_George._ You are, my dear. But I'm not nearly so bad as I _was_. Think of all the things I used to compare _you_ to before we were married! _Sarah Jane_ (_to her_ Trooper). I could stand an' look on at 'em hours, I could. I was born and bred in the country, and it do seem to bring back my old 'ome that plain. _Her Trooper._ I'm country bred, too, though yer mightn't think it. But there ain't much in sheep shearin' to _my_ mind. If it was _pig killin'_, now! _Sarah Jane._ Ah, that's along o' your bein' in the milingtary, I expect. _Her Trooper._ No, it ain't that. It's the reckerlections it 'ud call up. I 'ad a 'ole uncle a pork-butcher, d'ye see, and (_with sentiment_) many and many a 'appy hour I've spent as a boy---- [_He indulges in tender reminiscences._ _A Young Clerk_ (_who belongs to a Literary Society, to his_ Fiancée). It has a wonderfully rural look--quite like a scene in 'Ardy, isn't it? _His Fiancée_ (_who has "no time for reading rubbish"_). I daresay; though I've never been there myself. _The Clerk._ Never been? Oh, I see. You thought I said _Arden_--the Forest of Arden, in SHAKSPEARE, didn't you? _His Fiancée._ Isn't that where Mr. GLADSTONE lives, and goes cutting down the trees in? _The Clerk._ No; at least it's spelt different. But it was 'ARDY _I_ meant. _Far from the Madding Crowd_, you know. _His Fiancée_ (_with a vague view to the next Bank Holiday_). What do you _call_ "far"--farther than _Margate_? [_Her companion has a sense of discouragement._ _An Artisan_ (_to a neighbour in broadcloth and a whitechoker_). It's wonderful 'ow they can go so close without 'urtin' of 'em, ain't it? _His Neighbour_ (_with unction_). Ah, my friend, it on'y shows 'ow true it is that 'eving tempers the shears for the shorn lambs! _A Governess_ (_instinctively, to her charge_). Don't you think you ought to be very grateful to that poor sheep, ETHEL, for giving up her nice warm fleece on purpose to make a frock for _you?_ _Ethel_ (_doubtfully_). Y--yes, Miss MAVOR. But (_with a fear that some reciprocity may be expected of her_) she's too big for any of my _best_ frocks, _isn't_ she? _First Urchin_ (_perched on the railings_). Ain't that 'un a-kickin'? 'E don't like 'aving '_is_ 'air cut, 'e don't, no more shouldn't I if it was me.... 'E's bin an' upset 'is bloke on the grorss, now! Look at the bloke layin' there larfin'.... 'E's ketched 'im agin now. See 'im landin' 'im a smack on the 'ed; that'll learn 'im to stay quiet, eh? 'E's strong, ain't 'e? _Second Urchin._ Rams is the wust, though, 'cause they got 'orns, rams 'ave. _First Urch._ What, same as goats? _Second Urch._ (_emphatically_). Yuss! Big crooked 'uns. And runs at yer, they do. _First Urch._ I wish they was rams in 'ere. See all them sheep waitin' to be done. I wonder what they're finkin' of. _Second Urch._ Ga-arn! They _don't_ fink, sheep don't. _First Urch._ Not o' anyfink?