CLARA. [_Taking_ JESSIE’S _hand and leading her to the door_.] Now, Miss Jessie, your aunt must read her letter in quiet, but if you will come back presently I will have a game with you outside. JESSIE. [_As she runs off_.] Mother won’t let me talk with you any more, alone. She says as you’ve made a fool of Georgie and you’ll do the same by us all. JOAN. [_When_ JESSIE _has run off_.] There now, how did I do that, mistress? CLARA. Better, much better. JOAN. ’Tis the feeling of one thing and the speaking of another, with you ladies and gentlemen. So it appears to me. CLARA. [_After a moment’s thought_.] No. It is not quite like that. But ’tis, perhaps, the dressing up of an ugly feeling in better garments. JOAN. [_Handing the letter to_ CLARA.] There, mistress, ’tis yours, not mine. CLARA. [_Glancing at it_.] Lord Lovel’s writing. [CLARA _opens the letter and reads it through_.] He will not wait longer for my answer. And he is coming here as fast as horses can bring him. JOAN. O, mistress, whatever shall we do? CLARA. We had better own to everything at once. It will save trouble in the end. JOAN. Own to everything now, and lose all just as my hand was closing upon it, like! CLARA. Poor Joan, it will not make any difference in the end, if the man loves you truly. JOAN. Be kind and patient just to the evening, mistress. Hooper is coming up to see me now. I’d bring him to offer his self, if I was but left quiet along of him for a ten minutes or so. CLARA. And then, Joan? JOAN. And then, when was all fixed up comfortable between us, mistress, maybe as you could break it gently to him so as he wouldn’t think no worse of me. [CLARA _gets up and goes to the window_, _where she looks out for a few minutes in silence_. JOAN _cries softly meanwhile_. CLARA. [_Turning towards_ JOAN.] As you will, Joan. Very likely ’twill be to-morrow morning before my lord reaches this place. JOAN. O bless you for your goodness, mistress. And I do pray as all may go as well with you as ’tis with me. CLARA. [_Sadly_.] That is not likely, Joan. JOAN. What is it stands in the way, mistress? CLARA. Briars, Joan. Thorns of pride, and many another sharp and hurting thing. JOAN. Then take you my counsel, mistress, and have his lordship when he do offer next. CLARA. I’ll think of what you say, Joan. There comes a moment when the heart is tired of being spurned, and it would fain get into shelter. [_A slight pause_. JOAN. [_Looking through the window_.] Look up quickly, mistress. There’s Hooper. CLARA. [_Getting up_.] Then I’ll run away. May all be well with you, dear Joan. [CLARA _goes out_. [JOAN _seats herself in a high-backed chair and opens her fan_. MILES _enters_, _carrying a small box_. MILES. Already astir, Miss Clara. ’Tis early hours to be sure for one of our London beauties. [_He advances towards her_, _and she stretches out her hand without rising_. _He takes it ceremoniously_.