William. [Sighing heavily.] O then I count there’s no way out of it.  But how am I to bring it off?  ’Tis that I’d like to know.

Mrs. Gardner.  Maybe your man will be able to give you some suitable advice.  Such things are beyond me, I’m afraid.

[She gathers up her work things, and with a contemptuous look at her son, she goes slowly out of the garden.

[William remains on the path lost in perturbed thought.  Suddenly he goes to the gate and calls loudly.

William.  John, John!

John. [From afar.] Yes, master.

William. [Calling.] Come you here, John, as quick as you can run.

John.  That I will, master.

[John hurries into the garden.

William.  John, I’m powerful upset.

John.  Mistress’s fowls bain’t got among the flowers again, be they,
Master William?

William.  No, no, John.  ’Tisn’t so bad as that.  But I’m in a smartish fix, I can tell you.

John.  How’s that, master?

William.  John, did you ever go a’courting?

John.  Well, master, that’s a thing to ask a man!

William.  ’Tis a terrible serious matter, John.  Did you ever go?

John.  Courting?

William.  Yes.

John.  Why, I count as I have went a score of times, master.

William.  A score of times, John!  But that was before you were got to the age you are now?

John.  Before that, and now, master.

William.  And now, John?

John.  To be sure, master.

William.  Then you know how ’tis done?

John.  Ah, that I does, master.

William.  Well, John, you’re the man for me.

John.  Lord bless us, master, but what have you to do with courting?

William.  You may well ask me, John.  Why, look you here—­until this very morning, you would say I was a quiet and a peaceable man, with the right place for everything and everything in its place.

John.  Ah, and that you was, Master William.  And a time for all things too, and a decenter, proper gentleman no man ever served—­ that’s truth.

William.  Ah, John—­the mistress has set her will to change all this.

John.  Now, you’d knock me down with a feather.

William.  That she has, John.  I’ve got to set out courting—­a thing
I’ve never thought to do in all my living days.

John.  That I’ll be bound you have not, Master William, though a finer gentleman than yourself is not to be found in all the country side.

William. [With shy eagerness.] Is that how I appear to you, John?

John.  Ah, and that you does, master.  And ’tis the wonder with all for miles around as how you’ve been and kept yourself to yourself like this, so many years.