[_The_ FARMER _comes in followed by_ ANNET _and_ MAY _carrying large parcels_. DANIEL. Well Mother, I count I’m back a smartish bit sooner nor what you did expect. ELIZABETH. I’m not one that can be taken by surprise, Dan. May, lay that parcel on the table at once, and put away your uncle’s hat and overcoat. DAN. Nay, the overcoat’s too heavy for the little maid—I’ll hang it up myself. [_He takes off his coat and goes out into the passage to hang it up_. _May runs after him with his hat_. ANNET. I do want to know what’s in all those great packets, Aunt. ELIZABETH. I daresay you’ll be told all in good season. Here, take up and get on with that sewing, I dislike to see young people idling away their time. [_The_ FARMER _and_ MAY _come back_. MAY. And now, untie the packets quickly, uncle. DANIEL. [_Sinking into a big chair_.] Not so fast, my little maid, not so fast—’tis a powerful long distance as I have journeyed this day, and ’tis wonderful warm for the time of year. ELIZABETH. I don’t hold with drinking nor with taking bites atween meals, but as your uncle has come a good distance, and the day is warm, you make take the key of the pantry, Annet, and draw a glass of cider for him. [_She takes the key from her pocket and hands it to_ ANNET, _who goes out_. DANIEL. That’s it, Mother—that’s it. And when I’ve wetted my mouth a bit I’ll be able the better to tell you all about how ’twas over there. MAY. O I’d dearly like to go to a Fair, I would. You always said that you’d take me the next time you went, Uncle. DANIEL. Ah and so I did, but when I comed to think it over, Fairs baint the place for little maids, I says to mother here—and no, that they baint, she answers back. But we’ll see how ’tis when you be growed a bit older, like. Us’ll see how ’twill be then, won’t us Mother? ELIZABETH. I wouldn’t encourage the child in her nonsense, if I was you, Dan. She’s old enough to know better than to ask to be taken to such places. Why in all my days I never set my foot within a fair, pleasure or business, nor wanted to, either. MAY. And never rode on the pretty wood horses, Aunt, all spotted and with scarlet bridles to them? ELIZABETH. Certainly not. I wonder at your asking such a question, May. But you do say some very unsuitable things for a little child of your age. MAY. And did you get astride of the pretty horses at the Fair, Uncle? DANIEL. Nay, nay,—they horses be set in the pleasure part of the Fair, and where I goes ’tis all for doing business like. [ANNET _comes back with the glass of cider_. DANIEL _takes it from her_. DANIEL. [_Drinking_.] You might as well have brought the jug, my girl. ELIZABETH. No, Father, ’twill spoil your next meal as it is. [_The girls sit down at the table_, _taking up their work_. DANIEL. [_Putting down his glass_.] But, bless my soul, yon was a Fair in a hundred. That her was. BOTH GIRLS. O do tell us of all that you did see there, Uncle.