JOHN. You do set a powerful store on what your tongue might say, but I’d take and bide quiet at home if I was you and not come hunting of a nice reasonable gentleman like master, out of his very garden. JULIA. O John, you’re a sad, ill-natured man, and you misjudge me very unkindly. But I’ll not bear malice if you will just run in and tell your master that I want a word with him. JOHN. A word? Why not say fifty? When was a maid ever satisfied with one word I’d like to know? JULIA. Well—I shan’t say more than six, very likely, so fetch him to me now, John, and I’ll wait here in the garden. [JOHN _looks at her with exasperated contempt_. _Then he slowly walks away towards the house_. JULIA _goes in the opposite direction to the garden gate_. JULIA. [_Calling_.] Chris! [CHRIS _comes in_. JULIA. [_Pointing_.] O Chris, look at this fine garden—and yon arbour—see the fine house, with lace curtains to the windows of it. CHRIS. [_Sullenly_.] Ah—I sees it all very well. JULIA. And all this could be mine for the stretching out of a hand. CHRIS. Then stretch it. JULIA. ’Twould be like putting a wild bird into a gilded cage, to set me here in this place. No, I must go free with you, Chris—and we will wander where our spirits lead us—over all the world if we have a mind to do so. CHRIS. Please God you’ll not grieve at your choice. JULIA. That I never shall. Now call to Laura. Is she in the lane outside? CHRIS. There, she be come to the gate now. [LAURA _comes in_, _followed by_ NAT _and_ TANSIE. JULIA. [_Pointing to a place on the ground_.] Laura, see, here is the place from which your young carrots were pulled. LAURA. O look at the flowers, Julia—Lillies, pinks and red roses. JULIA. ’Tis a fine red rose that shall be gathered for you presently, Laura. [JOHN _comes up_. JOHN. The master’s very nigh ready now, mistress. [SUSAN _follows him_. SUSAN. The mistress says, please to be seated till she do come. JOHN. [_To_ CHRIS _and_ NAT.] Now, my men, we don’t want the likes of you in here. You had best get off afore Master William catches sight of you. JULIA. No, John. These are my friends, and I wish them to hear all that I have to say to your master. JOHN. Ah, ’tis in the grave as poor Master William will be landed soon if you don’t have a care. LAURA. [_Anxiously_.] O is he so delicate as that, John? JOHN. Ah—and that he be. And these here love matters and courtings and foolishness have very nigh done for he. I don’t give him but a week longer if things do go on as they be now. [WILLIAM _and_ MRS. GARDNER _come in_. WILLIAM _looks nervously round him_. MRS. GARDNER _perceives the gipsies_, _and_ SUSAN _talking to_ NAT. MRS. GARDNER. Susan, get you to your place in the kitchen, as quick as you can. John, put yon roadsters through the gate, if you please. [_Turning to_ JULIA.] Now young Miss?