MILES. [_Going to the door_.] Thank you, my good woman. Next time you want to play a little prank like this, I beg that you will select your partner with more care. The name of Hooper is not a suitable one to toy with, let me tell you. ROBIN. Aren’t you going to marry her then, Mister Hooper? MILES. I am not, Master Robin. JESSIE. You said as you could tell a real lady by her ways, but you couldn’t very well, could he, Mother? [MILES, _covering his mortification with sarcastic bows made to the right and left_, _goes out_. JOAN _leans back almost fainting in her chair_. LUKE. [_Taking her hand_.] This is the finest hearing in all the world for me, Miss—Miss Joan. JOAN. O Mr. Jenner, how deep you must despise me. LUKE. And that I’d never do, though I’m blest if I know why you did it. CLARA. It was as much my fault as hers, Mister Jenner. There were things that each of us wanted, and that we thought we might get, by changing places, one with the other. THOMAS. [_To_ CLARA.] Well, my maid, I’m blessed if I do know what you was a hunting about for, dressed up as a serving wench. CLARA. [_Turning a little towards_ GEORGE.] I thought to find something which was mine when I was a little child, but which I lost. JESSIE. O Georgie do know how to find things which is lost. ’Twas he as brought back the yellow pullet when her had strayed off. ROBIN. Yes. And ’twas George as did find your blue hair ribbon Aunt Clara, when it was dropped in the hayfield. JESSIE. I believe as Georgie knowed which of them was our aunt all the time. ROBIN. I believe it too. THOMAS. Why, George, you sly dog, what put you on the scent, like? GEORGE. ’Twas not one, but many things. And if you wants a clear proof [_Turning to_ CLARA]—put back the laces of your sleeve, Miss Clara. CLARA. What for, George? GEORGE. Whilst you was a-doing of the taters, this morning, you did pull up your sleeves. ’Twas then I held the proof. Not that ’twas needed for me, like. [CLARA _pushes up both her sleeves_, _and holds out her arms towards_ GEORGE. GEORGE. [_Pointing to the scar_.] There ’tis—there’s where th’ old gander have left his mark. THE CHILDREN. [_Getting up_.] Where, where! O do let us see! [_They run round to where_ CLARA _stands and look eagerly at the mark on her arm which she shews to them_. THOMAS. George, my lad, you baint th’ only one as can play fox. EMILY. Don’t you be so set up as to think as you can, Thomas. For a more foolish figure of a goose never was cut. A man might tell when ’twas his own sister, if so be as he had his full senses upon him. THOMAS. Never you mind, Emily. What I says to George is, he baint th’ only fox. How now, my lad? GEORGE. I don’t see what you be driving at, master. THOMAS. [_Slyly_.] What about that bit of blue ribbon, George? CLARA. Yes, Thomas. Ask Georgie if he will give it back to me.