Allen monologue (Act 1) — Woodbarrow Farm: Play in Three Acts

(_Crosses r._) Ah, thee don’t understand it, lass. Thee women folk can stand day arter day the same, but we lads are restless wi’ it. We feel as there’s summat big and stirring going on somewhere, and we long to be among it--to be in the great world. It seems to call to me--(_puts foot on settle L._)--to come to it, sometimes. I hear it of a night when I’m watching the sheep on the hill fields. Maybe it’s only the sea breaking on the rocks down by Glenthorn--or the wind among the old oaks, but it sounds like a distant far-off voice--(_gets l. of table R. with back to Deborah_)--calling to me, and it rings and echoes in my ears, till I feel at times that I must start up then and there and follow it. (_Deborah r. of table r. Allen l. of table r._)