[_JENNY watches him out--sits down, leaving the gate open--hums an air gaily--looks round to see if he is coming back--goes on humming--takes up the flower he has given her--plays with it--gradually falters, and at last bursts into tears, laying her head on the table over the flower he has given her, and sobbing violently._ ACT II. SCENE.--_The same as in Act I., with such additions and changes as may be supposed to have taken place in thirty years. The house, which was bare in Act I., is now entirely covered with Virginia and other creepers; the garden is much more fully planted than in Act I., and trees that were small in Act I. are tall and bushy now; the general arrangement of the garden is the same, except that the sycamore planted in Act I. has developed into a large tree, the boughs of which roof in the stage; the landscape has also undergone a metamorphosis, inasmuch as that which was open country in Act I. is now covered with picturesque semi-detached villas, and there are indications of a large town in the distance. The month is September, and the leaves of the Virginia creepers wear their autumn tint._ _JENNY discovered seated on a bench at the foot of the tree, and RUTH is standing by her side, holding a skein of cotton, which JENNY is winding. JENNY is now a pleasant-looking middle-aged lady._ _Jen._ Have you any fault to find with poor Tom? _Ruth._ No, miss, I’ve no fault to find with Tom. But a girl can’t marry every young man she don’t find fault with, can she now, miss? _Jen._ Certainly not, Ruth. But Tom seems to think you have given him some cause to believe that you are fond of him. _Ruth_ (_bridling up_). It’s like his impudence, miss, to say so! Fond of _him_ indeed! _Jen._ He hasn’t said so, Ruth, but I’m quite sure he thinks so. I have noticed of late that you have taken a foolish pleasure in playing fast and loose with poor Tom, and this has made him very unhappy--very unhappy indeed; so much so that I think it is very likely that he will make up his mind to leave my service altogether. _Ruth_ (_piqued_). Oh, miss, if Tom can make up his mind to go, I’m sure _I_ wouldn’t stand in his way for worlds. _Jen._ But I think you would be sorry if he did. _Ruth._ Oh yes, miss, I should be sorry to part with Tom! _Jen._ Then I think it’s only right to tell you that the foolish fellow talks about enlisting for a soldier, and if he does it at all, he will do it to-night. _Ruth_ (_with some emotion_). Oh, miss, for that, I do like Tom very much indeed; but if he wants to ’list, of course he’s his own master, and if he’s really fond of me, what does he want to go and ’list for? (_Going to cry._) One would think he would like to be where he could talk to me, and look at me--odd times! I’m sure I don’t want Tom to go and ’list!