The little woman waited, with one hand Propping the door, and smiled at the loud man. They saw her then; and the sight was enough To gag the speech of every drinker there: The din fell down like something chopt off short. Blank they all wheel'd towards her, with their mouths Still gaping as though full of voiceless words. She let the door slam to; and all at ease, Amused, her smile wrinkling about her eyes, Went forward: they made room for her quick enough. Her chin just topt the counter; she gave in Her bottle to the potboy, tuckt it back, Full of bright tawny ale, under her arm, Rapt down the coppers on the planisht zinc, And turned: and no word spoken all the while. The first voice, in that silent crowd, was hers, Her light snickering laugh, as she stood there Pausing, scanning the sawdust at her feet. Then she switcht round and faced the positive man Whose strong 'She cannot do it!' all still felt Huskily shouting in their guilty ears. 'She can't, eh? She can't do it? '--Then she'd heard! The man, inside his ruddy insolent flesh, Had hoped she did not hear. His barrel chest Gave a slight cringe, as though the glint of her eyes Prickt him. But he stood up to her awkwardly bold, One elbow on the counter, gripping his mug Like a man holding on to a post for safety. The Man: You can't do what's not nature: nobody can. The Woman: And louts like you have nature in your pocket? The Man: I don't say that-- The Woman: If you kept saying naught, No one would guess the fool you are. Second Man: Almost My very words! The Woman: O you're the knowing man! The spark among the cinders! First Man: You can't fetch A free man back, unless he wants to come. The Woman: Nay, I'll be bound he doesn't want to come! Third Man: And he won't come: he told me flat he wouldn't. The Woman: Are you there too? Third Man: And if he does come back It will be devilry brought him. The Woman: I shall bring him;-- Tonight. First Man: How will he come? The Woman: Running: unless He's broke his leg, and then he'll have to come Crawling: but he will come. First Man: How do you know What he may choose to do, three counties off? The Woman: He choose? Third Man: You haven't got him on a lead. The Woman: Haven't I though! Second Man: That's right; it's what I said. The Woman: Ay, there are brains in your family. First Man: You have Some sort of pull on him, to draw him home? The Woman: You may say that: I have hold of his mind. And I can slack it off or fetch it taut. And make him dance a score of miles away An answer to the least twangling thrum I play on it. He thought he lurkt at last Safely; and all the while, what has he been? An eel on the end of a night line; and it's time I haul'd him in. You'll see, to-night I'll land him. Third Man: Bragging's a light job. The Woman;