Said the maid to the man, “If I thee wed Out of the world and away, Bide ’e at home, and find me bread---- Just for a year and a day.” They hadn’t been wed, the maid and the man, For a year, for a year and a day, Before a want in his heart began, To be out to the world and away. “Oh, wife, there’s come a call to my blood, To be out in the world and away, By road and river, by field and flood, Just for a year and a day.” Out and away to the world he went, By road and river and sea. Oh, man of the road, is your heart content? Will ’e never come back to me? (_She goes and looks at the children and sees that they are asleep_) Oh, man of the road, is your heart content? Will ’e never come back to me? (_While she sings, the firelight dies down and the light of the candle loses its warmth. Outside is a sound of rising wind, and the soft lash of snow against the pane. She goes and looks out of window_) Ah, there be storm, black blasts with icy breath! The night’s gone colder now, aye cold like death, Cold! (_She shivers--three knocks are struck on the door_) Who be there? Who is it? Whence do’e come? (_Another knock, very faint_) Have you no word? What, are ye deaf and dumb? Or--dead? (_Knock. The light burns blue. She opens the door. Pause. Slowly the snowman enters and moves across the room toward the bed_) No, stop! Not there, not there! (_She interposes and lays hold of him. A cold rigour seizes her_) SNOWMAN. Why do you touch me? JOAN. Why do you come here? Who are you? Answer! (_He again moves forward_) No, you don’t go there! You shan’t, you shan’t come nigh of ’em. SNOWMAN. Take care! My touch is--cold! JOAN.-- You think I’m feard o’ that? You think them eyes as I be looking at Have any fear for me, or shape of dread? Worse that what life ’ave? (_With a sort of exultation_) Why, if I were dead! (_Pause. The snowman lifts his hand and points toward the bed._ JOAN _sees his meaning_.) SNOWMAN. If you were dead? JOAN.-- No, no, I say you lie! My little ’uns? God wouldn’t let ’em die. ’A wouldn’t have the heart, ’a wouldn’t have the heart. SNOWMAN.-- Yet there’s a heart, Now quick to beat, Which, this same night, Must lose its heat. To give strength to a lame man’s feet. JOAN.-- A lame man? SNOWMAN.-- Gray-headed, bent, He scarce can go, His strength is spent In drifts of snow, And all the icy blasts that blow. JOAN.-- I don’t know who you mean. SNOWMAN.-- Give me your hand, And you shall see, Here, close at hand, snow-bound goes he. Give me your hand, And come with me. JOAN.-- With you? Why do you think I’d come with you? I’ve got my children, I’ve a husband, too, One as I love. SNOWMAN.-- And he--does he love you? JOAN.--