(_He cannot speak the words._)
THE GIRL. Not like you, Jim--not like you.
THE MAN. 'Ave a spirit, then.
THE GIRL. I promised 'im.
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 GIRL. I never could.
THE MAN. Will you run for it? 'E'd never find us.
(THE GIRL _shakes her head._)
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 GIRL. What's the time, Jim?
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 MAN. Big, or little chap?
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.
(_Again she shakes her head._)
THE GIRL. Jim, do you love me true? (_For answer_, THE MAN _takes
her avidly in his arms._) I ain't ashamed--I ain't ashamed. If 'e
could see me 'eart.
THE MAN. Daise! If I'd known you out there I never could 'a'
stuck it. They'd 'a' got me for a deserter. That's 'ow I love
you!
THE GIRL. Jim, don't lift your 'and to 'im. Promise!
THE MAN. That's according.
THE GIRL. Promise!
THE MAN. If 'e keeps quiet, I won't. But I'm not accountable--not
always, I tell you straight--not since I've been through that.
THE GIRL (_with a shiver_). Nor p'r'aps 'e isn't.
THE MAN. Like as not. It takes the lynchpins out, I tell you.
THE GIRL. God 'elp us!
THE MAN (_grimly_). Ah! We said that a bit too often. What we want,
we take, now; there's no one to give it us, and there's no
fear'll stop us; we seen the bottom o' things.
THE GIRL. P'r'aps 'e'll say that too.
THE MAN. Then it'll be 'im or me.
THE GIRL. I'm frightened.
THE MAN (_tenderly_). No, Daise, no! (_He takes out a knife._) The
river's 'andy. One more or less. 'E shan't 'arm you; nor me
neither.
THE GIRL (_seizing his hand_). Oh! no! Give it to me, Jim!
THE MAN (_smiling_). No fear! (_He puts it away._) Shan't 'ave no
need for it, like as not. All right, little Daise; you can't be
expected to see things like what we do. What's a life, anyway?
I've seen a thousand taken in five minutes. I've seen dead men on
the wires like flies on a fly-paper; I've been as good as dead
meself an 'undred times. I've killed a dozen men. It's nothin'.
'E's safe, if 'e don't get my blood up. If 'e does, nobody's
safe; not 'im, nor anybody else; not even you. I'm speakin'
sober.
THE GIRL (_softly_). Jim, you won't go fightin', wi' the sun out
and the birds all callin'?
THE MAN. That depends on 'im. I'm not lookin' for it. Daise, I
love you. I love your eyes. I love your hair. I love you.
THE GIRL. And I love you, Jim. I don't want nothin' more than you
in the whole world.
THE MAN. Amen to that, my dear. Kiss me close!
(_The sound of a voice singing breaks in on their embrace._ THE
GIRL _starts from his arms and looks behind her along the
towing-path._ THE MAN _draws back against the hedge, fingering his
side, where the knife is hidden. The song comes nearer._)
I'll be right there to-night
Where the fields are snowy white;
Banjos ringin', darkies singin'--
All the world seems bright.
THE GIRL. It's 'im!
THE MAN. Don't get the wind up, Daise. I'm here!
(_The singing stops. A man's voice says: Christ! It's Daise; it's
little Daise 'erself_! THE GIRL _stands rigid. The figure of a
soldier appears on the other side of the stile. His cap is tucked
into his belt, his hair is bright in the sunshine; he is lean,
wasted, brown, and laughing._)
SOLDIER. Daise! Daise! Hallo, old pretty girl!
(THE GIRL _does not move, barring the way, as it were._)
THE GIRL. Hallo, Jack! (_Softly_) I got things to tell you.
SOLDIER. What sort o' things, this lovely day? Why, I got things
that'd take me years to tell. 'Ave you missed me, Daise?
THE GIRL. You been so long.
SOLDIER. So I 'ave. My Gawd! It's a way they 'ave in the Army. I
said when I got out of it I'd laugh. Like as the sun itself I
used to think of you, Daise, when the crumps was comin' over, and
the wind was up. D' you remember that last night in the wood?
"Come back, and marry me quick, Jack!" Well, 'ere I am--got me
pass to 'eaven. No more fightin', an' trampin,' no more sleepin"
rough. We can get married now, Daise. We can live soft an' 'appy.
Give us a kiss, old pretty.
THE GIRL (_drawing back_). No.
SOLDIER (_blankly_). Why not?
(THE MAN, _with a swift movement, steps along the hedge to_ THE
GIRL'S _side._)
THE MAN. That's why, soldier.
SOLDIER (_leaping over the stile_). 'Oo are you, Pompey? The sun
don't shine in your inside, do it? 'Oo is 'e, Daise?
THE GIRL. My man.
SOLDIER. Your--man! Lummy! "Taffy was a Welshman, Taffy was a
thief"! Well, soldier? So you've been through it, too. I'm
laughin' this mornin', as luck will 'ave it. Ah! I can see your
knife.
THE MAN (_who has half drawn his knife_). Don't laugh at _me_,
I tell you.
SOLDIER. Not at you, soldier, not at you. (_He looks from one to
the other._) I'm laughin' at things in general. Where did you get
it, soldier?
THE MAN (_watchfully_). Through the lung.
SOLDIER. Think o' that! An' I never was touched. Four years an'
never was touched. An' so you've come an' took my girl. Nothin'
doin'! Ha! (_Again he looks from one to the other--then away._)
Well! The world's before me. (_He laughs._) I'll give you Daise for
a lung protector.
THE MAN (_fiercely_). You won't. I've took her.
SOLDIER. That's all right, then. You keep 'er. I've got a laugh
in me you can't put out, black as you are! Good-bye, little Daise!
(THE GIRL _makes a movement toward him._)
THE MAN. Don't touch 'im!
(THE GIRL _stands hesitating, and suddenly bursts into tears._)
SOLDIER. Look 'ere, soldier; shake 'ands! I don't want to see a
girl cry, this day of all, with the sun shinin'. I seen too much
o' sorrer. You an' me've been at the back of it. We've 'ad our
whack. Shake!
THE MAN. Who are you kiddin'? You never loved 'er!
SOLDIER. Oh! I thought I did.
THE MAN (_fiercely_). I'll fight you for her.
(_He drops his knife._)
SOLDIER (_slowly_). Soldier, you done your bit, an' I done mine.
It's took us two ways, seemin'ly.
THE GIRL (_pleading_). Jim!
THE MAN (_with clenched fists_). I don't want 'is charity. I only
want what I can take.
SOLDIER. Daise, which of us will you 'ave?