JULIA. [To MRS. GARDNER.] And I beg you to accept her as a daughter. She will make a better farmer"s wife than ever I shall.
JOHN. [In a loud whisper.] Start courting, master.
WILLIAM. O I dare not quite so sudden, John.
MRS. GARDNER. [Sitting down.] It will take a few moments for me to understand this situation.
JULIA. There is no need for any hurry. We have all the evening before us.
JOHN. [Hastily gathers a rosebud and puts it into WILLIAM"S hand.]
Give her a blossom, master. "Tis an easy start off.
WILLIAM. [Coming forward shyly with the flower.] Would you fancy a rosebud, mistress?
LAURA. O that I would, master.
WILLIAM. Should you care to see--to see where the young celery is planted out?
LAURA. O, I"d dearly love to see the spot.
WILLIAM. I"ll take you along to it then. [He gives her his arm, very awkwardly, and they move away.
MRS. GARDNER. [Sitting down.] Well--things have changed since I was young.
JOHN. [Looking viciously at NAT and SUSAN.] Ah, I counts they have, mistress, and "tis all for the worse.
SUSAN. [Comes forward timidly.] And me and Nat are to be married too, mistress.
MRS. GARDNER. I should have given you notice anyhow to-night, Susan, so perhaps it"s just as well you have made sure of some sort of a roof to your head.
NAT. "Twill be but the roof of th" old cart, mistress; but I warrant as her"ll sleep bravely under it, won"t you, Su.
SUSAN. That I shall, dear Nat.
TANSIE. Well, Master John, have you a fancy to come tenting along of we.
JOHN. Upon my word, but I don"t know how "tis with the young people nowadays, they be so bold.
JULIA. [Who has been standing apart, her hand in that of CHRIS.]
New days, new ways, John.
JOHN. Bless my soul, but "tis hard to keep up with all these goings on, and no mistake.
JULIA. No need for you to try, John. If you are too old to run with us you must abide still and watch us as we go.
CHRIS. But there, you needn"t look downhearted, master, for I knows someone as"ll give you a rare warm welcome if so be as you should change your mind and take your chance in the open, same as we.
TANSIE. You shall pay for that, Chris.
JOHN. [Stiffly.] I hope as I"ve a properer sense of my duty nor many others what I could name.
MRS. GARDNER. Those are the first suitable words that have been spoken in my hearing this afternoon.
[WILLIAM, with LAURA on his arm, returns. LAURA carries a small cuc.u.mber very lovingly.
LAURA. Julia, look! The first one of the season! O, isn"t it a picture!
JULIA. O Laura, "tis a fine wedding gift to be sure.
WILLIAM. [Stepping up to JOHN.] John, my man, here"s a five pound note to your pocket. I"d never have won this lady here if it hadn"t been for you.
JOHN. [Taking the note.] Don"t name it, dear master. "Tis a long courtship what has no ending to it, so I always says.
MRS. GARDNER. "Tis one upset after another, but suppose you were to make yourself useful for once, Susan, and bring out the tray with the cake and gla.s.ses on it.
JOHN. Ah, that"s it, and I"ll go along of she and help draw the cider. Courtship be powerful drying work.
LAURA. [Looking into WILLIAM"S eyes.] O William, "twas those Early s...o...b..a.l.l.s that did first stir up my heart.
WILLIAM. "Twas John who thought of them. Why, John has more sensible thoughts to the mind of him than any other man in the world- -and when the cider is brought, "tis to John"s health we will all drink.
[Curtain.]
PRINCESS ROYAL
CHARACTERS IN THE PLAY
ROSE, MARION, village girls.
LADY MILLICENT.
ALICE, her maid.
LEAH, an old gipsy.
SUSAN, otherwise Princess Royal, her grand-daughter.
JOCKIE, a little swine herd.
LADY CULLEN.
Her ladies in waiting (or one lady only).
LORD CULLEN, her only son.
As many girls as are needed for the dances should be in this Play.
The parts of Lord Cullen and Jockie may be played by girls.
ACT I.--Scene 1.