by Unknown
VILLAGERS. Ay, ay.
NANNY. That woman’s egging them on to fight.
VILLAGERS. Ay, she’s making them fight.
HALLIWELL. What’s that? A woman?
NANNY. An Egyptian.
VILEAGERS. Ay, ay, an Egyptian.
NANNY. She CRIED TO THEM, IF THEY WOULD DEFY THE MINISTER AND FOLLOW HER SHE WOULD save THEM.
LORD RINTOUL. Who can this woman be?
VILLAGERS. I wonder — I never saw her (ETC.).
HALLIWELL. What is she like?
NANNY. She has red hair.
HALLIWELL. A red-headed gipsy!
LORD RINTOUL. There are lots of them.
HALLIWELL. What is her appearance?
NANNY. She’s snod but no unco snod.
HALLIWELL. Eh?
NANNY. I mean she’s a couthie tawpie but no sair in order.
HALLIWELL. What on earth is that?
NANNY. A tasty stocky but no happit up to the nines.
HALLIWELL. Oh, help! Can you understand that, Rintoul?
LORD RINTOUL. It is quite simple. You, woman, was this gipsy tall or short, fat or thin?
JEAN. She was a ga’en about hizzie an’ giy an’ custie.
LORD RINTOUL. Oh, was she! Would you know her if you saw her again?
JEAN. Brawly.
LORD RINTOUL. They would know her or not know her, brawly, Halliwell, that is something to the good. Can you describe her clothes with the same lucidity?
JEAN. A well-faured custie, perjink, and fell orra. (Ay.)
LORD RINTOUL. My God, it’s a great country.
HALLIWELL. Whatever she is like, I promise you, Rintoul, she shall be in the local jail before the night is out.
LORD RINTOUL. Yes, jail for the hussy.
(ENTER GAVIN DEJECTEDLY.)
NANNY. Mr. Dishart, this is the Captain — that’s Rintoul — plead wi’ them. (GIVES WAY FOR HIM TO COME FORWARD.)
GAVIN (eagerly — going to them). Lord Rintoul —
LORD RINTOUL (holding his hand up). It is impossible —
(Groans from crowd.)
But we thank you, Mr. Dishart, for the services you have rendered us tonight, first in ordering the men who were watching here to their hordes, for we saw you, and again, as we have just learned, for trying to drive away this gipsy wench.
(SHAKES HANDS.)
(EXIT NANNY WITH THE VILLAGERS, GAVIN IS STARTLED.)
HALLIWELL. At least it was not your fault that the warning horn was sounded. I thank you, sir.
(Drum and bugle sound assembly. Enter sergeant DAVIDson.)
Well, have the constables got their prisoners, Davidson? You can speak freely before Mr. Dishart. He is our friend.
(ANXIOUS) Speak, man.
(Drum stops.)
DAVIDSON. I am afraid it is all up, Captain, for tonight.
HALLIWELL. Eh?
DAVIDSON. The men the constables are after broke our ranks and have made for the country, where it would be impossible to find them tonight.
(lord rintoul is speechless with rage; gavin is secretly pleased.)
HALLIWELL (FURIOUS). They broke through a line of fixed bayonets!
DAVIDSON. We had orders to threaten with our bayonets, but to use the butt end of our muskets only if they came to close quarters.
HALLIWELL (TO DAVIDSON). They could not know that.
DAVIDSON. They did know it. A woman told them.
LORD RINTOUL. A woman!
GAVIN. A gipsy?
DAVIDSON. Yes.’ HALLIWELL. Damnation!
LORD RINTOUL (GOING TO HIM, BITTERLY). Oh, Halliwell, Halliwell!
(Shouts of triumph from town.)
They have heard the news down there, you see. (JEERING) You have the weavers, so! (MAKING A HOOP OF HIS ARMS) You will be the laughing-stock of the country by tomorrow.
HALLIWELL (FOLLOWING HIM, TESTILY). You failed yourself before.
LORD RINTOUL. At least I was not fooled by a woman!
(Exit LORD RINTOUL. CAPTAIN HALLIWELL is beside himself.)
HALLIWELL. Davidson — this gipsy —
DAVIDSON. She is in this part of the wood. (POINTING)
We chased her into it.
HALLIWELL. Then she at least shall not escape us. Bring up every man on this side. They are no longer needed there — and we shall hem her in.
DAVIDSON. The wood is full of women looking for their men folk. What are we to do with them?
HALLIWELL. Let not one pass until we have caught the gipsy.
DAVIDSON. Yes, sir.
(EXEUNT HALLIWELL AND DAVIDSON. GAVIN IS NOW ALONE, DOW CREEPS ON FROM BACK.)
GAVIN. Rob, why did you not escape with the others?
DOW. That Egyptian — she’s a terrible woman.
GAVIN (WITH CONVICTION). Rob, I think she is the —
(Pauses.)
DOW. I think she is, sir. But there’s one she didna draw away frae you.
GAVIN. Not one.
DOW. I’m here to prove it — by offering mysel’ to the red-coats.
GAVIN. Come BACK.
DOW. You DINNA WANT IT!
DAVIDSON (OFF). Open out, there, open out, extend in skirmishing order through the wood!
GAVIN. Hide, Rob!
(Soldiers enter with sergeant DAVIDson.)
DAVIDSON. Search those clumps of whin. Into them — into them. (RUNS UP ON TO BANK AND EXITS.) Who goes there? (OFF)
Up the bank; beat the bushes on both sides. See that she doesn’t break over. After her, after her!
(gavin is selfconscious and looking pleased at dow’s escape. He moves; as he does so his foot strikes against something. He lifts it up; it is the horn. He flings it from him, then picks it up again, puts it on ground.
babbie runs on. She is now wearing an old-fashioned poke-bonnet and a cloak which reaches to her feet. She is evidently pursued and desperate.)
DAVIDSON (still off). There she goes! There! There! Hem her in!
GAVIN. You! (Recoils from her as she goes towards him.)
BABBIE. Help me! (Taking his right arm.)
GAVIN. Avaunt, woman!
DAVIDSON (off). This way — follow me — we have her now.
(He enters with two Soldiers, and they are rushing off when he sees gavin and babbie.)
Halt! It is you, Mr. Dishart — and — ?
BABBIE (speaking in English voice). Introduce me, dear.
(gavin gasps.)
Ah, Sergeant, you may chide me for venturing here, but where should a woman be on such a night save by her husband’s side?
(GIVES GAVIN’S ARM A TENDER SQUEEZE.)
DAVIDSON. It is Mrs. Dishart?
(babbie bows.)
My service to you, ma’am.
GAVIN (COMING TO HIMSELF). Sergeant, I must inform you —
BABBIE. Yes, yes, love, about the woman in a gipsy dress.
DAVIDSON. You saw her? Which way?
BABBIE. She came stealing out here, and then ran back that way. (POINTING) A wild, dishevelled creature.
DAVIDSON. That’s her! (TO SOLDIERS) She has doubled! After her!
(Exeunt Soldiers.) I must follow them. You and your good lady will excuse me, sir.
GAVIN. Sergeant, I must —
BABBIE. Darling, let us go home.
GAVIN (STUNG). Darling!
BABBIE (as if he were addressing her). Yes, love?
GAVIN. Sergeant —
DAVIDSON (TURNING). Had you anything to say, sir?
BABBIE (CHALLENGING). Have you?
GAVIN (AFTER CRITICAL PAUSE). No.
DAVIDSON. Then good night, Mrs. Dishart — your servant, sir.
(Exit DAVIDSON.)
(OFF) No, no. Back this way! Down that bank, as hard as you can! Follow me!
(babbie looks quaintly at gavin and curtseys. Noise of the Soldiers dies away.)
GAVIN (in horror — like one waking from a dream). You said you were my wife!
BABBIE. You didn’t contradict me!
GAVIN. No, I didn’t! Why
?
BABBIE. HOW can I tell? (JUMPS ON TREE STUMP.) I wish now I had said I was your mother. (JUMPS OFF STUMP. WITH FEELING) Ah, forgive me. You have saved me after the way I — (Goes up on rocks and climbs tree. Impulsively) I think you really are a very nice man.
GAVIN. No, no, I had nothing to do with it! Yes, I had — and I am a minister!
BABBIE. You can’t help that.
GAVIN (ALMOST FIERCELY). How did you know that the bayonets would not be used? Ah, I see! That sweetheart you spoke of, I thought he was a gipsy. He is a soldier! It was he who told you!
BABBIE. Yes, he is a soldier, and it was he who told me! Boo! (GETS DOWN FROM TREE.)
GAVIN. But THIS DRESS — THE way you talk —
(babbie jumps down, steps off rocks one by one.)
Just now you spoke as broadly as any woman in my congregation, and now a bonnet and a cloak suddenly convert you into a fine lady. Who are you?
BABBIE. Perhaps it is the cloak that has bewitched me.
(SLIPS OUT OF IT AND SPEAKS SCOTCH.) Ay, ay, ou losh, it was just the cloak that did it. My certie, what a differ a bonny cloak makes to a woman! (PUTS CLOAK ON AGAIN.)
GAVIN. Where did you get those things?
BABBIE. In a cottage at the edge of the wood.
GAVIN. Nanny Webster’s cottage! You stole them?
BABBIE. She lent them to me in her absence. I shall take them back to her — (SITS ON STUMP.)
GAVIN (moving to her — eagerly). When?
BABBIE. Some DAY next WEEK.
GAVIN. Some day next week. (COMING TO HIMSELF.) How can you presume to tell ME that!
BABBIE (INDIGNANTLY). You asked!
(Bugle sounds ‘Retire.’ gavin looks off, then returns to her.)
GAVIN (NONPLUSSED). Have you no respect for law and order?
BABBIE. I am afraid I haven’t. Poor illused minister, don’t be afraid of yourself. If your awful conduct this night is discovered, I promise to give myself up, and then no blame can attach to you.
GAVIN (ANXIOUSLY). No, no, it would mean prison for you. You must promise me not to do that.
BABBIE. And let you bear the brunt! Never!
GAVIN. Do as you are ordered, woman!
(She backs away from him, pretends fear of him, but really admires this. She curtseys and sits on stump.)
This must end. There are no soldiers now in this part of the wood. So your way is open. Go!
BABBIE (putting her face close to his). Won’t you say goodbye? (Looking over his shoulder.)
GAVIN. Go. I hope never to see your face again.
BABBIE. I can’t help your not liking my face. (Moving A FEW STEPS FROM HIM, THEN RETURNS AGAIN.) Don’t you like me?
GAVIN (in hollow tones and speaking to himself rather than to her). Can a man like a woman against his will?
BABBIE. Of course he can. That is the very nicest way of being liked.
(Enter whamond and dow up at back.)
GAVIN (suddenly). That soldier — your sweetheart — I don’t like him! (Kicks leaves about, hands in pockets.)
BABBIE (LIKE A CHILD). Does 00 not? Poo, poo soldier!
GAVIN. Go! (ANXIOUSLY) Are you to be married to that man?
BABBIE. Unless I find someone I like better!
(He starts, she hesitates, then looks at him. He turns his back on her. She then takes flower from her waist, puts it into his hand, and runs off. He looks at it lovingly, then holds the flower at arm’s length as if afraid of it.
whamond and dow are concealed by the trees, dow tries to hold whamond in check, but whamond now breaks forward, seizes the flower and dashes it to the ground.)
WHAMOND (STERNLY). Lift it if you dare!
(After a slight pause gavin lifts flower, and with a fine gesture puts it in his buttonhole. He goes off at back, almost strutting, leaving whamond looking fierce and dow anxious.)
ACT II
SCENE I
NANNY’S COTTAGE. An old-fashioned Scotch kitchen, bedroom and workshop combined. It should be a very small room, so full that there is little space to move about in.
(Curtain rises on nanny sitting at work at a handloom which clacks busily. Enter babbie at back looking about her curiously. She shuts door and comes forward. She is in gipsy dress, and carries cloak and bonnet. She enters softly, looking about curiously and laughing to herself as if it were a joke. She peeps at nanny, who continues working, not seeing her, owing to web being a screen.)
NANNY. Was that onybody?
BABBIE. Only me.
NANNY (COMING FROM LOOM). Wha are you?
BABBIE. Nanny, I am your cloak and bonnet come back.
NANNY (COMING TO HER — FERVENTLY). The Lord be thankit!
BABBIE (GIVING CLOAK TO NANNY). You thought I meant to keep them?
NANNY. I had my doubts o’ you. It was a terrible temptation to an Egyptian lassie.
(IN AGONY BECAUSE BABBIE IS TAKING OFF BONNET CARELESSLY.)
Be kindlier to the strings! (TAKES BO?MET REVERENTLY.) I’m thinking you dinna wear a bonnet like that every day!
BABBIE. Nanny, it was splendid to feel that I was in the fashion for once in my life.
NANNY (PUTTING ON BONNET). I believe you! (LOOKING AT HERSELF IN GLASS BETWEEN THE BED AND DOOR WITH DELIGHT.) Ay, it’s fine to be in the fashion! The most blessed thing I can think of is to be sitting reverent in the kirk, and to be in the fashion at the same time.
BABBIE (IMPULSIVELY). Nanny, you are an old dear, and you look sweet in it. (KISSES HER.)
NANNY. Nae! Nae! Wha wouldna look sweet in that bonnet? (GOES TO GLASS AGAIN.) Yes, it sets me pretty! It does! Umpha! (TAKES IT OFF AND PUTS IT ON TABLE.) Lassie, I tell you what I’ll do. (MAGNIFICENTLY, HER FACE SHINING WITH DELIGHT AND IMPORTANCE.) I’ll let you see my new merino!
(WITH GREAT IMPORTANCE GETS MERINO DRESS OUT OF BED.) What think you? — what do you say to this?
BABBIE (TO PLEASE HER). Oh! How beautiful! How lovely to wake up in the morning and remember you have a dress like that!
NANNY. Yes, I sometimes lie snoozing and thinking of it!
(AFFECTING HUMILITY.) Ah, no! — it’s nothing — it’s common.
(IN AGONY BECAUSE BABBIE IS FINGERING IT.) For mercy’s sake, lassie, take tent of yoursel’ — are your hands clean?
(babbie shows her hands.)
Ay, they are — well done — haud out your arms.
(babbie holds out her arms and nanny puts dress in them as if it were a child.)
There! He! He! He!
BABBIE. The precious! You dear, there must be a joy in owning this that even religion can’t give. (AS IN A TRANSPORT OF DELIGHT.) Nanny, if you leave it here another moment I am sure I shall run off with it! (MAKES A STEP FOR DOOR.) I can’t help myself. (MOVING UP TO DOOR.) My feet are hurrying me to the door.
NANNY (RUNNING UP TO HER). What’s that? Stop! You limmer, you. (TAKES MERINO AND HURRIEDLY RETURNS IT AND BONNET TO BED.) It was ill done of me to put such temptation before you.
(babbie sits on stool and spins wheel. As nanny comes down to table again for cloak, she feels there is something in pocket, draws it out; it is a package.)
What’s this? (SMELLS IT.) It’s tea! (DELIGHTED) Did you bring this to me?
(babbie nods.)
You good crittur! (WITH SUDDEN FEAR, CROSSING OVER TO HER.)
But — was it honestly come by?
BABBIE. Oh, Nanny! Of course it was.
NANNY. Turn round three times, haud up your hand, and then say, ‘ I swear.’ (babbie does so.)
It’s grand of you.
(There is a knock on the door. Much excited and signing caution she puts tea on table and goes to door and sees the minister’s foot through the crevice at bottom of it — whispering: ‘It’s him! It’s the Minister! There’s his noble foot.’ She is on tiptoe and waggling fist for caution — her face aglow with triumph.)
