JULIA. [Pointing.] There--see that blue thing yonder flying from one blossom to another. That"s how "tis with me. Shut me up close in one place, I perish. Let me go free, and I can fly and live.
LAURA. You do talk a powerful lot of foolishness that no one could understand.
JULIA. O, do not let us talk at all. Let us bide still, and get ourselves refreshed by the sweetness and the wildness of the forest.
JULIA turns away and gives herself up to the enjoyment of the wood around her.
LAURA arranges her ribbons and smoothes out her gown. Neither of them speak for a few minutes.
LAURA. [Looking up and pointing.] See those strange folk over there? What are they?
JULIA. [Looking in the same direction.] I know them. They are gipsies from the hill near to us.
LAURA. They should be driven away then. I don"t like such folk roosting around.
JULIA. But I do. They are friends to me. Many"s the time I have run out at dusk to speak with them as they sit round their fire.
LAURA. Then you didn"t ought to have done so. Let"s get off now, before they come up.
JULIA. No, no. Let us talk to them all. [Calling.] Tansie and Chris, come you here and sit down alongside of us. [CHRIS, NAT, and TANSIE come up.
CHRIS. Good morning to you, mistress. "Tis a fine brave day, to- day.
JULIA. That it is, Chris. There never was so fine a day. And we have come to spend all of it in this forest.
TANSIE. Ah, but "tis warm upon the high road.
NAT. We be come right away from the town, mistress.
JULIA. Then sit down, all of you, and we will talk in the cool shade.
LAURA. Not here, if you please. I am not used to such company.
JULIA. Not here? Very well, my friends, let us go further into the wood and you shall stretch yourselves under the green trees and we will all rest there together.
LAURA. Well, what next! You might stop to consider how "twill look in the parish.
JULIA. How what will look?
LAURA. How "twill look for you to be seen going off in such company like this.
JULIA. The trees have not eyes, nor have the gra.s.s, and flowers.
There"s no one to see me but you, and you can turn your head t"other way. Come Tansie, come
Chris. [She turns towards the three gipsies.
TANSIE. Nat"s in a sorry way, this morning--baint you, Nat?
NAT. Let I be. You do torment anyone till they scarce do know if they has senses to them or no.
TANSIE. You"re not one to miss what you never had, Nat.
CHRIS. Let the lad bide in quiet, will you. "Tis a powerful little nagging wench as you be.
JULIA. Why are you heavy and sad this fine day, Nat?
TANSIE. "Tis love what"s the matter with he, mistress.
JULIA. Love? O, that"s not a thing that should bring heaviness or gloom, but lightness to the heart, and song to the lips.
TANSIE. Ah, but when there"s been no meeting in the dusk since Sunday, and no message sent!
CHRIS. Keep that tongue of your"n where it should be, and give over, Tansie. Susan"s not one as would play tricks with her lad.
JULIA. Now I have a thirst to hear all about this, Nat, so come off further into the wood, all of you, where we can speak in quiet.
[She holds out her hand to NAT.
LAURA. Upon my word, but something must be done to bring these goings on to an end.
JULIA. Come, Nat--you shall tell me all your trouble. I understand the things of the heart better than Tansie, and I shall know how to give you comfort in your distress--come
[JULIA and NAT, followed by CHRIS and TANSIE, move off out of sight.
LAURA is left sitting on the bench alone. Presently JOHN comes out carefully from behind the bushes, holding his bunch of flowers.
JOHN. A good day to you, mistress.
LAURA. The same to you, master.
JOHN. Folks do call me John.
LAURA. Indeed? Good morning, John.
JOHN. A fine brave sun to-day, mistress.
LAURA. But pleasant enough here in the shade.
JOHN. Now, begging your pardon, but what you wants over the head of you baint one of these great trees full of flies and insects, but an arbour trailed all about with bloom, such as my master has down at his place yonder.
LAURA. Indeed? And who may your master be, John?
JOHN. "Tis Master William Gardner, what"s the talk of the country for miles around, mistress. And that he be.
LAURA. Master William Gardner! What, he of Road Farm?
JOHN. The very same, mistress. And as grand a gentleman as anyone might wish for to see.
LAURA. Yes--I seem to have heard something told about him, but I don"t rightly remember what "twas.