ROSE. [Putting her hand to her head.] The new maid. A stupid country wench.
ROBERT. You"ve got my meaning wrong. "Tis that I"ve never seen you look so well before.
ROSE. O dear Robert!
ROBERT. You"ve got my fancy more than ever, Rose.
ROSE. O, I"m so happy to be going off with you to-morrow, and I love it down at Bristol. Robert, I"m tired and sick of country life.
ROBERT. We"ll make a grand fine lady of you there, Rose.
ROSE. [A little sharply.] Am I not one in looks already, Robert?
ROBERT. You"re what I do dote upon. I can"t say no more.
[LUBIN and ISABEL enter carrying dishes, which they set upon the table. ROBERT and ROSE turn their backs to them and look out into the garden. The staircase door is opened, and LIZ, JANE and KITTY come into the room. LIZ and JANE are wearing gaudy caps trimmed with violet and green ribbons.
ROSE. We"ll sit down, now. John won"t be a moment before he"s here.
[She sits down at one end of the table and signs to ROBERT to place himself next to her. The sisters and KITTY seat themselves. JOHN comes hurriedly in.
JOHN. That"s right. Everyone in their places? But no cover laid for Mary?
ROSE. [Carelessly.] We can soon have one put, should she take it into her head to drop in.
JOHN. That"s it. Now ladies, now Robert--"tis thirsty work a- driving upon the Bristol road at midsummer. We"ll lead off with a drink of home-made cider. The eating"ll come sweeter afterwards.
ROBERT. That"s it, Miller.
[LUBIN and ISABEL come forward and take the cider mugs from each place to the side table, where LUBIN fills them from a large jug. In the mugs of ROSE-ANNA and ROBERT, ISABEL shakes the contents of the little packets. Whilst they are doing this the following talk is carried on at the table.
LIZ [Taking up a spoon.] Real plated, sister.
JANE. Upon my word, so "tis.
ROSE. And not so bright as I should wish to see it neither. I"ve had a sad trouble with my maids of late.
LIZ. Sister and I don"t keep none of them, thank goodness.
JANE. We does our work with our own hands. We"d be ashamed if "twas otherwise.
ROBERT. [Scowling at them.] I"ve been and engaged a house-full of servants for Rose-Anna. She shall know what "tis to live like a lady once she enters our family.
JOHN. Servants be like green fly on the bush. They do but spoil th"
home and everything they do touch. All save one.
KITTY. And that one"s Jerry, I suppose.
JOHN. You"re right there, Kitty, that you are. A harder head was never given to man than what Jerry do carry twixt his shoulders.
[LUBIN and ISABEL here put round the mugs of cider, and everyone drinks thirstily. ISABEL stands behind the chairs of ROSE and ROBERT and LUBIN at JOHN"S side.
ROBERT. [Setting down his mug.] There"s a drink what can"t be got in foreign parts.
ROSE. [Looking fondly at him.] Let the maid fill your mug again, my dear one.
ROBERT. [Carelessly handing it to ISABEL.] I don"t mind if I do have another swill.
[ISABEL fills the mug and puts it by his side.
LIZ. As good as any I ever tasted.
JANE. Couldn"t better it at the King"s Head up our way.
JOHN. Good drink--plenty of it. Now we"ll start upon the meat I reckon.
[He takes up a knife and fork and begins to carve, and LUBIN hands round plates. During this ROBERT"S gaze restlessly wanders about the room, finally fixing itself on ISABEL, who presently goes out to the back kitchen with plates.
ROBERT. The new serving maid you"ve got there, Rose, should wear a cap and not her bonnet.
ROSE. How sharp you are to notice anything.
ROBERT. A very pretty looking wench, from what I can see.
ROSE. [Speaking more to the cousins than to ROBERT.] O she"s but a rough and untrained girl got in all of a hurry. Not at all the sort I"ve been used to in this house, I can tell you.
[ISABEL comes back with fresh plates and stands at the side table.
LIZ. [To JANE.] A mellower piece of pig meat I never did taste, sister.
JANE. I"m sorry I went and took the poultry.
KITTY. John will carve you some ham if you"d like to try it, Miss Jane.
JANE. I"m sure I"m much obliged.
[JEREMY comes in.]
JEREMY. [Coming to the back of JANE"S chair.] Don"t you get mixing of your meats is what I says. Commence with ham and finish with he.
That"s what do suit the inside of a delicate female.
JANE. [Looking up admiringly.] Now that"s just what old Uncle he did used to say.
JEREMY. Old uncle did know what he was a-talking about then.
LIZ. [Warming and looking less awkward and ill at ease.] "Twas the gout what kept Uncle so low in his eating, "twas not th" inclination of him.
JEREMY. Ah "twouldn"t be the gout nor any other disease as would keep me from a platter of good food.