DORA (_reads_). 'My dear Child,--I can do no more for you. I have done wrong in keeping your secret; your Father must be now in extreme old age. Go back to him and ask his forgiveness before he dies.--SISTER AGATHA.' Sister Agatha is right. Don't you long for Father's forgiveness? EVA. I would almost die to have it! DORA. And he may die before he gives it; may drop off any day, any hour. You must see him at once. (_Rings bell. Enter_ MILLY.) Milly, my dear, how did you leave Mr. Steer? MILLY. He's been a-moänin' and a-groänin' in 'is sleep, but I thinks he be wakkenin' oop. DORA. Tell him that I and the lady here wish to see him. You see she is lamed, and cannot go down to him. MILLY. Yeäs, Miss, I will. [_Exit_ MILLY. DORA. I ought to prepare you. You must not expect to find our Father as he was five years ago. He is much altered; but I trust that your return-- for you know, my dear, you were always his favourite--will give him, as they say, a new lease of life. EVA (_clinging to_ DORA). Oh, Dora, Dora! _Enter_ STEER, _led by_ MILLY. STEER. Hes the cow cawved? DORA. No. Father. STEER. Be the colt deäd? DORA. No, Father. STEER. He wur sa bellows'd out wi' the wind this murnin', 'at I tell'd 'em to gallop 'im. Be he deäd? DORA. Not that I know. STEER. That hasta sent fur me, then, fur? DORA (_taking_ STEER'S _arm_). Well, Father, I have a surprise for you. STEER. I ha niver been surprised but once i' my life, and I went blind upon it. DORA. Eva has come home. STEER. Hoäm? fro' the bottom o' the river? DORA. No, Father, that was a mistake. She's here again. STEER. The Steers was all gentlefoälks i' the owd times, an' I worked early an' laäte to maäke 'em all gentle-foälks ageän. The land belonged to the Steers i' the owd times, an' it belongs to the Steers ageän: I bowt it back ageän; but I couldn't buy my darter back ageän when she lost hersen, could I? I eddicated boäth on em to marry gentlemen, an' one on 'em went an' lost hersen i' the river. DORA. No, father, she's here. STEER. Here! she moänt coom here. What would her mother saäy? If it be her ghoäst, we mun abide it. We can't keep a ghoäst out. EVA (_falling at his feet_). O forgive me! forgive me! STEER. Who said that? Taäke me awaäy, little gell. It be one o' my bad daäys. [_Exit_ STEER _led by_ MILLY. DORA (_smoothing_ EVA'S _forehead_). Be not so cast down, my sweet Eva. You heard him say it was one of his bad days. He will be sure to know you to-morrow. EVA. It is almost the last of my bad days, I think. I am very faint. I must lie down. Give me your arm. Lead me back again. [DORA _takes_ EVA _into inner room_. _Enter_ MILLY. MILLY. Miss Dora! Miss Dora! DORA (_returning and leaving the bedroom door ajar_). Quiet! quiet! What is it? MILLY. Mr. 'Arold, Miss. DORA. Below? MILLY. Yeäs, Miss. He be saäyin' a word to the owd man, but he'll coom up if ye lets 'im.