Naw. Ye’re no’. A’ll want ye here. MARY Why no’? ELLEN There’ll be plenty fills o’ wimmen there seein’ whit’s up and keepin’ the men frae their wark, withoot you gaun an’ helpin’ them tae dae it. MARY But we—— ELLEN Look here ma lass, if oor Jock’s hurt, oor job’s tae get ‘im weel again. Rushin’ oot tae the pit-heid ‘ll dae ‘im nae guid. It’s only wimmen that huvnae got husbands and sons doon in the pit that gaes staunin’ roon faintin’ and whit nut an’ makin’ a nuisance o’ theirsel’s. The ithers stays at hame an’ gets things ready. MARY We dinnae ken whit tae get ready fur. ELLEN We ken anough. MARY Jock ‘ll mebbe no’ be hurt. ELLEN Then we’ll hae wastet oor wark. MARY Whit’ll A dae i ELLEN A donno that there’s sae much when aw’s dune. We’ll mebbe need hot watter. MARY Fur—— ELLEN Hoo dae A ken whit fur? Yon kettleful ‘ll dae an’ oor tea will huv tae wait. MARY Bit whit can we dae? Gie me somethin’ tae dae fur mercy’s sake. A’ll go mad if A don’t dae somethin’. A cannae sit still and wait, and wait, and wait. ELLEN Ye’d best be makin’ his bed. MARY Yes, auntie. ELLEN Whit are ye greetin’ fur, lass? We ken naethin’ yit, an’ if we did, greetin’ ‘ll no’ mend it. It’ll dae Jock nae guid, nae maitter hoo he is, to see ye slobberin’ whin he comes in. (Mary dries her eyes and begins to clear the table.) Whit are ye daein’ that fur? MARY A don’t know. A thocht—— ELLEN A body mun eat. Let things be. A tell’t ye tae gang tae the room and mak’ his bed. MARY Aw richt, auntie. [Mary goes to the bedroom, closing the door behind her. Ellen looks to see it is shut, and moves rapidly and purposefully to the door to the street. It is now daylight. The confused murmur of a distant crowd is heard. She stands on the threshold and looks out. Presently she speaks to some one approaching but not yet visible. ELLEN Whit is’t, Polly? A middle-aged woman in a drab skirt and blouse with a shawl thrown over her head appears breathless at the door; it is a neighbour, Polly Walker. POLLY Ropes slipped and the cage fell doon the shaft. Is your’s oot at his wark. ELLEN First cage doon? POLLY