Clara.  Still in your cloak and bonnet!  Why, I thought by now you would have unpacked our things and made yourself at home.

Joan. [Joining her hands supplicatingly and coming towards Clara, speaking almost in a whisper.] O mistress, you’ll never guess what I’ve been and done.  But ’twasn’t all my fault at the commencement.

Clara. [Looking her over searchingly.] You do look very disturbed, Joan, what has happened?

Joan.  ’Twas the fine bonnet and cloak, mam.  ’Twas they as did it.

Clara.  Did what?

Joan.  Put the thought into my head, like.

Clara.  What thought?

Joan.  As how ’twould feel to be a real grand lady, like you, mistress.

Clara.  What then, Joan?

Joan.  So I began to pretend all to myself as how that I was one, mistress.

Clara.  Come, tell me all.

Joan.  And whilst I was sat down upon that fallen tree, and sort of pretending to myself, the two gentlemen came along.

Clara.  What gentlemen?

Joan.  Gentlemen as was after courting you, mistress.

Clara.  Courting me?

Joan.  Yes, and they commenced speaking so nice and respectful like.

Clara.  Go on, Joan, don’t be afraid.

Joan.  It did seem to fall in with the game I was a-playing with myself.  And then, before I did know how, ’twas they was both of them a-taking me for you, mam.

Clara.  And did you not un-deceive them, Joan?

Joan. [Very ashamedly.] No, mam.

Clara.  You should have told them the truth about yourself at once.

Joan.  O I know I should have, mistress.  But there was something as held me back when I would have spoke the words.

Clara.  I wonder what that could have been?

Joan.  ’Twas them being such very nice and kind gentlemen.  And, O mistress, you’ll not understand it, because you’ve told me many times as the heart within you have never been touched by love.

Clara. [Suddenly sitting down.] And has yours been touched to-day,
Joan, by love?

Joan.  That it have, mistress.  Love have struck at it heavily.

Clara.  Through which of the gentlemen did it strike, Joan?

Joan.  Through both.  Leastways, ’tis Mister Jenner that my feelings do go out most quickly to, mistress.  But ’tis Mister Hooper who do court the hardest and who has the greatest riches like.

Clara.  Well, and what do you want me to do or to say now, Joan?

Joan.  See here, mistress, I want you to give me a chance.  They’ll never stoop to wed me if they knows as I’m but a poor serving maid.

Clara.  Your dressing up as a fine lady won’t make you other than what you are, Joan.