Six Plays by Lady Florence Henrietta Fisher Darwin Part 23

He will not remember how I looked. And our colouring is alike, Joan.

JOAN. 'Tis the eating and drinking as do play most heavily upon my mind, mistress.

CLARA. Then think of these words as you sit at table. Eat as though you were not hungry and drink as though there were no such thing as thirst. Let your hands move about your plate as if they were too tired to lift the knife and fork.

[JOAN, darts to the dresser--seizes up a plate with a knife and fork, places them on the table and sits down before them, pretending to cut up meat. CLARA watches her smilingly.

JOAN. [Absently, raising the knife to her mouth.] How's that, mistress?

CLARA. Not so, not so, Joan. That might betray you.

JOAN. What, mistress?

CLARA. 'Tis the fork which journeys to the mouth, and the knife stops at home on the plate.

JOAN. [Dispiritedly.] 'Tis almost more than I did reckon for when I started.

CLARA. Well, we mustn't think of that now. We must hold up our spirits, you and I.

JOAN. [Getting up and putting away the crockery.] I'd best take off the bonnet and the cloak, mistress, hadn't I?

CLARA. Yes, that you had. We will go upstairs together and I will help you change into another gown. Come quickly so that we may have plenty of time.

[They go towards the staircase door, CLARA leading the way. With her hand on the latch of the door she gives one look round the kitchen.

Then with a sudden movement she goes up to the wooden armchair at the hearth and bends her head till her lips touch it, she then runs upstairs, followed by JOAN.

ACT II.--Scene 2.

After a few moments MILES HOOPER and LUKE JENNER come into the kitchen. They both look round the room enquiringly.

LUKE. Ah, she be still up above with that there serving wench what's come.

MILES. My good man, you didn't expect our fair miss to have finished her toilet under an hour, did you?

LUKE. I don't see what there was to begin on myself, let alone finish.

MILES. 'Tis clear you know little of the ways of our town beauties, Luke.

LUKE. Still, I mean to have my try with her, Miles Hooper.

MILES. [Sarcastically.] I'm quite agreeable, Mister Jenner.

[THOMAS and GEORGE come in. GEORGE carries a bucket of water.

THOMAS. Where's the little maid got to? George and me be come up from the field on purpose for to bid her welcome home.

MILES. Miss is still at her toilet, farmer.

[JOAN, in a flowered silk gown, comes slowly and carefully into the room, followed by CLARA, who carries a lace shawl over one arm. She has put on a large white ap.r.o.n, but wears nothing on her head but the narrow blue ribbon. During the following scene she stands quietly, half hidden by the door.

[JOAN looks nervously round the room, then she draws herself up very haughtily. MILES comes forward and bows low.

THOMAS. [Looking JOAN up and down.] Well, bless my soul, who'd have guessed at the change it do make in a wench?

JOAN. [Holding out her hand, very coldly.] A good afternoon to you, sir.

THOMAS. [Taking her hand slowly.] Upon my word, but you might knock me over.

MILES. Miss has grown into a very superb young lady, Thomas.

THOMAS. [Still looking at her.] That may be so, yet 'twasn't as such I had figured she in the eye of my mind, like. [There is a moment's silence.

THOMAS. George, my boy, you and sister Clara used to be up to rare games one with t'other once on a time. [Turning to JOAN.] There, my wench, I count you've not forgotten Georgie?

JOAN. I'm afeared I've not much of a memory.

THOMAS. Shake hands, my maid, and very like as the memory will come back to roost same as the fowls do.

JOAN. [Bowing coldly.] Good afternoon, George.

MILES. [Aside to Luke.] Now that's what I call a bit of stylish breeding.

[GEORGE has made no answer to JOAN's bow. He quietly ignores it, and takes up his pail of water. As he does so he catches sight of CLARA, who has been watching the whole scene from the corner where she is partly concealed. He looks at her for one moment, and then sets the bucket down again.

THOMAS. Why, George--I guess as it's took you as it took me, us didn't think how 'twould appear when Miss Clara was growed up.

GEORGE. [Quietly.] No, us did not, master.

[He carries his pail into the back kitchen as EMILY and the children come in.

EMILY. What's all this to-do in my kitchen, I should like to know?

THOMAS. Us did but come up for to--to give a handshake to sister Clara, like.

EMILY. Well, now you can go off back to work again. And you-- [turning to JOAN]--now that you've finished curling of your hair and dressing of yourself up, you can go and sit down in the best parlour along with your fancy gentlemen.

MILES. [Offering his arm to JOAN.] It will be my sweet pleasure to conduct Missy to the parlour.

[LUKE offers his arm on the other side, and JOAN moves off with both the young men.

JOAN. [As she goes.] Indeed, I shall be glad to rest on a comfortable couch. I'm dead tired of the country air already.

ROBIN. [Calling after her.] You'll not go off to sleep afore the chicken and sparrow gra.s.s is ate, will you, Aunt?

[MILES, LUKE and JOAN having gone out, EMILY begins to bang the chairs back in their places and to arrange the room, watched by the two children. CLARA, who has remained half hidden by the door, now goes quietly upstairs.