Chapter 56
EILIR MORRIS. Aye.
VAVASOUR [_shouting after him_]. Find where she's sittin', lad--make certain of that.
EILIR MORRIS [_running in breathless_]. They're throwin' nuts on the fire--
VAVASOUR. Is she there?
EILIR MORRIS. I'm thinkin' she is, but old Pally Hughes was just throwin' a nut on the fire an'--
VAVASOUR [_impatiently_]. 'Tis no matter about Pally Hughes whatever, but your Aunt Kats, did--
EILIR MORRIS. There was only the light of the fire; I did not see her, but I'll go again.
VAVASOUR. Watch for her nut an' see does it burn brightly.
EILIR MORRIS [_going out_]. Aye.
VAVASOUR [_calling after_]. Mind, I'm wantin' to know what she's doin'. [_He has scarcely spoken the last word when a great commotion is heard: a door across the street being slammed to violently, and the sound of running feet. VAVASOUR straightens up, his eyes in terror on the door, which CATHERINE JONES throws open and bursts through._]
VAVASOUR [_holding out his arms_]. Catherine, is it really ye!
[_CATHERINE, after a searching glance at him, draws herself up.
VAVASOUR draws himself up, too, and then stoops to pick up some peat which he puts on the fire, and crosses over to left and sits down on the settle near the chimney, without having embraced her. CATHERINE's face is flushed, her eyes wild under the pretty white cap she wears, a black Welsh beaver above it. She is dressed in a scarlet cloak, under this a tight bodice and short, full skirt, bright stockings, and clogs with bra.s.s tips. Her ap.r.o.n is of heavy linen, striped; over her breast a kerchief is crossed, and from the elbows down to the wrist are full white sleeves stiffly starched._]
CATHERINE. Yiss, yiss, 'twas dull at Pally's--very dull. My nut didn't burn very brightly, an'--an'--well, indeed, my feet was wet, an' I feared takin' a cold.
VAVASOUR. Yiss, yiss, 'tis better for ye here, dearie. [_Then there is silence between them. CATHERINE still breathes heavily from the running, and VAVASOUR shuffles his feet. While they are both sitting there, unable to say a word, the door opens without a sound, and EILIR's curly head is thrust in. A guttural exclamation from him makes them start and look towards the door, but he closes it before they can see him. CATHERINE then
VAVASOUR opens his mouth, shuts it, and opens it again._]
VAVASOUR [_desperately_]. Did ye have a fine time at Pally's?
CATHERINE. Aye, 'twas gay an' fine an'--an'--yiss, yiss, so 'twas an'
so 'twasn't.
VAVASOUR [_his eyes seeking the clock_]. A quarter past eleven, uch!
Katy, do ye recall Pastor Evan's sermon, the one he preached last New Year?
CATHERINE [_also glancing at the clock_]. Sixteen minutes after eleven--yiss--yiss--
VAVASOUR [_catching CATHERINE's glance at the clock_]. Well, Catherine, do--
CATHERINE. Yiss, yiss, I said I did whatever. 'Twas about inheritin'
the grace of life together.
VAVASOUR. Kats, dear, wasn't he sayin' that love is eternal, an'
that--a man--an'--an'--his wife was lovin' for--for--
CATHERINE [_glancing at the clock and meeting VAVASOUR's eyes just glancing away from the clock_]. Aye, lad, for ever-lastin' life! Uch, what have I done?
VAVASOUR [_unheeding and doubling up as if from pain_]. Half after eleven! Yiss, yiss, dear, didn't he say that the Lord was mindful of us--of our difficulties, an' our temptations an' our mistakes?
CATHERINE [_tragically_]. Aye, an' our mistakes. Ow, ow, ow, but a half hour's left!
VAVASOUR. Do ye think, dearie, that if a man were to--to--uch!--be unkind to his wife--an' was sorry an' his wife--his wife dies, that he'd be--be--
CATHERINE [_tenderly_]. Aye, I'm thinkin' so. An', lad dear, do ye think if anythin' was to happen to ye to-night,--yiss, _this_ night,--that ye'd take any grudge against me away with ye?
VAVASOUR [_stiffening_]. Happen to _me_, Catherine? [_VAVASOUR collapses, groaning. CATHERINE goes to his side on the settle._]
CATHERINE [_in an agonized voice_]. Uch, dearie, what is it, what is it, what ails ye?
VAVASOUR [_slanting an eye at the clock_]. Nothin', nothin' at all.
Ow, the devil, 'tis twenty minutes before twelve whatever!
CATHERINE. Lad, lad, what is it?
VAVASOUR. 'Tis nothin', nothin' at all--'tis--ow!--'tis just a little pain across me.
CATHERINE [_her face whitening as she steals a look at the clock and puts her arm around VAVASOUR_]. Vavasour, lad dear, is that the wind in the chimney? Put your arm about me an' hold fast.
VAVASOUR [_both hands across his stomach, his eyes on the clock_].
Ow--ten minutes!
CATHERINE [_shaking all over_]. Is that a step at the door?
VAVASOUR [_unheeding_].'Tis goin' to strike now in a minute.
CATHERINE [_her eyes in horror on the clock_]. Five minutes before twelve!
VAVASOUR [_almost crying, his eyes fixed on the clock's face_]. Uch, the toad, the serpent!
CATHERINE [_her face in her hands_]. Dear G.o.d, he's goin' now!
VAVASOUR [_covering his eyes_]. Uch, the devil! Uch, the gates of h.e.l.l! [_CATHERINE cries out. VAVASOUR groans loudly. The clock is striking: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven, Twelve! The last loud clang vibrates and subsides. Through a c.h.i.n.k in her fingers CATHERINE is peering at VAVASOUR. Through a similar c.h.i.n.k his agonized eyes are peering at her._]
CATHERINE [_gulping_]. Uch!
VAVASOUR. The devil!
CATHERINE [_putting out her hand to touch him_]. Lad, dear! [_They embrace, they kiss, they dance madly about. Then they do it all over again. While they are doing this, EILIR opens the door again and thrusts in his head. He stares open-eyed, open-mouthed at them, and leans around the side of the door to see what time it is, saying audibly "five minutes past twelve," grunts his satisfaction, and closes the door._]
VAVASOUR [_mad with joy_]. Kats, are ye here, really here?
CATHERINE [_surprised_]. Am _I_ here? Tut, lad, are _ye_ here?
VAVASOUR [_shrewdly_]. Yiss, that is are we _both_ here?
CATHERINE [_perplexed_]. Did ye think I wasn't goin' to be?