Mrs. Gardner.  I’m not asking you to wed forty.  ’Tis only one.

William.  And that one?

Mrs. Gardner.  The young person who’s got Luther’s farm.  Her name is
Julia.

William. [Leaving his flower border and walking up and down thoughtfully.] Would she be the one with the cherry colour ribbons to her gown?

Mrs. Gardner.  I’m sure I don’t know.  I was not at church last
Sunday.

William.  Or t’other one in green?

Mrs. Gardner.  You appear to have used your eyes pretty well,
William.

William.  O, I can see a smartish bit about me when I choose.

Mrs. Gardner.  T’other wench is but the housekeeper.

William.  Where did you get that from?

Mrs. Gardner.  ’Twas Susan who told me.  She got it off someone down in the village.

William.  Well, which of the maids would have had the cherry-coloured ribbons to her, Mother?

Mrs. Gardner.  I’m sure I don’t know, but if you go up there courting this afternoon, may happen that you’ll find out.

William.  This afternoon?  O, that’s much too sudden like.

Mrs. Gardner.  Not a bit of it.  Recollect, your fancy has been set on her since Sunday.

William.  Come, Mother, you can’t expect a man to jump into the river all of a sudden like this.

Mrs. Gardner.  I expect you to go up there this very day and to commence telling her of your feelings.

William.  But I’ve got no feelings that I can tell her of, Mother.

Mrs. Gardner.  Then you’ll please to find some, William.

William.  ’Tis a thing that in all my life I’ve never done as to go visiting of a strange wench of an afternoon.

Mrs. Gardner.  Then ’tis time you did begin.

William.  And what’s more, I’ll not do it, neither.

Mrs. Gardner.  Then I must tell John that we have no further need of his services, for where the money to pay him is to come from, I don’t know.

[She rolls up her knitting and rises.

William.  Stop a moment, Mother—­stop a moment.  Maybe ’twon’t be so bad when I’ve got more used to the idea.  You’ve pitched it upon me so sudden like.

Mrs. Gardner.  Rent day has pitched upon me more sudden, William.

William.  Look you, Mother, I’ll get and turn it about in my mind a bit.  And, maybe, I’ll talk it over with John.  I can’t do more, can I now?

Mrs. Gardner.  Talk it over with whom you please, William.  But remember ’tis this very afternoon that you have to start courting.  I’ve laid your best clothes out all ready on your bed.