Nat.  ’Twas enough for to shew me how it do feel when anyone has got to bide sleeping with the walls all around of he.

Julia.  And the ceiling above, Nat.  And locked door.  And other folk lying breathing in the house, hard by.  All dark and close.

Chris. And where us may lie, the air do run swift over we.  We has the smell of the earth and the leaves on us as we do sleep.  There baint no darkness for we, for the stars do blink all night through up yonder.

Tansie.  And no sound of other folk breathing but the crying of th’ owls and the foxes’ bark.

Julia.  Ah, that must be a grand sound, the barking of a fox.  I never did hear one.  Never.

Chris. Ah, ’tis a powerful thin sound, that—­but one to raise the hair on a man’s head and to clam the flesh of he, at dead of night.

Nat.  You come and bide along of we one evening, and you shall hearken to the fox, and badger too, if you’ve the mind.

Julia.  O that would please me more than anything in the world.

Tansie.  And when ’twas got a little lighter, so that the bushes could be seen, and the fields, I’d shew you where the partridge has her nest beneath the hedge; where we have gotten eggs, and eaten them too.

Chris. And I’ll take and lead you to a place what I do know of, where the water flows clear as a diamond over the stones.  And if you bides there waiting quiet you may take the fish as they come along—­ and there’s a dinner such as the Queen might not get every day of the week.

Julia.  O Chris, who is there to say I must bide in one place when all in me is thirsting to be in t’other!

Chris. I’m sure I don’t know.

Nat.  I should move about where I did like, if ’twas me.

Tansie.  A fine young lady like you can do as she pleases.

Julia.  Well then, it pleases me to bide with you in the free air.

Chris. Our life, ’tis a poor life, and wandering.  ’Tis food one day, and may be going without the next.  ’Tis the sun upon the faces of us one hour—­and then the rain.  But ’tis in freedom that us walks, and we be the masters of our own limbs.

Julia.  Will you be good to me if I journey with you?

Chris. Ah, ’tis not likely as I’ll ever fail you, mistress.

Julia.  Do not call me mistress any longer, Chris, my name is Julia.

Chris.  ’Tis a well-sounding name, and one as runs easy as clear water upon the tongue.

Julia.  Tansie, how will it be for me to go with you?

Tansie.  ’Twill be well enough with the spirit of you I don’t doubt, but how’ll it be with the fine clothes what you have on?

Nat. [Suddenly looking up.] Why, there’s Susan coming.

Julia. [Looking in the same direction.] So that is Susan?