Act 2 - Scene 2

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_ ACT II - SCENE II

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 pass 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 apron.]

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 cumbered 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 glass 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.

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.

JOHN.
Nor from your mug of drink neither, Jerry.

[JEREMY laughs and moves off to the side table.]

LIZ.
A very pleasant sort of man.

JANE.
I do like anyone what's homely.

JOHN.
[Calling out heartily.]

Do you listen to that, Jerry! The ladies here do find you pleasant and homely, and I don't know what else.

JEREMY.
The mugs want filling once more.

[He stolidly goes round the table refilling the mugs. ROSE'S gaze wanders about her.]

ROSE.
[To ROBERT.]
That's not a bad looking figure of a man -

ROBERT.
Who?

ROSE.
Well--the new farm hand.

ROBERT.
A sulky looking brute. I'd not let him wear his hat to table if I was master here.

ROSE.
He puts me in mind of--well--there, I can't recollect who 'tis. [A knock is heard at the door.

ROSE.
[Sharply to ISABEL.]

Go and see who 'tis, Lucy.

[ISABEL opens the door, and MARY MEADOWS stands on the threshold, a large nosegay of beautiful wild flowers in her hand.]

JOHN.
[Rising up in great pleasure.]

You're late, Mary. But you're welcome as the--as the very sunshine.

ROSE.
Set another place, Lucy.

MARY.
Not for me, Rose. I did not come here to eat or drink, but to bring you these few blossoms and my love.

ROSE.
[Rises from the table and takes the nosegay.]

I'm sure you're very kind, Mary--Suppose we were all to move into the parlour now we have finished dinner, and then we could enjoy a bit of conversation.

LIZ.
Very pleasant, I'm sure.

JANE.
I see no objection.

KITTY.
[Running round to look at the flowers.]

And Mary shall tell us how to make charms out of the flowers--and the meanings of the blossoms and all the strange things she knows about them.

JOHN.
[Taking a flower from the bunch and putting it into his coat.]

Yes, and how to brew tea as'll curl up anyone's tongue within the mouth for a year--and fancy drinks for sheep with foot rot, and powders against the murrain and any other nonsense that you do please.

MARY.
Now, John, I'll not have you damage my business like this.

LIZ.
Maybe as the young person's got sommat what'll be handy with your complaint, sister.

JANE.
Or for when you be took with th' air in your head so bad, Jane.

ROSE.
Yes, I reckon that Mary has a charm for every ill beneath the sun. Let's go off to the parlour along of her. You're not coming with us, John, are you?

JOHN.
I'd not miss the telling of these things for anything in the world, foolishness though they be.

ROSE.
Come along then--all of you.

[They all go out. JEREMY holds the door open for them. As she passes through it LIZ says, looking at him.]

LIZ.
We shall hope for your company, too.

JANE.
To be sure, mister.

JEREMY.
[Haughtily.]

I bain't one for parlours, nor charms, ma'am. I be here for another purpose.

[They leave the room.]

JEREMY.
[Having watched the party out, moves towards the cider jug.]

Now, my man, now, my wench--us'll see what can be done with the victuals and drink they've been and left. 'Tis a fair heavy feed and drink as I do need. Sommat as'll lift me up through all the trials of this here foolish matrimony and stuff.

[He raises the jug of cider to his mouth as the Curtain falls.] _

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