Part 22 (1/2)
(_She sways forward, but JUDITH catches her in her arms._)
Where am I? Judith, is that you?
How did I come here, honey? But, now I mind-- I fell ... He must have hidden in the heather To trip me up ... He kicked me, as I lay-- The harrygad!
JUDITH: Jim!
BELL: Nay! What am I saying?
I stumbled, Judith: you must stick to that, Whatever they may say ... I stumbled, Judith.
Think what would happen if they strung Jim up; Should I ... you can't hang any man alone ...
Think what would happen should I ... Don't you see, We cannot let them string up Michael's uncle?
Respectable ... it wouldn't be respectable ...
And I ... I s.l.u.tted, fifteen ... I'd an inkling There must be blood, somewhere ... I thought I smelt it ...
And it tastes salt on the lips ... It's choking me ...
It's fire and salt and candle-light for me This time, and Whinny Muir and Brig-o'-Dread ...
I'm done for, Judith ... It's all up with me ...
It's been a fine ploy, while it lasted ...
JUDITH: Come ...
BELL: Life with a smack in it: death with a tang ...
JUDITH: I'll help you into bed.
(_BELL HAGGARD gazes about her in a dazed fas.h.i.+on, as JUDITH raises her and supports her across the floor towards the inner room._)
BELL: Bed, did you say?
Bed, it's not bedtime, is it? To bed, to bed, Says Sleepyhead: tarry awhile, says Slow: Put on the pot, says Greedygut ... I swore I'd not lie down ... You cannot dodge your luck: It had to be ... And I must dree my weird.
When first I came to Krindlesyke, I felt These walls ... these walls ... They're closing on me now!
Let's sup before we go!
(_They pa.s.s into the other room, but BELL HAGGARD's voice still sounds through the open door._)
BELL: Nay! not that bed-- Eliza's bed! The old witch lay in wait For me ... and now she has me! Well, what odds?
Jim called me witch: and the old spaewife and I Should be the doose bedfellows, after all.
Early to bed and early to rise ... I've never Turned in, while I could wink an eye, before: I've always sat late ... And I'd sit it out Now ... But I'm dizzy ... And that old witch, Eliza-- I little guessed she'd play this cantrip on me: But what a jest--Jerusalem, what a jest!
She must be chuckling, thinking how she's done me: And I could laugh, if it wasn't for the pain ...
It doesn't do to rattle broken ribs-- But I could die of laughing, split my sides, If they weren't split already. Yet my clapper Keeps wagging: and I'm my own pa.s.sing-bell-- They knew, who named me ... Talking to gain time ...
It's running out so quick ... And mum's the word: I mustn't rouse her ... She sleeps couthily, Free of the coil of c.u.mber and trouble ... I never Looked on a lonelier face ... The flames ... the flames ...
They're roaring to the stars ... roaring ... roaring ...
The heather's all turned gold ... and golden showers-- Izles and flying embers and falling stars ...
Great flakes of fire ... They've set the world alow ...
It's all about me ... blood-red in my eyes ...
I'm burning ... What have I to do with worms!