ARTIE.  You  be  going  to  do  wonders,  you  be.
Sit  down,  you  old  stupe.  Ain't  no  bride  'ere.
MR.  P.  [To  the  GIRLS.]  There  be  brides  for
us  all.  With  all  you  lovely  young  things.
Nothing  like  'aving  a  sweet'eart.  Now!  You
ladies,  you'll  want  to  take  off  your  things.
ARTIE.     'Ow  about  us?

MR.  PAR.  One  sect  at  a  time.  Like  the
sheep  goin'  through  a  'edge.  Per'aps  you
ladies'll  go  upstairs  with  Nan  and  Jenny  'ere.
NAN.    Come,  Ellen.
64  THE  TRAGEDY  OF  NAN  [Act  II

JENNY.    'Ere !    Give  I  your  brolly.
[The  GIRLS  go  upstairs.]

MR.  PAR.  Now,  you  gentlemen.  Come  on
in  'ere  with  me.  [He  leads  them  to  the  inner
room.]

MRS.  PAR.     [As  DICK  follows.]     Oh,  Dick.
DICK.    Ess,  Mrs.  Pargetter.
MRS.  PAR.  I  see  you  'ave  your  things  off.
Just  'elp  me  a  moment,  there's  a  good  lad.
DICK.  Ess,  Mrs.  Pargetter.  What  do  'e
want  done?

MRS.  PAR.  Us  must  'ave  all  clear  for  danc-
ing. I'll  nip  them  candles  over  'ere  to  the
dresser.  There.  Now  'elp  me  lift  the  table
over.  There!  You  was  'ere  early,  wasn't  yer,
Dick?

DICK.  Nothin'  to  speak  of.  'Ow  about
them  chairs?

MRS.  PAR.  They'll  do  nicely.  I  suppose
Nan  let  you  in?


At  Broad  Oak


Act  in  THE  TRAGEDY  OF  NAN  65

DICK.    Ess.    Miss  Nan  done.
MRS.  PAR.  You  two  been  'aving  a  fine  game,
I  know.
DICK.    Ah?

MRS.  PAR.  Don't  tell  me  you  'aven't.  Did
she  kiss  yer?

DICK.     [Sullenly.]    Never  you  mind.
MRS.  PAR.  Oh,  I  don't  mind.  But  I  got
eyes,  I  'ave.
