_Julia_. I guess nought.
_Helen_. You do!
At your grave words, your lips, more honest, smile, And show them to be traitors. Hie to him.
_Julia_. Hie thee to soberness.
[Goes out.]
_Helen_. Ay, will I, when, Thy bridemaid, I shall hie to church with thee.
Well, Fathom, who is come?
_Fath_. I know not.
_Helen_. What! Didst thou not hear his name?
_Fath_. I did.
_Helen_. What is"t?
_Fath_. I noted not.
_Helen_. What hast thou ears for, then?
_Fath_. What good were it for me to mind his name?
I do but what I must do. To do that Is labour quite enough!
_Wal_. [Without.] What, Fathom!
_Fath_. Here.
_Wal_. [Entering.] Here, sirrah! Wherefore didst not come to me?
_Fath_. You did not bid me come.
_Wal_. I called thee.
_Fath_. Yes.
And I said "Here;" and waited then to know Your worship"s will with me.
_Wal_. We go to town.
Thy mistress, thou, and all the house.
_Fath_. Well, sir?
_Wal_. Mak"st thou not ready then to go to town?
Hence, knave, despatch!
[FATHOM goes out.]
_Helen_. Go we to town?
_Wal_. We do; "Tis now her father"s will she sees the town.
_Helen_. I"m glad on"t. Goes she to her father?
_Wal_. No: At the desire of thine she for a term shares roof with thee.
_Helen_. I"m very glad on"t.
_Wal_. What!
You like her, then? I thought you would. "Tis time She sees the town.
_Helen_. It has been time for that These six years.
_Wal_. By thy wisdom"s count. No doubt You"ve told her what a precious place it is.
_Helen_. I have.
_Wal_. I even guessed as much. For that I told thee of her; brought thee here to see her; And prayed thee to sojourn a s.p.a.ce with her; That its fair s.p.a.ce, from thy too fair report, Might strike a novice less--so less deceive her.
I did not put thee under check.
_Helen_. "Twas right,-- Else had I broken loose, and run the wilder!
So knows she not her father yet: that"s strange.
I prithee how does mine?
_Wal_. Well--very well.
News for thee.
_Helen_. What?
_Wal_. Thy cousin is in town.
_Helen_. My cousin Modus?
_Wal_. Much do I suspect That cousin"s nearer to thy heart than blood.
_Helen_. Pshaw! Wed me to a musty library!
Love him who nothing loves but Greek and Latin!
But, Master Walter, you forget the main Surpa.s.sing point of all! Who"s come with you?
_Wal_. Ay, that"s the question!
_Helen_. Is he soldier or Civilian? lord or gentleman? He"s rich, If that"s his chariot! Where is his estate?
What brings it in? Six thousand pounds a year?
Twelve thousand, may be! Is he bachelor, Or husband? Bachelor I"m sure he is Comes he not hither wooing, Master Walter?
Nay, prithee, answer me!
_Wal_. Who says thy s.e.x Are curious? That they"re patient, I"ll be sworn; And reasonable--very reasonable-- To look for twenty answers in a breath!
Come, thou shalt be enlightened--but propound Thy questions one by one! Thou"rt far too apt A scholar! My ability to teach Will ne"er keep pace, I fear, with thine to learn.