Six Plays by Lady Florence Henrietta Fisher Darwin Part 64

ROBERT. [Contemptuously.] My good girl, who ever went to church with orange blossom that was real, I'd like to know?

ROSE. [Languidly dropping the bouquet on the table.] I'm sure I don't care. I reckon that one thing's about as good as another to be married with.

ROBERT. [Going to the window and looking out.] Ah--I daresay 'tis so.

ROSE. I feel tired of my wedding day already--that I do.

ROBERT. There's a plaguey, fanciful kind of feel about the day, what a man's hardly used to, so it seems to me.

ROSE. [Wildly.] O, I reckon we may get used to it in time afore we die.

ROBERT. Now--if 'twas with the right -

ROSE. Right what, Robert?

ROBERT. [Confused.] I hardly know what I was a-going to say, Rose.

Suppose you was to take up your flowers and go to dress yourself. We might as well get it all over and finished with.

ROSE. [Rising slowly.] Perhaps 'twould be best. I'll go to my room, and you might call the girl Lucy and send her up to help me with my things.

ROBERT. Won't you take the bouquet along of you?

ROSE. No--let it bide there. I can have it later.

[She goes slowly from the room.

[Left to himself, ROBERT strolls to the open door and looks gloomily out on the garden. Suddenly his face brightens.

ROBERT. Lucy, Lucy, come you in here a moment.

LUCY. [From outside.] I be busy just now hanging out my cloths, master.

ROBERT. Leave your dish cloths to dry themselves. Your mistress wants you, Lucy.

LUCY. [Coming to the door.] Mistress wants me, did you say?

ROBERT. Yes, you've got to go and dress her for the church. But you can spare me a minute or two first.

ISABEL. [Going quickly across the room to the staircase door.]

Indeed, that is what I cannot do, master. 'Tis late already.

ROBERT. [Catches her hand and pulls her back.] I've never had a good look at your face yet, my girl--you act uncommon coy, and that you do.

ISABEL. [Turning her head away and speaking angrily.] Let go of my hand, I tell you. I don't want no nonsense of that sort.

ROBERT. Lucy, your voice do stir me in a very uncommon fas.h.i.+on, and there's sommat about the appearance of you -

ISABEL. Let go of me, master. Suppose as anyone should look through the window.

ROBERT. Let them look. I'd give a good bit for all the world to see us now.

ISABEL. O, whatever do you mean by that, Mister Robert?

ROBERT. What I say. 'Tis with you as I'd be going along to church this morning. Not her what's above.

ISABEL. But I wouldn't go with you--No, not for all the gold in the world.

ROBERT. Ah, you've changed since yesterday. When I caught your eye at dinner, 'twas gentle as a dove's--and your hand, when it gave me my mug of cider did seem--well did seem to put a caress upon me like.

ISABEL. O there lies a world of time twixt yesterday and to-day, Master Robert.

ROBERT. So it do seem. For to-day 'tis all thorns and thistles with you--But I'm a-goin' to have my look at your pretty face and my kiss of it too.

ISABEL. I shall scream out loud if you touches me--that I shall.

ROBERT. [Pulling her to him.] Us'll see about that.

[He tries to get a sight of her face, but she twists and turns.

Finally he seizes both her hands and covers them with kisses as KITTY enters.

KITTY. O whatever's going on! Rose, Rose, John--come you in here quickly, do. [To LUCY.] O you bad, wicked girl. I knew you couldn't be a very nice servant brought in off the road by Jeremy.

[ISABEL, released by ROBERT, goes over to the window arranging her disordered sun-bonnet and trying to hide her tears. ROBERT watches her sullenly.

KITTY. [Goes to the staircase door and calls loudly.] Rose, Rose-- come you down as quick as you can run.

ROSE. [Coming down.] What's all this, I'd like to know?

KITTY. It's Lucy, behaving dreadful--O you must send her straight away from the house, Rose.

ROSE. What has she done, then?

KITTY. Going on with Robert. Flirting, Rose, and kissing.

ISABEL. O no, mistress, twasn't so, I do swear to you.

ROBERT. [Brutally.] Yes 'twas. The maid so put me powerful in mind of someone who--who -

ROSE. [Coldly.] I understand you, Robert. Well, 'tis lucky that all this didn't come off an hour or so later.

KITTY. [Tearfully.] O Rose, what do you mean?

ROSE. I mean that what's not broken don't need no mending. Robert can go to church with someone else to-day, he can. And no harm done.

[She takes up the bunch of orange flowers and begins pulling it to pieces and throwing it all about the room.

KITTY. O Rose, Rose, don't take it so hard. 'Twasn't Robert's fault. 'Twas the girl off the road what led him on. I know it.

Tell her to get out of the house. I'll dress you--I'll do the work.

Only be just and sensible again; dear Rose.