Gone to Earth Page #2

- Did you save them?

- Psssht... lord, no.

They was all of a jelly.

Oh, I cannot bear it.

It's a fearsome place.

Lord, now what's the matter

with the girl?

Naught...

Only it came on me as...

- I'll die as well as others.

- You just found that out?

What a queen of fools you be!

Seems the world's a big spring

trap and us in it.

Hark, to the music!

You're too nesh [susceptible],

that's what you be.

Nesh.

Good afternoon, Mr. Woodus.

Glad to see you, and you, Miss Woodus.

It's a fine day!

We were afraid you weren't

coming.

Minister, there's Abel Woodus

and his girl now.

"Harps in heaven. "

Harps in heaven,

play for you,

Played for Christ

with his eyes so blue

Played for Peter

and for Paul

But never played for me at all

Harps in heaven,

made all of glass,

Greener than the rainy grass,

Played for Peter

and for Paul

But never played for me at all

Harps in heaven

Play high

Play low

In the cold rainy wind I go

To find

- My harp...

- Keep time girl!

As green as spring

My splintered harp

without a string

This your neck of the woods, my man?

Many of 26 six years,

come Autumn it is.

You know a chap around here plays the

fiddle well? With a pretty daughter.

Can't say a sight comes to mind.

Go on Hazel, have another one.

Why not? All the years I've been here

I've had tartlets, and tartlets I love.

I pay the same as others.

They're all gone, Mr. James.

I've had no finger in emptying

of 'em.

You sang beautifully,

Miss Woodus.

Very beautifully.

Have a tartlet,

minister?

If he's not fixed on his sermon...

I should be very pleased if you'd

come to supper on Sunday.

What will the sweet old lady say?

Oh, my mother would be very

pleased too.

And you can tell your father

I should see you at home.

I'm much obliged.

Then we shall meet again Sunday.

Thank you.

Mother,

I've asked Miss Woodus to

supper, on Sunday.

- She is not of your class, Edward.

- What does class matter?

Whether it is mistaken kindness, dear,

or silly flirtation,

it can only do you harm

at the congretation.

Don't bother with the congregation.

People are waiting for you

to say grace, dear.

Sisters and brethren,

silence for grace.

For what we have received,

may the Lord make us truly

thankful.

I have not received tartlets,

I am not thankful.

That little vixen again!

Foxy! Get out!

Next time it's the pond

and a spin round in it!

- You daren't!

- We'll see if I dare'st!

There, there, Foxy.

She's lonesome.

I must take her along with us.

I thought so...

Would a terrier do that?

A well-trained terrier?

She's a fox.

Fox or terriers, I make the laws.

What goes against me gets drowned.

It ain't all for you.

The world wasn't made in 7 days

all over Abel Woodus!

Put her in the coffin.

You've come back very pert from Wenlock

this time, very pert you are.

You're too uppish!

It's time you was married!

If anyone be fool enough

to ask you.

Maybe there's many as would!

Maybe I'll marry a fine

gentleman.

It'd be worth it to get away

from the cabin.

Well, your house couldn't be

any dirtier than it is now!

I swear I'll wed the first that comes,

the very first.

What will you swear by?

Will you swear by God's

little mountain?

You swear to marry the first who

comes, whoever he be?

I swear.

Two pints of rough.

Might be the black huntsman himself.

- Hey, lord!

- Come in, sir.

Good evening.

- I'll hold your horse. - No, I won't

come in, sherry out here please.

Sarah, a glass of sherry for the

gentleman.

Do you know any pretty girl around here,

with black hair, green eyes...

No sir, what women there are around

here are weathered and hardened.

Little fiddler chap?

Plays at the parrish meetings.

If it's music you're after, I know

music better than fiddles. That's harp!

Think I look like an angel?

A concert, funeral or a wedding,

I'm your man.

- Might be the last.

- Weddin' or beddin', eh squire?

He's got the blood of little

foxes on him, Foxy.

Any fiddlers in your parrish,

parson?

Yes. There's one the far

side of the mountain.

- Pretty daughter?

- No. He's only 20.

And I told father I'd marry

the first would come.

I swore it by the mountain.

- And eh, nobody came?

- Never a one.

Nobody at all?

Never a one.

And if anyone came and asked you

to marry him,

- you would?

- Well, I'm bound to, seemingly.

But none'll ever come.

What for should they?

Should you like to be married?

My mam did not like it.

She said tears and torment, tears

and torment was a married lot.

And she said "keep yourself

to yourself,

"You weren't made for marrying

anymore than me.

"Eat in company but sleep alone. "

That's what she said, Mr. Marston.

And how many brothers and sisters

have you, my dear?

Never a one.

Nobody but our Foxy.

Edward too has none.

- Give her a chair, my dear.

- I'm well enough as I am.

And who is Foxy?

My little cub.

You speak as if the animal were

a relation, dear.

So all animals be my brothers

and sisters.

I know dear, quite right,

all animals in conversation,

should be so.

But any single animal, in reality,

is only an animal.

And animals have no souls.

Yes, they have them.

If they have none, you have none.

Perhaps you will read to us, dear.

Yes mother.

I wonder who that can be

at this hour?

Martha will answer it.

Who can it be ridin' late at night,

Mrs. Marston?

Did you hear a horse, my dear?

I don't know...

A fiddler chap with a pretty daughter!

Mother...

I'm sorry to look in so late,

Mrs. Marston,

but I met a gentleman on horseback in

the lane asking all kinds of questions

And I had to walk back with him

to the crossroads.

You said you wanted something

from Wenlock?

Oh yes, some knitting wool,

the same as before.

Edward, Miss Woodus wants

to go home.

Were there anybody else there,

at the door?

I thought I heard someone.

Will you marry me, Hazel?

You've been mighty quick

about it.

Yes, I know I have.

It's me!

Bide a minute, Mr. Marston.

Here she is.

So this is Foxy.

Will you marry me, Hazel?

I can give you a good home.

And I'll try and be a good husband

to you.

And I love you.

Do you love me as much

as I love Foxy?

Far more.

Ain't she a dear?

Go along now.

- Blast you! I oughtta ring her neck.

- I let her go loose.

- Who's here?

- Edward Marston.

Oh, it's you, minister.

Had a long walk for your trouble?

I wanted to see you.

Well, here I be.

I want to marry Hazel.

You want her?

You want to marry her?

Yes.

Well, I suppose her is a woman

grown.

You can have her.

When do you want her?

Hazel must decide that.

Lord, man, tell her what to do,

she'll do it...

you take a stick to her now and again.

When will you be my wife, Hazel?

I don't know.

Not for days and days.

Look at her. Throw somethin'

at her man!

I think I should prefer

your absence.

Go away!

That's the way to talk to him.

What do you say to next August?

I'd like it right well.

The Sunday after the county fair.

- Dad and me are going.

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