, takes out a griddle-cake, splits and butters it,
and hands it to JUDITH._)

ELIZA:
Likely, you're hungry, and could do with a bite?

JUDITH (_taking it_):
I'm famished. Cake! We're grand, to-day, indeed!
And scones and bannocks--carties, quite a spread!
It's almost like a wedding.

ELIZA:
A wedding, woman?
Can't folk have scones and bannocks and singing-hinnies,
But you must prate of weddings--you, and all!

JUDITH:
I meant no harm. I thought, perhaps, Jim might ...
Though, doubtless, he was married long ago?

(_ELIZA does not answer. JUDITH's baby begins to whimper, and she tries
to hush it in an absent manner._)

JUDITH:
Whisht, whisht! my little lass! You mustn't cry,
And shame the ears of decent folk. Whisht, whisht!

ELIZA:
Why, that's no way to hush the teelytoon.
Come, give the bairn to me. Come, woman, come!
(_Taking the child from JUDITH._)
I'll show you how to handle babies. There!

JUDITH:
And you would nurse my brat?

ELIZA:
A bairn's a bairn--
Ay, even though its mother ...

(_Breaks off abruptly, and stands, gazing before her, clasping the baby
to her bosom._)

JUDITH:
Why don't you finish?
"Ay, even though its mother ..." you were saying.

ELIZA:
It's ill work, calling names.

JUDITH:
You needn't fear
To make me blush by calling me any name
That hasn't stung me to the quick already.
My pious father had a holy tongue;
And he had searched the Scriptures to some purpose.

ELIZA (_gazing before her in an abstracted manner_):
Ay: likely enough.... Poor bairn, poor little bairn--
It's strange, but, as you snuggled to my breast,
I could have fancied, a moment, 'twas Jim I held
In my arms again. I'm growing old and foolish,
To have such fancies.

JUDITH:
Fancied 'twas Jim, your son--
My bastard brat?

ELIZA:
Shame on you, woman, to call
Your own bairn such, poor innocent. It's not
To blame for being a chance-bairn. Yet ... O Jim!

JUDITH:
Why do you call on Jim? He's not come home yet?
But I must go, before your son brings back ...
Give me the bairn ...

ELIZA (_withholding the baby_):
Nay, daughter, not till I learn
The father's name.

JUDITH:
What right have you ...

ELIZA:
God kens ...
And yet ...

JUDITH:
Give