Mrs. Cromwell:
Remember what Mr. Herbert says—­
  A servant with this clause
    Makes drudgerie divine. 
  Who sweeps a room, as for thy laws,
    Makes that and th’ action fine. 
As for thy laws, remember.

Hampden: Surely, we shall remember that always.

(BRIDGET comes in.)

Bridget: Cousin John.

Hampden: Well, Bridget, my girl.

(He kisses her.)

Bridget: How do you do, Mr. Ireton?

Ireton (shaking hands):  Well, I thank you, mistress.

Bridget: Does father know, mother?

Elizabeth: I’ve sent down to the field.

Mrs. Cromwell: He’ll be here soon enough.  I’m sorry the judges were against you, John.  I don’t know what else you could expect, though.  They are the King’s judges, I suppose.

Hampden: That’s what we dispute, ma’am.  The King says that they should serve him.  We say that they should serve the laws.

Ireton: It was just when Mr. Hampden was being heard.  The law they said was the King’s old and loyal servant:  that lex was not rex, but that none could gainsay that rex was lex.

Hampden: That’s what we shall have to decide, and before long, I think.

Bridget: Father says that.

Mrs. Cromwell: This house is ready for any kind of revolution, John.

Ireton: But you find it everywhere, ma’am.  All along the countryside, in the markets, in the church porches—­everywhere.

Elizabeth: Is the vine doing well this year, John?

Hampden: It’s the best year I remember.

Elizabeth: Ours, too.

Bridget: Were you there, Mr. Ireton, when Cousin John’s case was tried?

Ireton: Yes.

Bridget: It was splendid, wasn’t it—­although he lost, I mean?

Ireton: It was the note of deliverance.

Bridget: I wish I could have been there, Cousin John.

Mrs. Cromwell:
Will you give me my shawl, Henry Ireton. 
(He does so.)
There’s Oliver coming.  Now you can all be thunder.

Bridget: Now, grandmother, you know you don’t think it’s just that.

Mrs. Cromwell: So you have hope for me yet, miss?

Bridget: Grandmother.

(CROMWELL comes in.  He is in plain country dress.  His age is forty.)

Cromwell: John—­it’s good to see you.  You’re an hour before reckoning.  (Taking HAMPDEN’S hand.)

Hampden: Yes, Oliver.  Is all well?

Cromwell: Not that—­but our courage is well enough.  You are very welcome, Henry.  (Taking his hand.) Was it good travelling?

Ireton: Not a bad mile on the journey.

Bridget: Father, Mr. Ireton heard Cousin John’s case tried.  Wasn’t he lucky?