________________________________________________
_ ACT III - SCENE III
A few minutes later. LIZ and JANE wearing gay sprigged dresses and feathered bonnets, come to the room. They carry fans and handkerchiefs in their hands. It is seen that their gowns are not fastened at the back.
LIZ.
Such a house I never heard tell of. Ring, ring at the bell and no one to come nigh.
JANE.
Being unused to bells, sister, maybe as us did pull them wrong or sommat.
LIZ.
I wish we'd had the gowns made different.
JANE.
To do up in the front--sensible like.
[They twist and turn in front of the glass on the wall, absorbed in their dress, they do not notice that JEREMY has come in and is watching them sarcastically.]
JEREMY.
Being as grey as th' old badger don't keep a female back from vanity.
LIZ.
O dear, Master Jeremy, what a turn you did give me, to be sure.
JANE.
We can't find no one in this house to attend upon we.
JEREMY.
I count as you can not. Bain't no one here.
LIZ.
We rang for the wench a many time.
JEREMY.
Ah, and you might ring.
JANE.
We want someone as'll fasten them niggly hooks to our gowns.
JEREMY.
Ah, and you may want.
LIZ.
Our sight bain't clear enough to do one for t'other, the eyelets be made so small.
JEREMY.
Count as you'll have to go unfastened then.
JANE.
O now you be a laughing at us. Call the wench down, or we shall never be ready in time.
JEREMY.
Man and maid be both gone off. Same as t'others, us'll have to do without service
LIZ.
Gone off!
JANE.
Runned clean away?
JEREMY.
That's about it.
JANE.
Well now, sister, us'll have to ask the little Miss to help we.
JEREMY.
I've harnessed the mare a many time. Don't see why I shouldn't get the both of you fixed into the shafts like.
LIZ and JANE.
[Fanning themselves coyly.]
O Master Jeremy -
JEREMY.
Come now. Let's have a try. I count as no one have a steadier hand nor me this side of the river, nor a finer eye for seeing as everything be in its place. I'll settle the both of you afore I gets out the horse and trap. Turn round.
[The sisters turn awkwardly, and with very self-conscious airs begin to flutter their fans. JEREMY quickly hooks each gown in succession. As he finishes the fastening of JANE'S dress ROSE, followed by KITTY, comes into the room. She is wearing her bridal gown and veil.]
ROSE.
[Pausing.]
What's this, Jeremy?
JEREMY.
The servants be runned away same as t'others--that's all, mistress.
ROSE.
Run away?
JEREMY.
So I do reckon. Bain't anywhere about the place.
ROSE.
[Flinging herself down on a chair by the table, in front of the bunch of forget-me-nots.] Let them be found. Let them be brought back at once.
KITTY.
For my part I'm glad they've gone off. The girl was a wild, bad thing. I saw how she went on with Robert.
ROSE.
[Brokenly to JEREMY.]
You found them. Bring them back, Jerry.
KITTY.
No--wait till you and Robert are made man and wife, Rose. Then 'twon't matter quite so much.
ROSE.
I'll never wed me to Robert, I'll only wed me to him who gathered these blue flowers here.
KITTY.
Good heavens, Rose, 'twas the man William.
[KITTY looks in consternation from ROSE to the cousins and then to JEREMY, who remains impassive and uninterested, sucking a straw. ROSE clasps her hands round the forget-me-nots and sits gazing at them, desolately unhappy. ROBERT enters. He is very grandly dressed for the wedding, but as he comes into the room he sees ISABEL'S cotton bonnet on the floor. He stoops, picks it up and laying it reverently on the table, sinks into a chair opposite ROSE and raising one of its ribbons, kisses this with passion.]
ROBERT.
There--I'd not change this for a thousand sacks of gold--I swear I'd not.
KITTY.
Now Robert--get up, the two of you. Are you bewitched or sommat--O Jerry, stir them, can't you.
LIZ.
Robert, 'tisn't hardly suitable--with the young miss so sweetly pretty in her white gown.
JANE.
And wedding veil and all. And sister and me hooked up into our new sprigs, ready for the ceremony.
JEREMY.
[Looking at them with cold contempt.]
Let them bide. The mush'll swim out of they same as 'twill swim off the cider vat. Just let the young fools bide.
KITTY.
O this'll never do. Jerry forgetting of his manners and all. [Calling at the garden door.] John, John, come you here quickly, there's shocking goings on.
[JOHN, in best clothes comes in.]
JOHN.
What's the rattle now, Kitty? I declare I might be turning round on top of my own mill wheel such times as these.
KITTY.
Rose says she won't wed Robert, and Robert's gone off his head all along of that naughty servant maid.
[JOHN stands contemplating ROSE and ROBERT. ROSE seems lost to the outside world and is gazing with tears at her forget-me-nots, whilst ROBERT, in sullen gloom, keeps his eyes fixed on the sun-bonnet.]
JOHN. Come, Rose, 'tis time you commenced to act a bit different. [ROSE does not answer.]
JOHN. Come, Robert, if you play false to my sister at the last moment, you know with whom you'll have to reckon like.
[ROBERT pays no heed to him.]
JOHN.
[To JEREMY.]
Can you do naught to work upon them a bit, Jerry?
JEREMY.
I'd have a jug of cider in, master. 'Twill settle them all. Folks do get 'sterical and vapourish face to face with matrimony. Put some drink afore of them, and see how 'twill act.
LIZ.
O what a wise thought, Master Jerry.
JANE.
Most suitable, I call it.
[Here MARY MEADOWS comes in, JOHN turns eagerly to her.]
JOHN.
O Mary--have you come to help us in the fix where we are?
[He signs to ROSE and ROBERT.]
MARY.
What has happened, John?
JEREMY.
I'll tell you in a couple of words, mistress.
LIZ.
No--do you fetch the cider, dear Mister Jeremy.
JOHN.
'Tis more than I can do with, Mary. Rose is set against Robert, and Robert is set against Rose. Rose--well I'm fairly ashamed to mention it--Rose has lost her senses and would wed the servant William--and Robert is a-courting of the maid.
JEREMY.
Ah, let each fool follow their own liking, says I.
LIZ.
And sister and me all dressed in our new gowns for the church.
JANE.
And Jerry had to do the hooking for we, both of the servants having runned away.
MARY.
Well, now I'm here I'll lend a hand. I'll help with the dinner time you're at church. You shall not need to trouble about anything, Mr. John.
JOHN.
O once I do get them to the church and the ring fixed and all I shan't trouble about nothing, Mary. But 'tis how to move them from where they be! That's the puzzle.
ROSE.
I'll never move till the hand that gathered these flowers be here to raise me.
ROBERT.
I'll sit here to the end of the world sooner nor go along to be wed with Miss over there.
MARY.
'Tis midsummer heat have turned their brains. But I know a cooling draught that will heal them of their sickness. Jeremy, do you step into the garden and bring me a handful of fresh violet leaves, one blossom from the heartsease and a sprig of rosemary.
JEREMY.
[Sighing.]
What next?
JOHN.
Get gone at once, Jerry.
[JEREMY goes to the door--as he does so LIZ and JANE start up and follow him.]
LIZ.
Sister and me will come along and help you, dear Mr. Jeremy.
JANE.
And that us will, if our new gowns bain't hooked too tight for we to bend.
[They follow JEREMY to the garden. KITTY silently leaves the room also. ROSE and ROBERT remain lost in their sorrowful reflections. JOHN and MARY look at them for a moment and then turn to one another.]
JOHN.
Mary, I never thought to see such a thing as this.
MARY.
You take my word for it, John, the storm will soon be blown away.
JOHN.
I don't know how I should stand up against the worry of it all, wasn't it for you, Mary.
[A short silence.]
JOHN.
[Taking MARY'S hand.]
'Twill be a bit lonesome for me here, when they've gone off, Mary.
MARY.
You'll have Kitty to do for you then.
JOHN.
Kitty be going to live along of them at Bristol too, after a while.
MARY.
[Looking round the room.]
Then I count as it might feel a bit desolate like in this great house alone.
JOHN.
[Taking MARY'S hand.]
I cannot face it, Mary. I've loved you many years, you know.
MARY.
I know you have, dear John.
JOHN.
Can't you forget he what was false to you, days gone by, and take me as your husband now?
MARY.
[Doubtfully.]
I don't hardly know.
JOHN.
You used to sing sommat--the grass that was trampled under foot, give it time, it will rise up again.
MARY.
[Drying her eyes.]
Ah, it has risen, dear John--and I count it have covered the wound of those past days--my heart do tell me so, this minute.
JOHN. [Holding both her hands.] Then 'tis one long midsummer afore you and me, Mary.
MARY.
That's how 'twill be, dear John.
[JEREMY, followed by the cousins, enters. He holds a bunch of leaves towards MARY.]
JEREMY.
There you be, mistress. Fools' drink for fools. A mug of good cider would have fetched them to their senses quicker.
[MARY takes the bunch, and still holding JOHN'S hand, leads him to the kitchen. JEREMY watches the pair sarcastically.]
JEREMY.
'Tis all finished with the master, then.
[The sisters seat themselves on the couch and mop their faces with handkerchiefs.]
LIZ. Dear me, 'tis warm.
JANE.
I hope my face don't show mottled, sister?
JEREMY.
I was saying as how 'twas all finished with the master.
[MARY, followed by JOHN, comes forward carrying two glasses. She gives one to ROSE and the other to ROBERT.]
MARY.
Now do you take a good draught of this, the both of you. With violet leaves the fever of the mind is calmed, and heartsease lightens every trouble caused by love. Rosemary do put new life to anyone with its sweetness, and cold spring water does the rest.
[She leaves the table and stands far back in the room by JOHN'S side. ROSE slowly lifts her glass and begins to drink. ROBERT does the same. They are watched with anxiety by all in the room. When they have emptied their glasses ROSE dries her tears and pushes the flowers a little way from her. ROBERT shakes himself and moves the cotton bonnet so that it falls unheeded to the floor. Meanwhile KITTY has come quietly to the garden door and stands there watching the scene intently.]
LIZ.
Bain't we going to get a drink too?
JANE.
Seems as though master have been and forgot we.
JEREMY.
[Starting up and going to the kitchen.]
If I've been and forgot you two old women, I've remembered myself. Be blowed if I can get through any more of this foolishness without a wet of my mouth.
[He goes out.]
ROSE.
[Speaking faintly.]
Does it show upon my face, the crying, Robert?
ROBERT.
[Looking at her.]
No, no, Rose, your eyes be brighter nor ever they were.
ROSE.
[Pushing the forget-me-nots yet further away.]
Those flowers are dying. My fancy ones were best.
KITTY.
[Coming forward with the orange blossoms.]
Here they are, dear Rose.
ROSE.
[Taking them.]
O how beautiful they do look. I declare I can smell the sweetness coming out from them, Robert.
ROBERT.
All the orange blossom in the world bain't so sweet as one kiss from your lips, Rose.
ROSE.
Now is that truly so?
ROBERT.
Ah, 'tis heavy work a-waiting for the coach, Rose.
JOHN.
[Coming forward and taking MARY'S hand.]
And yours won't be the only marriage Rose-Anna. Did you never think that me and Mary might -
KITTY.
[Running forward.]
But I did--O so many times, John.
[JEREMY enters with LUBIN and ISABEL.]
JEREMY.
Servants be comed back. Man was to the Red Bull, I count. Female a-washing and a-combing of herself in the barn.
ROSE.
[Coldly.]
I don't care whether they be here or not. Set them to work, Jerry, whilst we are to church.
LIZ.
That's it, Master Jeremy. I was never so put out in my life, as when sister did keep on ringing and the wench was not there to help us on with our gowns.
[ROSE and ROBERT get up and go towards the door. They pause before LUBIN and ISABEL.]
ROSE.
The man puts me in mind of someone whom I knew before, called Lubin. I thought I had a fancy for him once--but 'twasn't really so.
ROBERT.
And the girl do favour a little servant wench from Framilode.
ROSE.
[Jealously.]
You never went a-courting with a servant wench, now did you, my heart's dearest?
ROBERT.
Never in all my days, Rose. 'Twas but the fanciful thoughts of a boy towards she, that I had.
ROSE.
[Putting her arm in ROBERT'S.]
Well, we have nothing to do with anything more of it now, dear Robert.
ROBERT.
You're about right, my true love, we'll get us off to the church.
JEREMY.
Ah, coach have been waiting a smartish while, I reckon. 'Tis on master as expense'll fall.
[ROSE and ROBERT with cold glances at LUBIN and ISABEL, pass out of the door.]
JOHN.
[Giving his arm to MARY.]
Now, Mary--now, Kitty.
[They pass out.]
LIZ.
Now, Jeremy, sister and me bain't going off all alone.
JEREMY.
[Offering an arm to each.]
No further than the church door, I say. I've better things to do nor a-giving of my arm to females be they never so full of wiles. And you two do beat many what bain't near so long in the tusk, ah, that you does.
[JEREMY goes out with the sisters.]
LUBIN.
[To ISABEL.]
And shall we go off into the meadows, Isabel, seeing that we are quite forgot?
ISABEL.
No--'tis through these faithless ones as us have learnt to understand the hearts within of we. Let's bide and get the marriage dinner ready for them first.
[She stretches both her hands towards LUBIN, who takes them reverently in his as the Curtain falls.]
[THE END]
Florence Henrietta Darwin's play: Seeds Of Love
_
Read previous: Act 3 - Scene 2
Table of content of Seeds Of Love
GO TO TOP OF SCREEN
Post your review
Your review will be placed after the table of content of this book
