DANIEL. Nay, she be but just come from upstairs, Mother. Let her bide
quiet a while with young Andrew here; whilst do you come along with me
and get me out my Sunday coat. ’Tis time I was dressed for church too,
I’m thinking.
ELIZABETH. I don’t know what’s come to the house this morning, and
that’s the truth. Andrew, I’ll not have you keep Millie beyond a five
minutes. ’Tis enough of one another as you’ll get later on, like.
Father, go you off upstairs for your coat. ’Tis hard work for me,
getting you all to act respectable, that ’tis.
[DANIEL _and_ ELIZABETH _leave the room_. ANDREW _moves near_ MILLIE
_and holds out both his hands_. _She draws herself haughtily away_.
ANDREW. Millie—’tis our wedding day.
MILLIE. And what if it is, Andrew.
ANDREW. Millie, it cuts me to the heart to see your face all wet with
tears.
MILLIE. Did you think to see it otherwise, Andrew?
ANDREW. No smile upon your lips, Millie.
MILLIE. Have I anything to smile about, Andrew?
ANDREW. No love coming from your eyes, Mill.
MILLIE. That you have never seen, Andrew.
ANDREW. And all changed in the voice of you too.
MILLIE. What do you mean by that, Andrew?
ANDREW. Listen, Millie—’tis a month since I last spoke with you. Do you
recollect? ’Twas the evening of the great Fair.
MILLIE And what if it was?
ANDREW. Millie, you were kinder to me that night than ever you had been
before. I seemed to see such a gentle look in your eyes then. And when
you spoke, ’twas as though—as though—well—’twas one of they quists
a-cooing up in the trees as I was put in mind of.
MILLIE. Well, there’s nothing more to be said about that now, Andrew.
That night’s over and done with.
ANDREW. I’ve carried the thought of it in my heart all this time,
Millie.
MILLIE. I never asked you to, Andrew.
ANDREW. I’ve brought you a nosegay of flowers, Mill. They be rare
blossoms with grand names what I can’t recollect to all of them.
[MILLIE _takes the nosegay_, _looks at it for an instant_, _and then lets
it fall_.
MILLIE. I have no liking for flowers this day, Andrew.
ANDREW. O Millie, and is it so as you and me are going to our marriage?
MILLIE. Yes, Andrew. ’Tis so. I never said it could be different. I
have no heart to give you. My love was given long ago to another. And
that other has forgotten me by now.
ANDREW. O Millie, you shall forget him too when once you are wed to me,
I promise you.
MILLIE. ’Tis beyond the power of you or any man to make me do that,
Andrew.
ANDREW. Millie, what’s the good of we two going on to church one with
t’other?
MILLIE. There’s no good at all, Andrew.
ANDREW. Millie, I could have sworn that you had begun to care sommat
more than ordinary for me that last time we were together.
MILLIE. Then you could have sworn wrong. I care nothing for you,
Andrew, no, nothing. But I gave my word I’d go to church with you and be
wed. And—I’ll not break my word, I’ll not.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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