JIM:
Well, I'll not deny
That suits my book. I'd a notion, Judith lass,
I'd find you alone, and make my peace with you,
Before I tackled the young folk. Poor relations
Aren't made too welcome in this ungrateful world--
Least so, by those who've taken the bread from their mouths,
And beggared them of bit and brat: and so
I thought 'twould be more couthy-like with you,
Just having a crack and talking old times over,
Till I was more myself. I don't like strangers,
Not even when they're my own flesh and blood:
They've got a trick of staring at a man:
And all I want is to be let alone--
Just let alone ... By God, why can't they let me
Alone! But you are kind and comfortable:
And you won't heckle me and stare at me:
For I'm not quite myself: I'll own to that--
I'm not myself ... Though who the devil I am
I hardly ken ... I've been that hunted and harried.

JUDITH:
Hunted?

JIM:
Ay, Judith--in a manner of speaking,
Hunted's the word: and I'm too old for the sport.
I'm getting on in years: and you're no younger
Than when I saw you last--you mind the day,
My wedding-day? A fine fligarishon
You made of it between you, you and Phoebe:
And wasn't she the high and mighty madam,
The niffy-naffy don't-come-nigh-me nonesuch?
But I've forgiven her: I bear no malice.

JUDITH:
You bear no malice: and she died of it!

JIM:
Ay, ay: she showed some sense of decency
In that, at least: though she got her sting in first
Like an angry bee. But, Judith, doesn't it seem
We two are tokened to end our days together?
Nothing can keep us parted, seemingly:
So let bygones be bygones.

(_Catching sight of the cradle._)

What, another!
Have you always got a brat about you, Judith?
Last time you sprang a daughter on me, and now ...
But I'm forgetting how the years have flitted.
Don't tell me I'm a grandfather?

JUDITH:
The boy
Is Ruth's.

JIM:
Well, I've come into a family,
And no mistake--a happy family:
And I was born to be a family-man.
They'll never turn against their bairn's granddad:
And I'm in luck.

JUDITH:
You cannot bide here, Jim.

JIM:
And who the hell are you, to say me nay?

JUDITH:
The boy's grandmother.

JIM:
Ay: and so the grandam's
To sit in the ingleneuk, while granddad hoofs it?

JUDITH:
When you left Krindlesyke, you quitted it
For good and all.

JIM: