MILES. No, no, Missy, I’m a man of business habits, and ’tis my duty to go straight off to the meadow and seek out brother Thomas. He and I have got to talk things over a bit, you know. JOAN. Off so soon! O you have saddened me. MILES. Nay, what is it to lose a few minutes of sweet company, when life is in front of us, Miss Clara? [_He raises her hand_, _kisses it_, _and leaves her_. _As he goes out by the door_ CLARA _enters_. JOAN. O, Mistress—stop him going down to Farmer Thomas at the meadow! CLARA. Why, Joan, what has happened? JOAN. All has happened. But stop him going to the farmer to talk about the—the wedding and the money. CLARA. The money? JOAN. The income which he thinks I have. CLARA. I’ll run, but all this time I’ve been keeping Master Luke Jenner quiet in the parlour. JOAN. O what does he want now? CLARA. Much the same as the other one wanted. JOAN. Must I see him? CLARA. Yes, indeed he will wait no longer for his answer. He’s at boiling point already. JOAN. Then send him in. But do you run quickly, Miss Clara, and keep Miles Hooper from the farmer. CLARA. I’ll run my best, never fear. [_She goes out_. [LUKE JENNER _comes in_, _a bunch of homely flowers in his hand_. JOAN. [_Seating herself_.] You are early this morning, Mister Jenner. LUKE. [_Sitting opposite to her_.] I have that to say which would not bide till sunset, Miss Clara. JOAN. Indeed, Mister Jenner. I wonder what that can be. LUKE. ’Tis just like this, Miss Clara. The day I first heard as you was coming down here—“I could do with a rich wife if so be as I could win her,” I did tell myself. JOAN. O, Mister Jenner, now did you really? LUKE. But when I met you in the wood—saw you sitting there, so still and yet so bright, so fine and yet so homely. “That’s the maid for me,” I says to myself. JOAN. [_Tearfully_.] O, Mister Jenner! LUKE. And if it had been beggar’s rags upon her in the place of satin, I’d have said the same. JOAN. [_Very much stirred_.] O, Mister Jenner, and did you really think like that? LUKE. If all the gold that do lie atween me and you was sunk in the deep ocean, ’twould be the best as could happen. There! JOAN. [_Faintly_.] O, Mister Jenner, why? LUKE. Because, very like ’twould shew to you as ’tis yourself I’m after and not the fortune what you’ve got. JOAN. Mister Jenner, I’m mighty sorry. LUKE. Don’t say I’m come too late, Miss Clara. JOAN. You are. Mister Hooper was before you. And now, ’tis he and I who are like to be wed. LUKE. I might have known I had no chance. JOAN. [_Rising and trying to hide her emotion_.] I wouldn’t have had it happen so for the world, Mr. Jenner. LUKE. [_Laying his bunch of flowers on the table_, _his head bent_, _and his eyes on the ground_.] ’Twas none of your doing, Miss Clara. You’ve naught to blame yourself for. ’Tis not your fault as you’re made so—so beautiful, and yet so homely.