Six Plays by Lady Florence Henrietta Fisher Darwin Part 60

[JOHN, on his way to the door, pauses--as though momentarily lost in thought.

JOHN. Was Mary Meadows asked to drop in at any time to-day, Rose?

ROSE. [Who is taking up her gown and ribbons to show to ISABEL, and speaking crossly.] I'm sure I don't know, nor care. I've enough to think about as 'tis.

KITTY. [Taking JOHN's arm playfully.] You're terribly took up with Mary Meadows, John.

JOHN. There isn't many like her, Kitty. She do rear herself above t'others as--as a good wheat stalk from out the rubbish.

[JOHN and KITTY go slowly out.

JEREMY. [As though to himself.] I sees as how I shall have to keep an eye on master--[turning to LUBIN and signing to him.] But come, my man, us has no time for romance, 'tis dish washing as lies afore you now.

[LUBIN jerks his head haughtily and makes a protesting gesture. Then he seems to remember himself and follows JEREMY humbly from the room.

ROSE takes up some ribbons and laces.

ROSE. [To ISABEL, who is standing near.] Now, Lucy, we must look sharp; Mister Robert and his cousins from Bristol town will soon be here. I have not met with the cousins yet, but I've been told as they're very fine ladies--They stood in place of parents to my Robert, you know. 'Tis unfortunate we should be in such a sad muddle the day they come.

ISABEL. When I have helped you into your gown, mistress, I shall soon have the dinner spread and all in order. I be used to such work, and I'm considered spry upon my feet.

ROSE. 'Tis more serious that you should be able to curl my hair in the way that Mr. Robert likes.

ISABEL. [Sadly.] I don't doubt but that I shall be able to do that too, mistress.

ROSE. Very well. Take the gown and come with me up to my room.

[They go out together, ISABEL carrying the gown.

ACT II.--Scene 2.

The same room. The table is laid for dinner and ISABEL is putting flowers upon it. LUBIN wearing his hat, enters with large jugs of cider, which he sets upon a side table.

ISABEL. [Looking up from her work.] Shall us ever have the heart to go on with it, Master Lubin?

LUBIN. [Bitterly.] Do not you "Master" me, Isabel. I'm only a common servant in the house where once I was lover and almost brother.

ISABEL. [Coming up to him.] O do not take it so hard, Lubin--Us can do naught at this pa.s.s but trust what the young woman did tell me.

LUBIN. [Gloomily.] The sight of Rose has stirred up my love so powerful that I do hardly know how to hold the tears back from my eyes.

ISABEL. [Pressing her eyes with her ap.r.o.n.] What'll it be for me when Robert comes in?

LUBIN. We'll have to help one another, Isabel, in the plight where we stand.

ISABEL. That's it. And perchance as them seeds'll do the rest.

[They spring apart as a sound of voices and laughter is heard outside.

KITTY. [Runs in.] They've come. All of them. And do you know that Robert's cousins are no fine ladies at all, as he said, but just two common old women dressed grand-like.

ISABEL. That will be a sad shock to poor mistress.

KITTY. O, she is too much taken up with Mister Robert to notice yet.

But quick! They are all sharp set from the drive. Fetch in the dishes, William and Lucy.

ISABEL. All shall be ready in a moment, Miss Kitty.

[She goes hurriedly out followed by LUBIN. KITTY glances round the room and then stands at the side of the front door. JOHN, giving an arm to each of ROBERT'S cousins, enters. The cousins are dressed in coloured flowered dresses, and wear bonnets that are heavy with bright plumes. They look c.u.mbered and ill at ease in their clothes, and carry their sunshades and gloves awkwardly.

LIZ. [Looking round her.] Very comfortable, I'm sure. But I count as that there old-fashioned grate do take a rare bit of elbow grease.

JANE. Very pleasant indeed. But I didn't reckon as the room would be quite the shape as 'tis.

LIZ. Come to that, I didn't expect the house to look as it do.

JANE. Very ancient in appearance, I'm sure.

JOHN. Ah, the house has done well enough for me and my father and grandfather afore me.

[ROSE, very grandly dressed, comes in hanging on ROBERT'S arm.

ROBERT is clothed in the fashion of the town.

ROSE. Please to remove your bonnet, Miss Eliza. Please to remove yours, Miss Jane.

JOHN. [Heartily.] Ah, that's so--'Twill be more homely like for eating.

ROSE. There's a gla.s.s upon the wall.

LIZ. I prefer to remain as I be.

JANE. Sister and me have our caps packed up in the tin box.

KITTY. [Bringing the tin box from the doorway.] Shall I take you upstairs to change? Dinner's not quite ready yet.

LIZ. That will suit us best, I'm sure. Come, sister.

[KITTY leads the way out, followed by both sisters.

JOHN. I'll just step outside and see that Jerry's tending to the horse.

[He hurries out, and ROBERT is left alone with ROSE.

ROSE. [Coming towards him and holding out her hands.] O, Robert, is it the same between us as it was last time?

ROBERT. [Looking at her critically.] You've got your hair different or something.