THE MAN. Ay sir, he shall sleep till he wakes. But we, sir, we’ll sing you off the premises, for the love of Bess. Hey, Bess? Ho, Bess! ANOTHER [_hammering the table_]. Death, not Bess! Death! Death! Death! Come along chorus! TWO OR THREE [_as they lurch out of the room_]. Ho, boy! Hey, boy! Come this way, boy! Who’ll have a drink with me? ALL [_following_]. Hey, Death! Ho, Death! Out you go, Death! We’ll never drink with thee! _The door swings to and quiet settles on the lightening room. The first ray of sunlight touches the bed. Outside the birds are beginning to sing._ THE CURTAIN FALLS. ACT IV. _A room in the palace, hung with tapestries. On the right wall is a heavy, studded door: on the left, a great raised seat on a low platform. On the back wall is a small curtained door and a large window. A girl in a primrose-coloured gown stands at it holding back its curtain. Set slantwise in front of it, nearer the centre of the stage, is a writing table with scattered papers. At it sits_ ELIZABETH, _a secretary beside her. The Queen’s dress is of dull grey brocade with transparent lawn and jewels of aquamarine; but as the evening deepens its colour becomes one with the dusk and only her white face and hands are clearly seen._ A HAWKER [_chanting in the street far away_]. Cress! Buy cress! Who’ll buy my cress-es? ELIZABETH _lays down her pen._ ELIZABETH. These three are signed. Take them to Burleigh. This I’ll not grant. Tell him so! [_The man bows and goes out._] HAWKER [_nearer_]. Cress! Buy cress! ELIZABETH. There! Put the papers by! _The girl at the window comes down to the table and begins to sort them._ ANOTHER HAWKER. Strawberries! Ripe strawberries! THE GIRL. I wonder, Madam, that you choose this room Here on the noisy street. ELIZABETH. Child, when you marry Who’ll rule your nursery, you or your maids? GIRL. Why, that I will! ELIZABETH. Then you must sit in it daily. Where’s Mary Fitton? GIRL. In waiting, Madam, and half asleep. She was up early to-day. I saw her from my window by the little garden door and called to her. She had been out to pick roses, as you bade her, ere the dew dried on them. ELIZABETH. As I bade her? GIRL. Yes, Madam, she said so. HAWKER [_close at hand_]. Cress! Buy cress! Fit for Queen Bess! ELIZABETH. Open the window! [_The girl opens it._]