MANAGER Well, then, we'd best be goin'. I'll send my missis down first thing in the morning. It's a bad job, a bad job, it is. You'll be a' right then? MRS. HOLROYD Yes. MANAGER Well, good-night then--good-night all. ALL Good-night. Good-night. [_The Manager, followed by the two bearers, goes out, closing the door._ RIGLEY It's like this, missis. I never should ha' gone, if he hadn't wanted us to. MRS. HOLROYD Yes, I know. RIGLEY 'E wanted to come up by's sen. MRS. HOLROYD (_wearily_) I know how it was, Mr. Rigley. RIGLEY Yes-- BLACKMORE Nobody could foresee. RIGLEY (_shaking his head_) No. If there's owt, missis, as you want-- MRS. HOLROYD Yes--I think there isn't anything. RIGLEY (_after a moment_) Well--good-night--we've worked i' the same stall ower four years now-- MRS. HOLROYD Yes. RIGLEY Well, good-night, missis. MRS. HOLROYD AND BLACKMORE Good-night. [_The Grandmother all this time has been rocking herself to and fro, moaning and murmuring beside the dead man. When Rigley has gone Mrs. Holroyd stands staring distractedly before her. She has not yet looked at her husband._ GRANDMOTHER Have you got the things ready, Lizzie? MRS. HOLROYD What things? GRANDMOTHER To lay the child out. MRS. HOLROYD (_she shudders_) No--what? GRANDMOTHER Haven't you put him by a pair o' white stockings, nor a white shirt? MRS. HOLROYD He's got a white cricketing shirt--but not white stockings. GRANDMOTHER Then he'll have to have his father's. Let me look at the shirt, Lizzie. (_Mrs. Holroyd takes one from the dresser drawer_) This'll never do--a cold, canvas thing wi' a turn down collar. I s'll 'ave to fetch his father's. (_Suddenly_) You don't want no other woman to touch him, to wash him and lay him out, do you? MRS. HOLROYD (_weeping_) No. GRANDMOTHER Then I'll fetch him his father's gear. We mustn't let him set, he'll be that heavy, bless him. (_She takes her shawl_) I shan't be more than a few minutes, an' the young fellow can stop here till I come back. BLACKMORE Can't I go for you, Mrs. Holroyd? GRANDMOTHER No. _You_ couldn't find the things. We'll wash him as soon as I get back, Lizzie. MRS. HOLROYD All right. [_She watches her mother-in-law go out. Then she starts, goes in the scullery for a bowl, in which she pours warm water. She takes a flannel and soap and towel. She stands, afraid to go any farther._ BLACKMORE Well! MRS. HOLROYD This is a judgment on us. BLACKMORE Why? MRS. HOLROYD On me, it is-- BLACKMORE How? MRS. HOLROYD It is. [_Blackmore shakes his head._ MRS. HOLROYD Yesterday you talked of murdering him. BLACKMORE Well! MRS. HOLROYD Now we've done it. BLACKMORE How? MRS. HOLROYD He'd have come up with the others, if he hadn't felt--felt me murdering him. BLACKMORE But we can't help it. MRS. HOLROYD It's my fault. BLACKMORE Don't be like that! MRS. HOLROYD (_looking at him--then indicating her husband_) I daren't see him. BLACKMORE No? MRS. HOLROYD