DORRY. I shall ask Dad if I may go along of him and Miss Sims to the dance, I shall. Dad’s got that kind to me since last night—he gived me a sixpence to buy sweets this morning when I hadn’t asked. And won’t it be nice when Miss Sims comes here to live, and when you has someone to help you in the work, Gran’ma? JANE. Well—’tis to be hoped as ’twill be all right this time. DORRY. This time, Gran’ma! Why, wasn’t it all right when Dad was married afore, then? JANE. [_Getting the lamp from a shelf_.] I don’t light up as a rule till ’tis six o’clock, but I count it’s a bit of snow coming as have darkened the air like. DORRY. Gran’ma, isn’t Miss Sims nice-looking, don’t you think? I’d like to wear my hair like hers and have earrings a-hanging from me and a-shaking when I moves my head, I would. JANE. [_Setting the lamp on the table_.] Here, fetch me the matches, do. DORRY. [_Bringing the matches_.] Was my mammy nice-looking, like Miss Sims, Gran’ma? JANE. I’m one as goes by other things nor looks—For like as not ’tis fine looks as is the undoing of most girls as has them—give me a plain face and a heart what’s pure, I says, and ’tis not far out as you’ll be. DORRY. Was my mammy’s heart pure, Gran’ma? [_A moment’s silence_. JANE _lights the lamp_. DORRY _leans at the table_, _watching her_. DORRY. Was my mammy’s—[_A loud knock on the outside door_. JANE. Who’s that come bothering round! Run and see, Dorry, there’s a good child. DORRY. It’ll be Gran’ma Vashti, I daresay. She do mostly knock at the door loud with her stick. [DORRY _runs to the window and looks out_. DORRY. ’Tis her, and the snow white all upon her. [DORRY _goes to the door to open it_. JANE. [_To herself_.] Of all the meddlesome old women—why can’t her bide till her’s wanted. [DORRY _opens the door wide_, _and_ VASHTI _Comes slowly in to the room_, _leaning on a big staff_. JANE. Well, Vashti Reed, and what brings you down from the hill to-day? ’Twould have been better had you bid at home, with the dark coming on and the snow. DORRY. [_Who has closed the door_.] Sit down, Granny—there, close against the fire, do. [VASHTI _stands in the middle of the room_, _looking from one to another_. DORRY. Sit down, Granny, by the fire, do. VASHTI. ’Tis in the house and out of it as I have went. And down to the pool where the ice do lie, and up on the fields where ’tis fog, And there be summat in I what drives I onward, as might the wind. And no where may the bones of me rest this day. JANE. If ’tis to talk your foolishness as you be come, you’d best have stopped away. Here, sit you down, Vashti Reed, and behave sensible, and maybe as I’ll get you summat warm to drink presently. DORRY. Yes, Grannie, sit you down along of we. [VASHTI _sits stiffly down by the hearth_, _leaning on her stick_. JANE _resumes her place_, _and_ DORRY _puts her little stool between them_.