not so modest It fears to make your cheeks burn--I ken that; And when the question is a woman's virtue, It rattles like a reaper round a wheatfield, And as little cares if it's cutting grain or poppies.

So, it's too late to blush and stammer now, And let your teeth trip up your tongue. Speak out!

(_JIM still hesitates._)

Your wife is waiting; if you don't tell her true, And quick about it, it's your own look-out.

I wouldn't be in your shoes, anyway.

See, how she's badgered me; and all because ...

Come: be a man: and speak.

JIM: The brat's no brat Of mine, Phbe, I swear ...

(_He stops in confusion, dropping his eyes. PHBE turns from him, lays one hand on the latch and the other on JUDITH's arm._)

PHBE: Come, la.s.s, it's time We were getting home.

JUDITH: We?

PHBE: Ay, unless you'd stay?

You've the right.

JUDITH: I stay? O G.o.d, what have I done!

That I'd never crossed the threshold!

ELIZA: You're not going To leave him, Phbe? You cannot: you're his wife; And cannot quit ... But, I'm getting old ...

JIM: Leave me?

Leave me? She's mad! I never heard the like-- And on my wedding-day--stark, staring mad!

But, I'm your husband; and I bid you bide.

PHBE: O Jim, if you had only told the truth, I might, G.o.d knows--for I was fond of you, And trusted ...

JIM: Now you're talking sense. Leave me-- And married to me in a church, and all!

But, that's all over; and you're not huffed now.

There's naught in me to take a scunner at.

Yet the shying filly may prove a steady mare, Once a man's astriddle her who'll stand no capers.

You've got to let a woman learn who's master, Sooner or later: so, it's just as well To get it over, once and for all. That's that.

And now, let Judith go. Come, Phbe, la.s.s: I thought you'd a tender heart. Don't be too hard On a luckless wench: but let bygones be bygones.

All's well that ends well. And what odds, my la.s.s, Even if the brat were mine?

PHBE: Judith, you're ready?

JIM: Let the la.s.s bide, and sup with us. I'll warrant She'll not say nay: she's a peckish look, as though She'd tasted no singing-hinnies this long while back.