e THE MASK

be so mad ‘? He’s awnly this few minutes gone.

WILLIE (more confidently, approaching the stairs). ’Tes all right. I crouched behind hedge an’ saw him gwain down along. I’ve watched this half hour gone. (He lays his hand 0n hers 0n the rail.) Come down.

VASHTI (shakes her head). Not yet. I’ve something

new for ’ee to see. WILLIE. I don’t want to see nawthen——only you.

Come down. . . . I’m waiting on you. . . .

(She laughs again, shakes her heaa’ and disappears into the room. He moves about the room examining the

things, finally getting to the fire-place. He takes ofi’ his cap. Looks in the glass at the fire-place. Then he takes up the whiskey, and replaces it. VASHTI

reappears claa’ in the silk dress.

VASHTI. Here I be, Willie!

WILLIE (foolishly agape). Why, what’s come to ’ee, Vassie ?

VASHTI. ’Tes a weddin’ gown made for you. (She

comes down the stairs.) WILLIE. But ’tes black, Vassie. ’Tes ill-luck on a

black bridal. VASHTI. Ours is no white bridal, lad.

(WILLIE goes to her—she pushes him back.) Wait, I’ll draw the curtains—(a’oes so) set you down.

(He sits down at the table and grabs her arm as she takes up the whiskey. He takes hola’ of bottle, and they laugh. Then she pours the whiskey out and sits down at the table.)

WILLIE. When’ll he be back ‘.7 VASHTI. Tomorrow-—or maybe, next day. He’m stayin’ the night over to Truro.

WILLIE. How do he seem ‘? VASHTI. Strange-like. (Suddenly) Willie—-WiHie—