JOAN. You may sit down, if you like, Mister Hooper. [MILES _places a chair in front of_ JOAN, _and sits down on it_. MILES. [_Untying the parcel_.] I’ve been so bold as to bring you a little keepsake from my place in town, Missy. JOAN. How kind you are, Mister Miles. MILES. You’ll be able to fancy yourself in Bond Street when you see it, Miss Clara. JOAN. Now, you do excite me, Mister Hooper. MILES. [_Opening the box and taking out a handsome spray of bright artificial flowers_.] There, what do you say to that, Miss? And we can do you the same in all the leading tints. JOAN. O, ’tis wonderful modish. I declare I never did see anything to beat it up in town. MILES. Now I thought as much. I flatter myself that we can hold our own with the best of them in Painswick High Street. JOAN. I seem to smell the very scent of the blossoms, Mister Hooper. [_She puts out her hand shyly and takes the spray from_ MILES, _pretending to smell it_. MILES. Well—and what’s the next pleasure, Madam? [JOAN _drops the spray and begins to fan herself violently_. MILES. [_Very gently_.] What’s Missy’s next pleasure? JOAN. I’m sure I don’t know, Mr. Miles. MILES. Miles Hooper would like Missy to ask for all that is his. JOAN. O, Mister Hooper, how kind you are. MILES. Ladies never like the sound of business, so we’ll set that aside for a moment and discuss the music of the heart in place of it. JOAN. Ah, that’s a thing I do well understand, Mister Hooper. MILES. I loved you from the first, Miss. There’s the true, high born lady for you, says I to myself. There’s beauty and style, elegance and refinement. JOAN. Now, did you really think all that, Mister Hooper? MILES. Do not keep me in suspense, Miss Clara. JOAN. What about, sir? MILES. The answer to my question, Missy. JOAN. And what was that, I wonder? MILES. I want my pretty Miss to take the name of Hooper. Will she oblige her Miles? JOAN. O that I will. With all my heart. MILES. [_Standing up_.] I would not spoil this moment, but by and bye my sweet Missy shall tell me all the particulars of her income, and such trifles. JOAN. [_Agitatedly_.] O let us not destroy to-day by thoughts of anything but our dear affection one for t’other. MILES. Why, my pretty town Miss is already becoming countrified in her speech. JOAN. ’Tis from hearing all the family. But, dear Miles, promise there shan’t be nothing but—but love talk between you and me this day. I could not bear it if we was to speak of, of other things, like. MILES. [_Getting up and walking about the room_.] As you will—as you will. Anything to oblige a lady. [_He stops before the table_, _on which is laid_ EMILY’S _silk dress_, _and begins to finger it_. JOAN. What’s that you’re looking at? MILES. Ten or fifteen shillings the yard, and not a penny under, I’ll be bound. JOAN. O do come and talk to me again and leave off messing with the old silk.