ith drawn face
and set teeth: then, still eyeing her uneasily, begins to bluster._)

JIM:
You scarting randy!
I'll teach you manners. That's a good three-halfpence
Smashed into smithereens: and all for nothing.
I've lammed a wench for less. I've half a mind
To snap you like the stopple, you yackey-yaa!
De'il rive your sark! It's long since I've had the price
Of a clay in my pouch: and I'm half-dead for a puff.
What's taken you? What's set you agee with me?
You used to like me; and you always seemed
A menseful body: and I lippened to you.
But you're just a wheepie-leekie weathercock
Like the lave of women, when a man's mislucket,
Moidart and mismeaved and beside himself.
I fancied I'd be in clover at Krindlesyke,
With you and all: but, sink me, if I haven't
Just stuck my silly head into a bee-bike!
What's turned you vicious? I only want to smoke
A cutty in peace: and you go on the rampage.
I mustn't smoke young master's pipe, it seems--
His pipe, no less! Young cock-a-ride-a-roosie
Is on the muckheap now; and all the hens
Are clucking round him. I ken what it is:
The cockmadendy's been too easy with you.
It doesn't do to let you womenfolk
Get out of hand. It's time I came, i' faiks,
To pull you up, and keep you in your place.
I'll have no naggers, narr-narring all day long:
I'll stand no fantigues. If the cull's too soft ...

JUDITH:
Soft, did you say? I've seen him hike a man,
And a heftier man than you, over a dyke,
For yarking a lame beast. That drover'll mind--
Ay, to his dying day, he'll not forget
He once ran into something hard.

JIM:
Ay--ay ...
He's that sort, is he? My luck is out again.
I want a quiet life, to be let alone:
And Krindlesyke won't be a bed of roses,
With that sort ramping round. (_Starting uneasily._)
What's that? I thought ...
There's no one in the other room, is there?
I've a feeling in my bones somebody's listening.
You've not deceived me, Judith? You've not trapped ...
I'm all a-swither, sweating like a brock.
I little dreamt you'd turn against me, Judith:
But even here I don't feel safe now.

JUDITH:
Safe?

JIM:
So you don't know? I fancied everyone kenned.
Else why the devil should they stare like that?
And when you, too, looked ... Nay, how could you learn?
I'm davered, surely: Seppy Shank's rum
Has gone to my noddle: drink's the very