EMILY. Don’t you flatter yourself, George, as such a coxsy piece of town goods will trouble herself to remember you. THOMAS. The little maid had a good enough heart to her afore she was took away from us. JESSIE. Do you think our aunt Clara has growed into a coxsy town lady, George? GEORGE. No, I do not, Miss Jessie. EMILY. [_Beginning to stir about noisily as she sets the kitchen in order_.] Get off with you to the field, Thomas, can’t you. I’ve had enough to do as ’tis without a great hulking man standing about and taking up all the room. THOMAS. Come, George, us’ll clear out down to th’ hay field, and snatch a bite as we do go. GEORGE. That’s it, master. EMILY. [_Calling angrily after them_.] There’s no dinner for no one to-day, I tell you. [THOMAS _and_ GEORGE _go out of the back kitchen door_. EMILY _begins putting the irons away_, _folding up the ironing sheet and setting the chairs back against the wall_. [JESSIE _and_ ROBIN, _from their places at the table_, _watch her intently_. EMILY. [_As she moves about_.] ’Twouldn’t be half the upset if the wench was coming by herself, but to have a hussy of a serving maid sticking about in the rooms along of us, is more nor I can stand. [_She begins violently to sweep up the hearth_. [_Steps are heard outside_. JESSIE. Hark, what’s that, mother? EMILY. I’ll give it to any one who wants to come in here. JESSIE. [_Running to the open door_.] They’re coming up the path. ’Tis our fine auntie and two grand gentlemen either side of she. ROBIN. [_Running also to the door_.] O I want to look on her too. EMILY. [_Putting the broom in a corner_.] ’Tis no end to the vexation. But she’ll have to wait on herself. I’ve no time to play the dancing bear. And that I’ve not. [JOAN, _between_ MILES HOOPER _and_ LUKE JENNER, _comes up to the open door_. MILES. [_To Jessie_.] See here, my little maid, what’ll you give Mister Hooper for bringing this pretty lady safe up to the farm? JESSIE. I know who ’tis you’ve brought. ’Tis my Aunt Clara. LUKE. You’re a smart little wench, if ever there was one. ROBIN. I know who ’tis, too, ’cause of the spangled plumes in the bonnet of she. Mother said as there’d be some. EMILY. [_Coming forward_.] Well, Clara, if ’twas by the morning coach as you did come, you’re late. If ’twas by th’ evening one, you’re too soon by a good few hours. MILES. Having come by the morning coach, Miss Clara had the pleasant fancy to stroll here through the woodlands, Missis Spring. LUKE. Ah, and ’twas lost on the way as we did find her, like a strayed sheep. MILES. And ours has been the privilege to bring the fair wanderer safely home. EMILY. [_Scornfully looking_ JOAN _over from head to foot_.] Where’s that serving wench of yours got to, Clara? MILES. Our young missy had a wish for solitude. She sent her maid on by another road.