FIRST VOICE: She remembers Ross. A big man, he was. Dug ditches for the town. Whenever there was a heavy load or a big job.... SECOND VOICE: Then she ate a snake. FIRST VOICE: Where’s Lethe now? In the prison. Among the women. She works all day in a room with iron over the windows. Twenty years. When she comes out she’ll be over fifty. THEODOSIA: He is a fool that destourbeth the moder to wepen in the death of her child, til she have wept hir fille, as for a certein tyme.... FIRST VOICE: They sew all day, to make clothes for the men prisoners to wear. Over and over, a stitch, the same, over and over, never done. THEODOSIA: You have to let her weep out her litter of tears. That’s all there is to it. THIRD VOICE: No more lovers, no more men. She killed her man. Theodosia helping. FIRST VOICE: Why don’t you tell Frank to bring you down food? F—o—o—d. A beefsteak. Give an order. Speak plain this time. Say, “See here....” SECOND VOICE, _a retreating laughter_: That creep or swim or fly or run, After me as you never saw! THEODOSIA: I’ll tell him nothing. SECOND VOICE: By means of secret charms to draw All creatures living beneath the sun. FIRST VOICE, _arguing_: Tell him how it is here. Say, “As an old friend, Frank, I’ll tell you my situation....” THEODOSIA: I’ll say nothing. Shut your blabber. SECOND VOICE: Last night while you were asleep a great black face, a man’s face, mouth open, teeth wide, bloody throat, came swimming, tonight will come swimming close into your eyes, into the very light of your brain. Swims up into your sight. She turned quickly toward the window to dispel the too-vivid dream and looked at the boughs of the trees as they stood as cold lace against the sky. Across the steep ledge of dull light some crows were moving on stiff wings, the movements of the birds and the birds being two separate things, unrelated. When the birds were gone the movement remained, sobbing against the wall of light. * * * * *