Chapter V: Act III: Scene 2

THE HOUSE OF THE EARTH-MOTHER: GLOAMING

_The kitchen of the Earth-Mother’s house. A big open fire in the middle of the room, with a hole in the thatch above it to let the smoke out. A child asleep in a cradle beside it. The remains of a lavish supper on a table in the corner. The men are all lying about the fire asleep. Finn alone is sitting in a low chair drowsing. The Climber is lying asleep on a settle in the corner, near the Thief, who is sitting quietly watchful by the child. She alone seems wide awake._

FINN

[_Nodding drowsily, starts and falls forward. Shaking
himself up, he looks round, rubbing his eyes and yawning._]

Heigh-ho!—Heigh-hum-harry!
This rainbow is a weary job to carry.

[_Looks round._]

No one seems awake that I can see.

THIEF

[_Quietly._]

You forget me.

FINN

[_Startled._]

Oh! Are you awake?

THIEF

[_Quietly._]

I’m always awake.

FINN

Then I can take
A nap.

THIEF

[_Calmly._]

For Heaven’s sake
Keep awake,
Or the child will be taken away in the cap
Of the Hand.

FINN

[_Drowsily._]

Bother! I don’t understand.

[_Pointing to the Climber._]

Even she’s sleeping.

THIEF

Yes, she has been weeping.

FINN

[_Uneasy._]

Why, whatever’s the matter?

THIEF

Everything.
You’ve eaten too much.

FINN

[_Defensively._]

Why, I didn’t touch
More than I ought,
Did I?

THIEF

You took a thought
More than she did, that’s why
You have upset her.

FINN

[_Sulkily._]

I wish to goodness I had never met her,
If she’s so very easily upset.

THIEF

[_Quietly._]

I fear she’s very childish for her age.
It’s apt to overbalance her at this stage;
She isn’t up to all God’s ropes as yet.

FINN

[_Crossly._]

I thought she said
That she could climb upon a thread
Up to a star
Were I to tie it there.

THIEF

Ay! But it needs more care
To return so far
Trundling the star.

[_Finn sits silent for a little while, and begins to nod
again. At last he rouses himself with a start._]

FINN

I’m much too plastic;
This needs something drastic.

[_He snatches a brand of wood from the fire, and thrusts
it through the bone of his palm. The Climber immediately
starts up in her sleep with a cry of pain._]

[_Startled._]

What’s wrong? Why——?

CLIMBER

[_Talking in her sleep, in great distress._]

You are in pain!

FINN

[_Defiantly._]

Not I!

CLIMBER

[_Half asleep._]

You’re hurting yourself with trying to keep awake!

FINN

[_Coldly._]

You’re making a mistake.

CLIMBER

[_Bewildered and dreamy._]

Oh, I’m sorry! I thought you called me.

FINN

[_Stoically._]

No.

[_The Marksman turns in his sleep with a groan._]

CLIMBER

I beg your pardon.

THIEF

[_Quietly._]

Lie down. If he’s in pain
I’ll call you again.

[_The Climber lies down again._]

THIEF SINGS:

I have a lover in my mind,
And there I stray.
He whispers dreams to me all night;
I dream with him all day.

We tell each other foreign things,
We dream strange dreams, we two;
Sometimes he whispers He is God,
And I dream I am too.

[_Finn, nodding, repeats former process. Again the Climber
starts up in her sleep with a loud cry of anguish._]

CLIMBER

[_As before, talking half in her sleep._]

You are in pain?

FINN

[_Wiping his brow._]

Not I, you’re dreaming.

[_The Marksman again groans in his sleep._]

THIEF

[_Quietly._]

Lie down. If he’s in pain
I’ll call you again.

CLIMBER

[_Bewildered and troubled, still asleep._]

I’m very sorry, indeed I meant no harm;
I feel as if I were under some sort of charm.

[_She lies down again._]

THIEF SINGS:

Love seeketh not a Heaven’s delight.
If her beloved inhabit there,
She is content with outer night,
And finds in Hell no deep despair.

Yet if the love of God divine
Feel lonely Heaven a grave mistake,
And say: “Is Hell not also mine?”
Love answers: “Yea, Lord, take.”

[_By this time Finn has fallen quite asleep. The fire
dies low. Suddenly a strange light begins to play about
the Climber. She starts up half-awake, and looks round
bewildered. Then she speaks to the Thief in an awed
whisper._]

CLIMBER

Who called me? Was it you?

THIEF

I have been sitting quietly by the cradle all this time.

CLIMBER

Inside my brain
There’s something tugging me, a sort of strain,
A terrible wistfulness, my mind’s all bruised.
Something calls me that is not amused.
Is it God?
Or is it not God?

THIEF

[_Gravely._]

It is God.
Lie down. He will call you again
If He is in pain.

[_The Climber lies down again. The fire dies quite low, but
the radiance about her grows bright and brighter; she alone
is left visible. Suddenly, for a moment, as through a veil,
the face of the Big Young Hero is seen looking wistfully
down on her. She starts up with her hands clasped to her
breast, and speaks in an awed whisper._]

CLIMBER

Did you call me, sir?

HERO

I sent Finn to call you.

CLIMBER

I heard him. Do you require us both?

HERO

Yes, urgently; make haste.

[_The vision fades, leaving the Climber alone in the midst
of a great brightness._]

CLIMBER

[_Whispering._]

Always I have known Thou wert there,
But to-night Thou hast revealed Thyself utterly and
Thy face is bare.
I cannot tell how beautiful Thou art.
All of my heart
Is radiant with the fierce surprise
Of Thine eyes,
All of my soul
Stands shuddering at her goal.

Long ago she knew Thee, yet she feared
To name Thee, ever she peered
Into the darkness, whispering: “Not mine,”
To-night she doth divine
Wholly, and she is very bold, and boasts, and hath good cheer,
Entertaining the love that casts out fear.

[_The brightness fades, leaving darkness for a moment, then
the fire leaps up again, illuminating the room. The Climber
looks about her, bewildered with ecstasy._]

Oh, I have had such a wonderful dream!
Why, they all seem
To be asleep!

THIEF

[_Quietly._]

I am not asleep.

CLIMBER

[_Radiant._]

Oh, did you see my dream?

THIEF

Yes; I stole it for you.

CLIMBER

Where did you get it?

THIEF

Out of the mind of God.

CLIMBER

It was most beautiful; can’t you find
Another the same?

THIEF

Yes, from where that one came;
But it is not for you.

CLIMBER

[_Disappointed._]

Oh! Who’s it for?

THIEF

Never mind,
You’ll find
When you make yours come true.

CLIMBER

[_Very eagerly._]

Why, what must I do?

THIEF

You must make them believe it.
You must take it and weave it,
By a kind of story,
Into actual glory.

CLIMBER

[_Jumping up joyfully._]

Where shall I begin?

THIEF

With Finn.

CLIMBER

[_Drawing back nervously._]

Oh no, I can’t! He’ll think it very queer.
I—I haven’t got the courage to reveal
A dream so very delicate and real.
They’ll laugh at me. They’ll all think I am queer.

THIEF

[_Indifferently._]

I have nothing to do with fear.
Your business is to do just as I tell.

CLIMBER

[_Summoning up all her resolution._]

Very well.

THIEF

[_Quietly._]

If you’re to carry out God’s plan
You must pitch into every man.

CLIMBER

[_Trembling with nervousness._]

All right! To make my dream come true
There’s nothing I’m afraid to do.

[_She runs quickly over to Finn and takes him eagerly by
the hand to wake him. He starts awake with a quiver of
pain, withdrawing his hand._]

CLIMBER

[_Overstrained and very nervous._]

Oh, are you angry at me?

FINN

[_Gently._]

Why should I be angry?

CLIMBER

[_Shyly._]

For—for waking you up.

FINN

Was I asleep?

CLIMBER

[_Nervously._]

Yes; but I’ve brought you something that’ll keep
You awake for ever.

[_She laughs nervously._]

FINN

[_Politely._]

Never!
What is it?

CLIMBER

[_Shyly._]

N—nothing; just a dream.

FINN

[_Embarrassed._]

Better keep it to yourself.
Dreams are things some folk don’t understand.

CLIMBER

[_In distress, catching sight of his hand._]

Why, what have you done to your hand?
You’ve burnt it all!
You were in pain, I knew!
I heard you call.
Why did you say it wasn’t true?

FINN

[_Withdrawing his hand hastily._]

It’s nothing to do with you.
Go to sleep again;
I never felt the slightest pain.

[_The Marksman groans in his sleep._]

CLIMBER

[_Embarrassed and shy._]

Don’t you, really?

FINN

[_Resolutely._]

No. I tell you it’s quite numb.

CLIMBER

[_Grieved and awkward._]

Then you didn’t call me to come?

FINN

[_Turning his head away with a groan._]

No. I am in no need.

[_The Marksman groans in his sleep again. Finn turns and
looks more attentively at the Climber, hesitating. She is
pale and overstrained looking._]

[_Kindly._]

I really think you ought to feed
Yourself up a bit.
You’re not looking very fit.

CLIMBER

[_Hurriedly._]

I was asleep. I’m quite all right.
It’s just a silly dream. Good night.

[_Marksman groans._]

Be sure you keep awake.

[_She retreats nervously._]

FINN

Good night. Be sure you keep
Asleep.
Don’t worry about me for any sake;
I’m wide enough awake.

[_The Marksman groans again, and Finn begins to nod heavily
even as he speaks._]

CLIMBER

[_To the thief, bursting into tears._]

They won’t believe my dream.
You’ve made me feel an awful fool.
He’s laughing now. I know I seem
Quite childish!

THIEF

[_Aside._]

To keep cool,
The best way is by letting off some steam.

[_To the Climber, very sternly._]

The fault was yours. You have betrayed your dream.

CLIMBER

[_Weeps silently for a little, then wipes her eyes and
speaks as if to herself._]

They tell me that I have my birth
Some other where,
And though indeed I do not greatly care
If this be true or no,
I really think it must be partly so;
For no one understands me in this house,
I am not able all alone to rouse
Them up. They just ignore me everywhere.
I begin to think that I’m not quite all there.

[_She sinks her head desperately between her hands._]

THIEF

[_Quietly._]

I wasn’t laughing at you.

CLIMBER

[_Lifting her head quietly and recovering herself._]

No, I knew.

THIEF

Perhaps I’ve left you rather much alone.

CLIMBER

Oh no! I think I’ve just outgrown
My strength.

THIEF

[_Quietly._]

Then if you’ve got that length
You’ve come into your own. Lie down again;
I’ll call you if he is in pain.

CLIMBER

No! No! This time I must lie still
Unless he comes himself. He’d take it ill
If I should offer him a change of diet
He’s not accustomed to. I must lie quiet
Unless he says that he’s prepared to try it.

[_She lies down again. The stage gradually becomes quite
dark, as the Thief sings this song._]

THIEF’S SONG

God gave me a little fire,
And, as He did require,
I burnt it all away,
And He gave me more each day.
At last to one most dear
I denied my fire in fear,
And now the light’s gone out,
And God’s nowhere about.

[_At this moment the eight-day clock in the corner of the
room strikes twelve slowly, and a great Hand comes in at
the hole in the centre of the roof. All have fallen asleep
except the Thief. She springs up with a cry and shakes the
Climber, who does not stir, but all the others start up,
and Finn calls loudly on the Gripper, who lays hold on the
Hand and takes it in to the two eyebrows at the chimney.
The Hand gives a pull on the Gripper, and takes him out to
the top of his two shoulders. The Gripper gives another
pull on the Hand and brings it in to the neck. The Hand
gives a pull on the Gripper, and brings him out to the very
middle. The Gripper gives a pull on the Hand, and brings
it in over the two armpits. The Hand gives a pull on the
Gripper, and takes him out to the smalls of his two feet.
Then the Gripper gives a brave pull on the Hand, and it
comes out of the shoulder, and when it falls on the floor
the pulling of seven geldings is in it. All shout with
joy._]

FINN

[_Wiping his brow in unutterable relief._]

What an escape! I nearly lost the child!
She’d have been wild!
I knew I could hold out
Without having to shout
For aid.

[_At this moment the Giant, unnoticed, puts in his other
hand and takes the child with him in the cap of the hand.
It screams, awaking the Climber._]

CLIMBER

Oh! You’ve let it go!
You’ve been asleep, I know!

FINN

[_Desperately, with his head in his hands._]

What a mistake I’ve made!

[_Furiously, to the Gripper._]

You fool! Why couldn’t you
Hold on a little longer?

GRIPPER

[_Plaintively and with resignation._]

Because I never knew
There was another Hand a little stronger.

FINN

[_Frantically, to Marksman._]

You that’s so good at marking eggs,
Why couldn’t you tell other folk
About the yolk?

MARKSMAN

[_Tranquilly._]

You never asked me, or I would have told.
Are you not old
Enough—have you not got two legs,
A pair of hands, a level
Enough head
(When all is done and said)
From which to deduce the devil?

FINN

[_Losing all control._]

Liar! It was your duty to tell!

MARKSMAN

[_Quietly and sorrowfully._]

Go to Hell.

[_Finn rushes out. The Climber is all this time kneeling by
the settle with her head buried in her hands, and does not
appear to hear anything around her._]

CARPENTER

[_Angrily, to Marksman._]

Didn’t the woman tell her that the Giant
Who steals the children was just like a man?
If we had known we wouldn’t have been so pliant.

MARKSMAN

[_Turning to look at him with a strange smile._]

Why didn’t you ask her about him? She never can
Tell you very much until
You ask her of your own free will.

CARPENTER

[_Sneeringly._]

I don’t believe she knew!

MARKSMAN

[_Turning and looking at him._]

Don’t you?

CARPENTER

[_Trying to look him in the face, but getting very red,
drops his eyes and mutters._]

Well, maybe she did. You needn’t make a stir,
I don’t pretend to understand folk like her.

MARKSMAN

[_As before._]

Don’t you?

CARPENTER

[_Defiantly and reluctantly._]

Well, if I do it’s not because I can’t.

MARKSMAN

[_As before._]

Isn’t it?

[_Silence._]

Come, answer me!

CARPENTER

[_Defiantly._]

I shan’t!

MARKSMAN

[_Letting him go with a contemptuous kick from behind._]

Then follow Finn until you’ve learned compliance.

CARPENTER

[_Calling Tracker._]

Come on! Let’s show them we’ve some self-reliance!

TRACKER

[_To Gripper, who is still standing quietly holding the arm
he has pulled out._]

Come on! There’s no use holding any more
To the sneck of _that_ door.

[_Pointing to arm._]

GRIPPER

Where are you going?

[_He looks undecided._]

TRACKER

There’s no knowing,
I’m bound to follow him.

[_Points to Carpenter._]

GRIPPER

[_Looking round doubtfully._]

The light is very dim,
Where is he taking us?

CARPENTER

[_Pulling him by the collar._]

Come on without any more fuss.

TRACKER

[_Pulling at the Hand._]

Drop it, I say, drop it!

MARKSMAN

[_Intervening sternly._]

Stop it!

[_The Tracker and the Carpenter fling out after Finn._]

THIEF

[_To Marksman._]

I’ll follow them. I musn’t be inhuman,
They’ll certainly get lost without a woman.

MARKSMAN

Take care, they’ve gone to Hell.

THIEF

[_Quietly indicating the Climber._]

Look after this child well,
And I will steal all Heaven before you can tell.

LISTENER

[_Eagerly._]

What fun! May I come too?

THIEF

[_Pointing to the Climber._]

Not yet, she’s need of you.

[_Exit Thief._]

LISTENER

[_Coming forward and gazing up at the hole in the roof with
his hands on his knees._]

Well, that was a clean sweep!

[_To Climber._]

I say, don’t weep!

MARKSMAN

[_With his finger on his lips._]

Hush! She’s saying her prayers!

LISTENER

[_Abashed and embarrassed._]

Oh, sorry!

[_He crosses to the window and leans out, and then softly
beckons to the Gripper. The Marksman is sitting quietly in
Finn’s chair by the fire._]

LISTENER

[_To Gripper, speaking softly not to disturb the Climber._]

Look at the sky, and that green stretch of clear
Behind the Bidean! There’s really no night here.

[_He sits astride the window whistling softly, and then
begins to sing this song under his breath._]

I had a vision of Hope. She came to me
Long before morning came, long ere the day
Had folded night in her bosom and gathered away
The stars in her brightness;
I saw as it were a whiteness
Like a shimmer on the sea;
Long before morning broke
She awoke
And came to me.

There are some who never see her,
There are some who never hear
Her whisper at their ear.
I was awake and heard
Before the thrushes stirred.

Deep in her heart she showed me,
Long before it was spring,
A lovely thing.
All the April bulbs unsleeping,
Beneath the garden keeping
Watch for the dawn,
All the eyes of the daisies wide-awake under the lawn.

There are some who will not trust her,
There are some who blindly thrust her
Out of sight
Into the solitary night.
Grievous souls! They do not know
That her lovely sign is true:
I listened and I knew.

MARKSMAN

That’s good enough!

[_Climber springs up lightly._]

CLIMBER

Why! Where’s Finn?

LISTENER

[_Coming down._]

Gone off in the huff
While you were saying your prayers.

CLIMBER

[_Desperately, to Marksman._]

I don’t believe it! Tell me there’s
No truth in what he said.

MARKSMAN

[_Quietly._]

Yes, for the present, Finn is dead.

CLIMBER

[_Quietly steadfast._]

I don’t believe it.

MARKSMAN

He has lost his head.

CLIMBER

[_Looking round._]

Where are the others?

GRIPPER

[_Sarcastically._]

They’ve followed him like brothers.

CLIMBER

Has the Thief gone with the rest?

MARKSMAN

Yes; she thought it best.
She said it was inhuman
To let them go without a woman.

CLIMBER

[_Radiantly, with upraised face._]

Thank you!

LISTENER

[_To Marksman._]

Who’s she speaking to?

[_The Marksman quietly shoots an arrow out of the window._]

LISTENER

Why did you do that?

MARKSMAN

Being under my protection
She looked straight in the right direction.

LISTENER

[_Who has run to the window to look after the arrow._]

I say! They’ve put off in the boat
And left us all behind!

CLIMBER

[_Anxiously._]

Has Finn got his coat?

LISTENER

No; there it is behind
The press.

CLIMBER

Is the Thief there?

LISTENER

Yes.

CLIMBER

Then never mind.

[_To Gripper._]

Come! You must follow
And take the tiller, or the sea will swallow
Them all.

GRIPPER

[_Plaintively._]

It’s no use; I would fall
Without something to grip.

CLIMBER

Are you afraid to slip
If I make fast
A rope to the mast?

GRIPPER

[_Brightening._]

Oh no! not if you give me anything
To hold to, even the smallest bit of string.
But how will you get over there?
It’s far too rough to swim. Take care!

CLIMBER

[_To Listener._]

Can you hear
What the Thief is saying?

LISTENER

[_Putting his ear to the ground and listening intently._]

I rather think she’s praying.

CLIMBER

[_Clapping her hands delightedly._]

Then come along, the danger’s past,
I’ve tied a life-line to the mast!

[_Exit all running eagerly, the Climber carrying Finn’s
coat._]