JOHN. Well, you may go and sit within it till the master has leisure to
come and speak with you.
JULIA. Thank you, John, but I would sooner stop and watch you tend the
flowers.
JOHN. ’Tis all one to me whether you does or you does not.
JULIA. Now, John, you are angry with me still.
JOHN. I likes a wench as do know the mind of she, and not one as can
blow hot one moment and cold the next.
JULIA. There was never a moment when I did not know my own mind, John.
And that’s the truth.
JOHN. Well, us won’t say no more about that. ’Taint fit as there should
be ill feeling nor quarrelling ’twixt me and you.
JULIA. You’re right, John. And there was something that I had it in my
mind to ask you.
JOHN. You can say your fill. There baint no one but me in the garden.
JULIA. John, you told me that since Sunday your master has been sick
with love.
JOHN. That’s right enough, mistress. I count as we shall bury he if
sommat don’t come to his relief.
JULIA. Now, John, do you look into my eyes and tell me if ’tis for love
of Julia or of Laura that your master lies sickening.
JOHN. You’d best go and ask it of his self, mistress. ’Tis a smartish
lot of work as I’ve got to attend to here.
JULIA. You can go on working, John. I am not hindering you.
JOHN. No more than one of they old Juney bettels a-roaring and a-buzzin
round a man’s head.
JULIA. Now, John—you must tell me which of the two it is. Is it Laura
whom your master loves, or Julia?
JOHN. ’Tis Julia, then, since you will have it out of me.
JULIA. No, John, you’re not looking straight at me. You are looking
down at the flower bed. Let your eyes meet mine.
JOHN. [_Looking up crossly_.] I’ve got my work to think of. I’m not
one to stand cackling with a maid.
JULIA. Could you swear me it is Julia?
JOHN. ’Tis naught to I which of you it be. There bide over, so as I can
get the watering finished.
JULIA. [_Seizes the watering can_.] Now, John, you have got to speak
the truth to me.
JOHN. Give up yon can, I tell you. O you do act wonderful unseemly for
a young lady.
JULIA. [_Withholding the can_.] Not till I have the truth from you.
JOHN. [_Angrily_.] Well then, is it likely that my master would set his
fancy on such a plaguy, wayward maid? Why, Master William do know better
nor to do such a thing, I can tell you.
JULIA. Then ’tis for Laura that he is love-sick, John.
JOHN. Give I the watering can.
JULIA. [_Giving him the can_.] Here it is, dear John. O I had a fancy
all the time that ’twas to Laura your master had lost his heart. And now
I see I made no mistake.
JOHN. I shouldn’t have spoke as I did if you hadn’t a buzzed around I
till I was drove very nigh crazy. Master William, he’ll never forgive me
this.
JULIA. That he will, I’m sure, when he has listened to what I have got
to say to him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account