Allen. (_After a pause._) Mother! (_Rises, goes to Mrs. R. r._) What do ye want to go back at all for, and work and worry yourself to death? Let me take a little house up here in London for thee and Deb, and then we can all be together. Mrs. R. (_Aghast._) And leave the farm? Deb. (_Turning round._) Oh, Allen! Allen. Why not? You’ve worked hard enough, mother--give the farm up and enjoy yourself. Mrs. R. Enjoy myself! Away from Woodbarrow Farm! Why, lad, thy father wur born there and brought me home there--and he died there, and thee wur born there--and there be the pigs and the poultry! (_Begins to cry._) Allen. (_Tenderly patting her._) All right, mother, all right. Us’ll keep it on. Mrs. R. (_Wiping her eyes._) And thee might want to come back to it theeself some day, lad. Allen. (_Laughing._) Why, thee don’t think I’m going to run through two hundred thousand, do ye, mother? We Devonshire lads win fortunes, not lose ‘em. (_Crossing c._) Mrs. R. Ah, no, lad. But thee knows the saying “Roses blossom for a day, But stout old ivy’s green al-way.” Thee ain’t likely to lose the money, if thee can help it, lad, but us all be in God’s hands, and I’ll be easier in my mind if the farm’s there for thee to come home to. If anything happens, thee knows the way across the Moor, and thee knows how the latch goes, and me and the lass will be inside to welcome thee. Allen. (_Goes l. takes Deb.’s hand._) Ah, I know you will, mother, both of you. Mrs. R. (_Music--piano._) Leastways I shall--and the lass until her gets married, I suppose. (_Deb. goes up a little; gets r._) Allen. (_Surprised._) Until her gets married? (_Deb. goes to Mrs. R. r.; tries to stop her speaking._) Mrs. R. (_Sharply._) Ah, the lads ain’t all fools. Allen. (_Evidently troubled._) I never seemed to think o’ Deb’s getting married, somehow. Mrs. R. Well, other folks have. Allen. I can’t fancy the old farm wi’out Deb. Lord, how lonesome it would be. Deb. (_Who has been trying to stop Mrs. R., has come down and stands by her aunt, l._) Oh, it’s only aunt’s fun. (_Goes to Allen, l. c._) I’m not going to get married. Sure the pigs and cows are worrit enough wi’ their foolish ways. I don’t want any husband. Allen. Ah, thee will some day, o’ course, and when thee does we must make thee comfortable, lass. (_Taking her hand._) Thee shalt ha’ the best farm in all the country, and the best dairy, and the best stock. Deb. (_Little c._) Thank thee, Allen dear. (_Turns up stage._) Mrs. R. (_Rising; music dies away._) Well, lass, I suppose us had better have a clean down and summat to eat, and then see about our bit o’ shopping. Allen. Lord help us! (_Starting._) If I ain’t forgot all about ‘em. Mrs. R. All about whom? Allen. Why, Clara--Miss Dexter and her father--they be in the library waiting for me. Deb. Oh, don’t let us keep you from them. (_A little spitefully._)