ISABEL. [_Coming up to him_.] O do not take it so hard, Lubin—Us can do naught at this pass but trust what the young woman did tell me. LUBIN. [_Gloomily_.] The sight of Rose has stirred up my love so powerful that I do hardly know how to hold the tears back from my eyes. ISABEL. [_Pressing her eyes with her apron_.] What’ll it be for me when Robert comes in? LUBIN. We’ll have to help one another, Isabel, in the plight where we stand. ISABEL. That’s it. And perchance as them seeds’ll do the rest. [_They spring apart as a sound of voices and laughter is heard outside_. KITTY. [_Runs in_.] They’ve come. All of them. And do you know that Robert’s cousins are no fine ladies at all, as he said, but just two common old women dressed grand-like. ISABEL. That will be a sad shock to poor mistress. KITTY. O, she is too much taken up with Mister Robert to notice yet. But quick! They are all sharp set from the drive. Fetch in the dishes, William and Lucy. ISABEL. All shall be ready in a moment, Miss Kitty. [_She goes hurriedly out followed by_ LUBIN. KITTY _glances round the room and then stands at the side of the front door_. JOHN, _giving an arm to each of_ ROBERT’S _cousins_, _enters_. _The cousins are dressed in coloured flowered dresses_, _and wear bonnets that are heavy with bright plumes_. _They look cumbered and ill at ease in their clothes_, _and carry their sunshades and gloves awkwardly_. LIZ. [_Looking round her_.] Very comfortable, I’m sure. But I count as that there old-fashioned grate do take a rare bit of elbow grease. JANE. Very pleasant indeed. But I didn’t reckon as the room would be quite the shape as ’tis. LIZ. Come to that, I didn’t expect the house to look as it do. JANE. Very ancient in appearance, I’m sure. JOHN. Ah, the house has done well enough for me and my father and grandfather afore me. [ROSE, _very grandly dressed_, _comes in hanging on_ ROBERT’S _arm_. ROBERT _is clothed in the fashion of the town_. ROSE. Please to remove your bonnet, Miss Eliza. Please to remove yours, Miss Jane. JOHN. [_Heartily_.] Ah, that’s so—’Twill be more homely like for eating. ROSE. There’s a glass upon the wall. LIZ. I prefer to remain as I be. JANE. Sister and me have our caps packed up in the tin box. KITTY. [_Bringing the tin box from the doorway_.] Shall I take you upstairs to change? Dinner’s not quite ready yet. LIZ. That will suit us best, I’m sure. Come, sister. [KITTY _leads the way out_, _followed by both sisters_. JOHN. I’ll just step outside and see that Jerry’s tending to the horse. [_He hurries out_, _and_ ROBERT _is left alone with_ ROSE. ROSE. [_Coming towards him and holding out her hands_.] O, Robert, is it the same between us as it was last time? ROBERT. [_Looking at her critically_.] You’ve got your hair different or something. ROSE. [_Putting her hand to her head_.] The new maid. A stupid country wench.