Rose. [To Letty,] Please, Miss, the Missis
says will you and Mr.
Ernest please to move your things into Miss Peachey’s
room.
Ernest. [Vexed.] Deuce of a nuisance havin’ to turn out for this fellow Lever. What did Molly want to bring him for?
Miss beech. Course you’ve no personal feeling in the matter!
Rose. [Speaking to Miss beech.] The Missis says you’re to please move your things into the blue room, please Miss.
Letty. Aha, Peachey! That settles you! Come on, Ernie!
[She goes towards the
house. Ernest, rising from the swing,
turns to Miss beech,
who follows.]
Ernest. [Smiling, faintly superior.] Personal, not a bit! I only think while Molly ’s out at grass, she oughtn’t to——
Miss beech. [Sharply.] Oh! do you?
[She hustles Ernest
out through the wall, but his voice is heard
faintly from the distance:
“I think it’s jolly thin.”]
Rose. [To Dick.] The Missis says you’re to take all your worms and things, Sir, and put them where they won’t be seen.
Dick. [Shortly.] Have n’t got any!
Rose. The Missis says she’ll be very angry if you don’t put your worms away; and would you come and help kill earwigs in the blue——?
Dick. Hang! [He goes, and rose is left alone.]
Rose. [Looking straight before her.] Please, Miss Joy, the Missis says will you go to her about your frock.
[There is a little pause,
then from the hollow tree joy’s voice
is heard.]
Joy. No-o!
Rose. If you did n’t come, I was to tell you she was going to put you in the blue.
[Joy looks out of the tree.]
[Immovable, but smiling.]
Oh, Miss joy, you’ve done your hair up! [Joy retires into the tree.] Please, Miss, what shall I tell the Missis?
Joy. [Joy’s voice is heard.] Anything you like.
Rose. [Over her shoulder.] I shall be drove
to tell her a story,
Miss.
Joy. All right! Tell it.
[Rose goes away,
and joy comes out. She sits on the rustic
seat
and waits. Dick,
coming softly from the house, approaches her.]
Dick. [Looking at her intently.] Joy! I wanted to say something
[Joy does not look at him, but twists her fingers.]
I shan’t see you again you know after to-morrow till I come up for the ’Varsity match.
Joy. [Smiling.] But that’s next week.
Dick. Must you go home to-morrow?
[Joy nods three times.]
[Coming closer.]
I shall miss you so awfully. You don’t know how I——