JANE. And we was wishing as we’d never left home to come among all these stranger folk. LIZ. Not that we feels you to be a stranger, dear Mister Jeremy. JANE. You be a plain homely man such as me and sister be accustomed to. JEREMY. Anything more? LIZ. I suppose you’ve put by a tidy bit—seeing as you be of a certain age. JANE. Although your looks favour you well, don’t they, sister? LIZ. To be sure they do. JANE. And I reckon as you could set up a home of your own any day, mister. JEREMY. [_Pointing through the window_.] See that there roof against the mill? LIZ. Indeed I do. JEREMY. That’s where I do live. [_Both sisters move quickly to the window_. JANE. A very comfortable looking home indeed. LIZ. I likes the looks of it better nor this great old house. JANE. [_Archly_.] Now I daresay there’s but one thing wanted over there, Mister Jeremy. JEREMY. What’s that? JANE. A good wife to do and manage for you. JEREMY. I never was done for nor managed by a female yet, and blowed if I will be now. LIZ. [_Shaking her finger at him_.] Sister an’ me knows what comes of such words, don’t us, sister? ’Tis an old saying in our family as one wedding do make a many. JEREMY. Give me a woman’s tongue for foolishness. I’ve heared a saying too in my family, which be—get a female on to your hearth and ’tis Bedlam straight away. JANE. Now, sister, did you ever hear the like of that? LIZ. Us’ll have to change his mind for him, Jane. JEREMY. I reckon ’twould take a rare lot of doing to change that, mistress. JANE. Bain’t you a-goin’ to get yourself ready for church soon? JEREMY. Dashed if I ever heard tell of such foolishness. Who’s to mind the place with all the folk gone fiddle-faddling out? LIZ. There’s the man William. JEREMY. I bain’t a-goin’ to leave the place to a stranger. JANE. Why, sister, us’ll feel lost and lonesome without mister, shan’t us, Liz? LIZ. That us will. What if us stayed at home and helped to mind the house along of he? JANE. [_Slowly_.] And did not put our new gowns upon the backs of we after all the money spent? JEREMY. Ah, there you be. ’Tis the same with all females. Creatures of vanity—even if they be got a bit long in the tooth. ’Tis all the same. [JANE _and_ LIZ _draw themselves up_, _bridling_, _but_ LIZ _relaxes_. LIZ. He must have his little joke, sister, man-like, you know. [JOHN _enters_.] JOHN. Jerry, and I’ve been seeking you everywhere. Come you off to the yard. ’Tis as much as we shall do to be ready afore church time. I never knew you to idle in the house afore. JEREMY. [_Taking up his pails_, _sarcastically_.] ’Twas the females as tempted I, master, but ’twon’t occur again, so there. [_He hurries off_, _followed by_ JOHN. LIZ. [_With dignity_.] Us’ll go upstairs and dress, sister. JANE. ’Tis time we did so. All them new-fashioned things be awkward in the fastenings. [_They go upstairs_.