JOHN. Now that’s what I do like for to hear. Because me and master have sommat else to do nor to stand giddle-gaddling in this old wood the rest of the day. Us have got a smartish lot of worry ahead of we, haven’t us, master? WILLIAM. You never said a truer word, John. JOHN. Come along then Master William. You can leave the spring vegetables to she. ’Tis more nor she deserves, seeing as her might have known as ’twas her mistress the both of us was after, all the time. [LAURA _throws herself on the seat and begins to cry silently_, _but passionately_. WILLIAM. O John, this courting, ’tis powerful heavy work. JOHN. [_Taking_ WILLIAM’S _arm_.] Come you along with me, master, and I’ll give you a helping hand with it all. LAURA. [_Looking up and speaking violently_.] I warrant you will, you clown. But let me advise you to look better afore you leap next time, or very likely ’tis in sommat worse than a ditchful of nettles as you’ll find yourself. JOHN. [_Looking back over his shoulders as he goes off with_ WILLIAM.] I reckon as you’ve no call to trouble about we, mistress. Us is they what can look after theirselves very well. Suppose you was to wash your face and dry your eyes and set about the boiling of yon spring cabbage. ’Twould be sensibler like nor to bide grizzling after one as is beyond you in his station, so ’twould. [JOHN _and_ WILLIAM _go out_, _leaving_ LAURA _weeping on the bench_, _the basket of vegetables by her side_. [_Curtain_.] ACT II.—Scene 3. JULIA _is sitting at the foot of a tree in the wood_. CHRIS, NAT _and_ TANSIE _are seated near her on the ground_. JULIA. I wish this day might last for always. CHRIS. Why, when to-morrow’s come, ’twill be the same. JULIA. That it will not. To-day is a holiday. To-morrow’s work. TANSIE. One day ’tis much the same as t’other with me. NAT. ’Tis what we gets to eat as do make the change. TANSIE. I should have thought as how a grand young mistress like yourself might have had the days to your own liking. JULIA. Ah, and so I did once. But that was before Uncle died and left me the farm. Now, ’tis all different with the days. CHRIS. How was it with you afore then, mistress? JULIA. Much the same as ’tis with that bird flying yonder. I did so as I listed. If I had a mind to sleep when the sun was up, then I did sleep. And if my limbs would not rest when ’twas dark, why, then I did roam. There was naught to hold me back from my fancy. TANSIE. And how is it _now_ with you, mistress? JULIA. ’Tis all said in one word. CHRIS. What’s that? JULIA. ’Tis “work.” NAT. Work? CHRIS. Work? TANSIE. Work! And yet ’tis a fine young lady as you do look in your muslin gown with silky ribbons to it and all.