(_She comes forward and lays her hand on the girl's shoulder._)
MARY STEWART. Let us go and lift him into the house, and not be leaving him lie out there alone.
SCENE: A GIRL sits crouched over her knees on a stile close to a river. A MAN with a silver badge stands beside her clutching the worn top plank. THE GIRL'S level brows are drawn together; her eyes see her memories. THE MAN'S eyes see THE GIRL; he has a dark, twisted face. The bright sun shines; the quiet river flows; the cuckoo is calling; the mayflower is in bloom along the hedge that ends in the stile on the towing-path.
[Footnote 1: From _Scribner's Magazine_, May, 1919. Copyright by Charles Scribner's Sons; included by special permission of the writer and publishers.]
THE MAN. Let 'im. 'E's come too late, that's all.
THE GIRL. He couldn't come before. I'm frightened. 'E was fond o' me.
THE MAN. And aren't I fond of you? My Gawd!
THE GIRL. I ought to 'a' waited, Jim; with 'im in the fightin'.
THE MAN (_passionately_). And what about me? Aren't I been in the fightin'--earned all I could get?
THE GIRL. Not like you, Jim--not like you.
THE MAN. One man's luck'a another's poison. I've seen it.
THE GIRL. I ought to 'a' waited. I never thought 'e'd come back from the fightin'.
THE MAN (_grimly_). Maybe 'e'd better not 'ave.
THE GIRL (_looking back along the tow-path_). What'll 'e be like, I wonder?
THE MAN (_gripping her shoulder_). Daise, don't you never go back on me, or I should kill you, and 'im too.
(THE GIRL _looks at him, shivers, and puts her lips to his._)
THE MAN. Will you run for it? 'E'd never find us.
THE MAN (_dully_). What's the good o' stayin'? The world's wide.
THE GIRL. I'd rather have it off me mind, with him 'ome.
THE MAN (_clenching his hands_). It's temptin' Providence.
THE MAN (_glancing at the sun_). 'Alf past four.
THE GIRL (_looking along the towing-path_). 'E said four o'clock. Jim, you better go.
THE MAN. Not I. _I've_ not got the wind up. I've seen as much of hell as he has, any day. What like is he?
THE GIRL (_dully_). I dunno, just. I've not seen 'im these three years. I dunno no more, since I've known you.
THE GIRL. 'Bout your size. Oh! Jim, go along!
THE MAN. No fear! What's a blighter like that to old Fritz's shells? We didn't shift when they was comin'. If you'll go, I'll go; not else.