Six Plays by Lady Florence Henrietta Fisher Darwin Part 53

ALICE. And there she is, looking at your ladyship with her gipsy eyes, bold as a bra.s.s farthing.

SUSAN. [Starting up and speaking pa.s.sionately.] I'll not be taunted for my dancing--I likes to dance wild, and leap with my body when my spirit leaps, and fly with my limbs when my heart flies and move in the air same as the birds do move when 'tis mating time.

GRANDMOTHER. Ah, 'tis so with she. She baint no tame mouse what creeps from its hole along of t'others and who do go shuffle shuffle, in and out of the ring, mild as milk and naught in the innards of they but the squeak.

SUSAN. [Defiantly.] 'Twas my dance gained his lordship's praise--so there, fine madam.

LADY MILLICENT. Your dance? Who are you then?

ALICE. A gipsy wench, mistress, who minds the goats and pigs for one of they great farms.

GRANDMOTHER. Have a care for that tongue of yours, madam waiting maid. For I know how to lay sommat upon it what you won't fancy.

LADY MILLICENT. [Coming up to SUSAN and laying her hand on her arm.]

Now tell me your name, my girl.

SUSAN. They call me Princess Royal.

LADY MILLICENT. O that must be in jest. Why, you are clothed in rags, poor thing.

SUSAN. [Shaking herself free.] I'd sooner wear my own rags nor the laces which you have got upon you.

LADY MILLICENT. Now why do you say such a thing?

SUSAN. 'Twas in these rags as I danced in the wood that day, and 'tis by these rags as my lord will know me once more.

LADY MILLICENT. Listen, I will cover you in silk and laces, Princess Royal.

ALICE. Susan is the maid's name.

SUSAN. I don't want none of your laces or silks.

LADY MILLICENT. And feed you with poultry and cream and sweetmeats.

SUSAN. I want naught but my crust of bread.

LADY MILLICENT. I'll fill your hands with gold pieces.

GRANDMOTHER. Do you hear that, Sue?

SUSAN. [Doggedly.] I hear her well enough, Gran.

LADY MILLICENT. If you'll teach me your dance against May Day.

Then, I'll clothe myself much after your fashion and dance upon the green with the rest.

SUSAN. I'll not learn you my dance. Not for all the gold in the world. You shan't go and take the only thing I have away from me.

LADY MILLICENT. [Angrily.] Neither shall a little gipsy wretch like you take my love from me. We were as good as promised to each other at our christening.

ALICE. Don't put yourself out for the baggage, madam. His lordship would never look on her.

GRANDMOTHER. Gold, did you say, mistress?

LADY MILLICENT. Gold? O yes--an ap.r.o.n full of gold, and silver too.

GRANDMOTHER. Do you hear that, Susan?

SUSAN. [Doggedly.] I'll not do it for a King's ransom.

GRANDMOTHER. You will. You'll do it for the sake of poor old Gran, what's been father and mother to you--and what's gone hungered and thirsty so that you might have bread and drink.

SUSAN. [Distractedly.] O I can never give him up.

GRANDMOTHER. He'll never be yourn to give--Dance till your legs is off and he'll have naught to say to a gipsy brat when 'tis all finished.

ALICE. Whilst my lady belongs to his lordship's own cla.s.s, 'tis but suitable as she should be the one to wed with him--knowing the foreign tongues and all, and playing so sweetly on her instruments.

There's a lady anyone would be proud to take before the Court in London.

[SUSAN turns away with a movement of despair. The GRANDMOTHER begins to smoke again. LADY MILLICENT fans herself and ALICE arranges her own shawl.

GRANDMOTHER. I could do with a little pig up at our place if I'd the silver to take into the market for to buy him with. [A silence.

GRANDMOTHER. And I could do with a pair of good shoes to my poor old feet come winter time when 'tis snowing. [Another silence.

GRANDMOTHER. And 'twould be good not to go to bed with the pain of hunger within my lean old body--so 'twould. [SUSAN turns round suddenly.

SUSAN. I'll do it, Gran. I'll do it for your sake. 'Tis very likely true what you do say, all of you. I'd but dance my feet off for naught. When he came to look into my gipsy eyes, 'twould all be over and done with.

LADY MILLICENT. Sensible girl.

ALICE. 'Tis time she should see which way her bread was spread.

SUSAN. Come, Jockie, come ladies--come Gran--we'll be off to the quiet of our own place where I can learn her ladyship the steps and capers.

GRANDMOTHER. [Rising and pointing to an advancing figure.] You'd best make haste. The mice be a-running from their holes once more-- t'wouldn't do for they to know aught about this.

SUSAN. Let us go quickly then.

[The GRANDMOTHER, SUSAN, LADY MILLICENT with ALICE and JOCKIE go out as a crowd of village girls come on to the green, and laughing and talking together, arrange themselves to practise a Country Dance.

End of Act I.

ACT II.--Scene 1.