ROBERT. I’ll sit here to the end of the world sooner nor go along to be wed with Miss over there. MARY. ’Tis midsummer heat have turned their brains. But I know a cooling draught that will heal them of their sickness. Jeremy, do you step into the garden and bring me a handful of fresh violet leaves, one blossom from the heartsease and a sprig of rosemary. JEREMY. [_Sighing_.] What next? JOHN. Get gone at once, Jerry. [JEREMY _goes to the door_—_as he does so_ LIZ _and_ JANE _start up and follow him_. LIZ. Sister and me will come along and help you, dear Mr. Jeremy. JANE. And that us will, if our new gowns bain’t hooked too tight for we to bend. [_They follow_ JEREMY _to the garden_. KITTY _silently leaves the room also_. ROSE _and_ ROBERT _remain lost in their sorrowful reflections_. JOHN _and_ MARY _look at them for a moment and then turn to one another_. JOHN. Mary, I never thought to see such a thing as this. MARY. You take my word for it, John, the storm will soon be blown away. JOHN. I don’t know how I should stand up against the worry of it all, wasn’t it for you, Mary. [_A short silence_. JOHN. [_Taking_ MARY’S _hand_.] ’Twill be a bit lonesome for me here, when they’ve gone off, Mary. MARY. You’ll have Kitty to do for you then. JOHN. Kitty be going to live along of them at Bristol too, after a while. MARY. [_Looking round the room_.] Then I count as it might feel a bit desolate like in this great house alone. JOHN. [_Taking_ MARY’S _hand_.] I cannot face it, Mary. I’ve loved you many years, you know. MARY. I know you have, dear John. JOHN. Can’t you forget he what was false to you, days gone by, and take me as your husband now? MARY. [_Doubtfully_.] I don’t hardly know. JOHN. You used to sing sommat—the grass that was trampled under foot, give it time, it will rise up again. MARY. [_Drying her eyes_.] Ah, it has risen, dear John—and I count it have covered the wound of those past days—my heart do tell me so, this minute. JOHN. [_Holding both her hands_.] Then ’tis one long midsummer afore you and me, Mary. MARY. That’s how ’twill be, dear John. [JEREMY, _followed by the cousins_, _enters_. _He holds a bunch of leaves towards_ MARY. JEREMY. There you be, mistress. Fools’ drink for fools. A mug of good cider would have fetched them to their senses quicker. [MARY _takes the bunch_, _and still holding_ JOHN’S _hand_, _leads him to the kitchen_. JEREMY _watches the pair sarcastically_. JEREMY. ’Tis all finished with the master, then. [_The sisters seat themselves on the couch and mop their faces with handkerchiefs_. LIZ. Dear me, ’tis warm. JANE. I hope my face don’t show mottled, sister? JEREMY. I was saying as how ’twas all finished with the master. [MARY, _followed by_ JOHN, _comes forward carrying two glasses_. _She gives one to_ ROSE _and the other to_ ROBERT.