JOAN. [_With sudden resolution ignoring the chair and going to the window_.] Then, do you two kind gentlemen take a stroll in the garden. I have need of the services of my—my young woman. But when she has put me in order after the dusty journey, I shall ask you to be good enough to come back and while away an hour for me in this sad place. MILES. [_Fervently_.] Anything to oblige a lady, miss. LUKE. That’s right. Us’ll wait while you do lay aside your bonnet. [MILES _and_ LUKE _go out through the garden door_. MILES, _turning to bow low before he disappears_. JOAN _stands as though distraught in the middle of the room_. _Through the open door of the back kitchen the voices of_ CLARA _and_ MAGGIE _are distinctly heard_. CLARA. Is no one at home then? MAGGIE. Ah, go you straight on into the kitchen, you’ll find whom you be searching for in there. I’d take and shew you in myself only I’m wanted down to th’ hayfield now. CLARA. Don’t put yourself to any trouble about me. I know my way. [CLARA _comes into the kitchen_. _She has tied a white handkerchief over her head_, _and carries a bunch of wildflowers in her hands_. CLARA. Still in your cloak and bonnet! Why, I thought by now you would have unpacked our things and made yourself at home. JOAN. [_Joining her hands supplicatingly and coming towards_ CLARA, _speaking almost in a whisper_.] O mistress, you’ll never guess what I’ve been and done. But ’twasn’t all my fault at the commencement. CLARA. [_Looking her over searchingly_.] You do look very disturbed, Joan, what has happened? JOAN. ’Twas the fine bonnet and cloak, mam. ’Twas they as did it. CLARA. Did what? JOAN. Put the thought into my head, like. CLARA. What thought? JOAN. As how ’twould feel to be a real grand lady, like you, mistress. CLARA. What then, Joan? JOAN. So I began to pretend all to myself as how that I was one, mistress. CLARA. Come, tell me all. JOAN. And whilst I was sat down upon that fallen tree, and sort of pretending to myself, the two gentlemen came along. CLARA. What gentlemen? JOAN. Gentlemen as was after courting you, mistress. CLARA. Courting me? JOAN. Yes, and they commenced speaking so nice and respectful like. CLARA. Go on, Joan, don’t be afraid. JOAN. It did seem to fall in with the game I was a-playing with myself. And then, before I did know how, ’twas they was both of them a-taking me for you, mam. CLARA. And did you not un-deceive them, Joan? JOAN. [_Very ashamedly_.] No, mam. CLARA. You should have told them the truth about yourself at once. JOAN. O I know I should have, mistress. But there was something as held me back when I would have spoke the words. CLARA. I wonder what that could have been? JOAN. ’Twas them being such very nice and kind gentlemen. And, O mistress, you’ll not understand it, because you’ve told me many times as the heart within you have never been touched by love.