JULIA. A very good evening to you, mistress. And let me make Chris known to you for he and I are to be wed to-morrow. [_She takes_ CHRIS _by the hand and leads him forward_. MRS. GARDNER. What’s this? William, do you understand what the young person is telling us? JULIA. [_Taking_ LAURA _with her other hand_.] And here is Laura to whom I have given all my land and all my money. She is the mistress of Luther’s now. JOHN. [_Aside to_ WILLIAM.] Now master, hearken to that. Can’t you lift your spirits a bit. JULIA. [_To_ MRS. GARDNER.] And I beg you to accept her as a daughter. She will make a better farmer’s wife than ever I shall. JOHN. [_In a loud whisper_.] Start courting, master. WILLIAM. O I dare not quite so sudden, John. MRS. GARDNER. [_Sitting down_.] It will take a few moments for me to understand this situation. JULIA. There is no need for any hurry. We have all the evening before us. JOHN. [_Hastily gathers a rosebud and puts it into_ WILLIAM’S _hand_.] Give her a blossom, master. ’Tis an easy start off. WILLIAM. [_Coming forward shyly with the flower_.] Would you fancy a rosebud, mistress? LAURA. O that I would, master. WILLIAM. Should you care to see—to see where the young celery is planted out? LAURA. O, I’d dearly love to see the spot. WILLIAM. I’ll take you along to it then. [_He gives her his arm_, _very awkwardly_, _and they move away_. MRS. GARDNER. [_Sitting down_.] Well—things have changed since I was young. JOHN. [_Looking viciously at_ NAT _and_ SUSAN.] Ah, I counts they have, mistress, and ’tis all for the worse. SUSAN. [_Comes forward timidly_.] And me and Nat are to be married too, mistress. MRS. GARDNER. I should have given you notice anyhow to-night, Susan, so perhaps it’s just as well you have made sure of some sort of a roof to your head. NAT. ’Twill be but the roof of th’ old cart, mistress; but I warrant as her’ll sleep bravely under it, won’t you, Su. SUSAN. That I shall, dear Nat. TANSIE. Well, Master John, have you a fancy to come tenting along of we. JOHN. Upon my word, but I don’t know how ’tis with the young people nowadays, they be so bold. JULIA. [_Who has been standing apart_, _her hand in that of_ CHRIS.] New days, new ways, John. JOHN. Bless my soul, but ’tis hard to keep up with all these goings on, and no mistake. JULIA. No need for you to try, John. If you are too old to run with us you must abide still and watch us as we go. CHRIS. But there, you needn’t look downhearted, master, for I knows someone as’ll give you a rare warm welcome if so be as you should change your mind and take your chance in the open, same as we. TANSIE. You shall pay for that, Chris. JOHN. [_Stiffly_.] I hope as I’ve a properer sense of my duty nor many others what I could name. MRS. GARDNER. Those are the first suitable words that have been spoken in my hearing this afternoon.