Six Plays by Lady Florence Henrietta Fisher Darwin Part 47

LAURA. Jowls. O, and did you not take them?

JULIA. No, I sent them back to the giver, with the dry heart which was along with them in the same basket.

LAURA. O Julia, how could you be so hard and cruel?

JULIA. Come, wouldn't you have done the same?

LAURA. [Sobbing vehemently.] That I should not, Julia.

JULIA. Perhaps you've seen the gentleman then?

LAURA. I have. And O, Julia, he is a beautiful gentleman. I never saw one that was his like.

JULIA. The rare red rose with its thorn, Laura.

LAURA. He did lay the heart of him before me--thinking my name was Julia.

JULIA. And did he lay the vegetables too?

LAURA. 'Twas all the doing of a great fool, that man of his.

JULIA. And you--did you give him what he asked of you--before he knew that your name was not Julia?

LAURA. O, I did--that I did. [A short silence.

JULIA. And could you forget the p.r.i.c.k of the thorn, did you hold the rose again, Laura?

LAURA. O that I could. For me there'd be naught but the rose, were it laid once more in my hand. But 'tis not likely to be put there, since 'tis you he favours.

JULIA. But I don't favour him.

LAURA. You'll favour him powerful well when you see him, Julia.

JULIA. I've given my heart already, but 'tis not to him.

LAURA. You've given your heart?

JULIA. Yes, Chris has all of it, Laura. There is nothing left for anyone else in the world.

LAURA. O Julia, think of your position.

JULIA. That I will not do. I am going to think of yours.

LAURA. [Beginning to cry.] I'm no better in my station than a serving maid, like Susan.

JULIA. [Pointing.] There she comes [calling] Susan, Susan!

[SUSAN comes up. During the next sentences LAURA takes one bunch of vegetables after another from the basket, smoothing each in turn with a fond caressing movement.

SUSAN. Did you call, mistress?

JULIA. Yes, Susan. That I did.

SUSAN. Can I help you in any way, Miss Julia?

JULIA. Yes, and that you can. You have got to run quickly back to the farm.

SUSAN. Be it got terrible late, mistress?

JULIA. 'Tis not only that. You have got to find your master and tell him to expect a visit from me in less than an hour's time from now. Do you understand?

SUSAN. O, yes, mistress, and that I do--to tell master as you be coming along after he as fast as you can run.

JULIA. Well--I should not have put it in that way, but 'tis near enough may be. So off, and make haste, Susan.

SUSAN. Please, mistress, I could make the words have a more loving sound to them if you do wish it.

JULIA. My goodness, Susan, what are you thinking of? Say naught, but that I'm coming. Run away now, and run quickly. [SUSAN goes off.

LAURA. [Looking up, a bunch of carrots in her hands.] What are you going to do now, Julia?

JULIA. You shall see, when you have done playing with those carrots.

LAURA. He pulled them, every one, with his own hands, Julia.

JULIA. My love has gathered something better for me than a carrot.

See, a spray of elder bloom that was tossing ever so high in the wind.

[She takes a branch of elder flower from her dress, and shews it to LAURA.

LAURA. The roots that lie warm in the earth do seem more homely like to me.

JULIA. Well--each one has their own way in love--and mine lies through the dark woods, and yours is in the vegetable garden. And 'tis your road that we will take this afternoon--so come along quickly with me, Laura, for the sun has already begun to change its light.

[LAURA replaces the vegetables in her basket and rises from the seat as the curtain falls.

ACT III.--Scene 1.

The Garden of Road Farm as in Act I.

MRS. GARDNER is knitting in the Arbour. WILLIAM strolls about gloomily, his hands in his pockets.

MRS. GARDNER. And serve you right, William, for sending the man when you should have gone yourself.