hind her, padding round the barn in their
stockinged feet. Passing the big doors, IVY throws them open.]

An' 'tes all like that in 'Eaven.

[She stands there gazing out, still playing on her imaginary
pipe. And they all stand a moment silent, staring into the
moonlight.]

CLYST. 'Tes a glory-be full mune to-night!

IVY. A goldie-cup--a big one. An' millions o' little goldie-cups on
the floor of 'Eaven.

MERCY. Oh! Bother 'Eaven! Let's dance "Clapperclaws"! Wake up,
Tibby!

GLADYS. Clapperelaws, clapperclaws! Come on, Bobbie--make circle!

CLYST. Clapperclaws! I dance that one fine.

IVY. [Taking the tambourine] See, Tibby; like this. She hums and
beats gently, then restores the tambourine to the sleepy TIBBY, who,
waking, has placed a piece of apple in her mouth.

CONNIE. 'Tes awful difficult, this one.

IVY. [Illustrating] No; yu just jump, an' clap yore 'ands. Lovely,
lovely!

CLYST. Like ringin' bells! Come ahn!

[TIBBY begins her drowsy beating, IVY hums the tune; they dance,
and their shadows dance again upon the walls. When she has
beaten but a few moments on the tambourine, TIBBY is overcome
once more by sleep and falls back again into her nest of hay,
with her little shoed feet just visible over the edge of the
bench. Ivy catches up the tambourine, and to her beating and
humming the dancers dance on.]

[Suddenly GLADYS stops like a wild animal surprised, and cranes
her neck towards the aide door.]

CONNIE. [Whispering] What is it?

GLADYS. [Whispering] I hear--some one comin' across the yard.

[She leads a noiseless scamper towards the shoes. BOBBIE
JARLAND shins up the ladder and seizes the lantern. Ivy drops
the tambourine. They all fly to the big doors, and vanish into
the moonlight, pulling the door nearly to again after them.]

[There is the sound of scrabbling at the hitch of the side door,
and STRANGWAY comes into the nearly dark barn. Out in the night
the owl is still hooting. He closes the door, and that sound is
lost. Like a man walking in his sleep, he goes up to the
ladder, takes the rope in his hand, and makes a noose. He can
be heard breathing, and in the darkness the motions of his hands
are dimly seen, freeing his throat and putting the noose round
his neck. He stands swaying to and fro at the foot of the
ladd