ROBERT. You’ve got my meaning wrong. ’Tis that I’ve never seen you look so well before. ROSE. O dear Robert! ROBERT. You’ve got my fancy more than ever, Rose. ROSE. O, I’m so happy to be going off with you to-morrow, and I love it down at Bristol. Robert, I’m tired and sick of country life. ROBERT. We’ll make a grand fine lady of you there, Rose. ROSE. [_A little sharply_.] Am I not one in looks already, Robert? ROBERT. You’re what I do dote upon. I can’t say no more. [LUBIN _and_ ISABEL _enter carrying dishes_, _which they set upon the table_. ROBERT _and_ ROSE _turn their backs to them and look out into the garden_. _The staircase door is opened_, _and_ LIZ, JANE _and_ KITTY _come into the room_. LIZ _and_ JANE _are wearing gaudy caps trimmed with violet and green ribbons_. ROSE. We’ll sit down, now. John won’t be a moment before he’s here. [_She sits down at one end of the table and signs to_ ROBERT _to place himself next to her_. _The sisters and_ KITTY _seat themselves_. JOHN _comes hurriedly in_. JOHN. That’s right. Everyone in their places? But no cover laid for Mary? ROSE. [_Carelessly_.] We can soon have one put, should she take it into her head to drop in. JOHN. That’s it. Now ladies, now Robert—’tis thirsty work a-driving upon the Bristol road at midsummer. We’ll lead off with a drink of home-made cider. The eating’ll come sweeter afterwards. ROBERT. That’s it, Miller. [LUBIN _and_ ISABEL _come forward and take the cider mugs from each place to the side table_, _where_ LUBIN _fills them from a large jug_. _In the mugs of_ ROSE-ANNA _and_ ROBERT, ISABEL _shakes the contents of the little packets_. _Whilst they are doing this the following talk is carried on at the table_. LIZ [_Taking up a spoon_.] Real plated, sister. JANE. Upon my word, so ’tis. ROSE. And not so bright as I should wish to see it neither. I’ve had a sad trouble with my maids of late. LIZ. Sister and I don’t keep none of them, thank goodness. JANE. We does our work with our own hands. We’d be ashamed if ’twas otherwise. ROBERT. [_Scowling at them_.] I’ve been and engaged a house-full of servants for Rose-Anna. She shall know what ’tis to live like a lady once she enters our family. JOHN. Servants be like green fly on the bush. They do but spoil th’ home and everything they do touch. All save one. KITTY. And that one’s Jerry, I suppose. JOHN. You’re right there, Kitty, that you are. A harder head was never given to man than what Jerry do carry twixt his shoulders. [LUBIN _and_ ISABEL _here put round the mugs of cider_, _and everyone drinks thirstily_. ISABEL _stands behind the chairs of_ ROSE _and_ ROBERT _and_ LUBIN _at_ JOHN’S _side_. ROBERT. [_Setting down his mug_.] There’s a drink what can’t be got in foreign parts. ROSE. [_Looking fondly at him_.] Let the maid fill your mug again, my dear one. ROBERT. [_Carelessly handing it to_ ISABEL.] I don’t mind if I do have another swill.