Julia. [Slowly.] Only for a little moment, Chris; then you can come for me again.  I would like to stay with myself in quiet for a while.  New thoughts have come into my mind and I cannot rightly understand what they do say to me, unless I hearken to them alone.

Chris. Then I’ll leave you, Julia.  For things be stirring powerful in my mind too, and I’d give sommat for to come to an understanding with they.  Ah, that I would.

[They look at one another in silence for a moment, then Chris slowly follows the others, leaving Julia alone.  Julia sits alone in the wood.  Presently she begins to sing.

Julia. [Singing.]

I sowed the seeds of love,
It was all in the Spring;
In April, in May, and in June likewise
When small birds they do sing.

[John with a large basket on his arm comes up to her.

John.  A good day to you, mistress.

Julia.  Good afternoon.

John.  Now I count as you would like to know who ’tis that’s made so bold in speaking to you, Mistress.

Julia.  Why, you’re Master Gardner’s farm hand, if I’m not mistaken.

John.  Ah, that’s right enough.  And there be jobs as I wish Master
William would get and do for hisself instead of putting them on I.

Julia.  Well, and how far may you be going this afternoon?

John.  I baint going no further than where I be a-standing now, mistress.

Julia.  It would appear that your business was with me, then?

John.  Ah, you’ve hit the right nail, mistress.  ’Tis with you.  ’Tis a straight offer as my master have sent me out for to make.

Julia.  Now I wonder what sort of an offer that might be!

John.  ’Tis master’s hand in marriage, and a couple of pigs jowls, home-cured, within this here basket.

Julia.  O my good man, you’re making game of me.

John.  And that I baint, mistress.  ’Twas in the church as Master William seed you first.  And ’tis very nigh sick unto death with love as he have been since then.

Julia.  Is he too sick to come and plead his cause himself, John?

John.  Ah, and that he be.  Do go moulting about the place with his victuals left upon the dish—­a sighing and a grizzling so that any maid what’s got a heart to th’ inside of she would be moved in pity, did she catch ear of it, and would lift he out of the torment.

Julia.  Well, John, I’ve not seen or heard any of this sad to-do, so
I can’t be moved in pity.

John.  An, do you look within this basket at the jowls what Master William have sent you.  Maybe as they’ll go to your heart straighter nor what any words might.

[John sits down on the bench by Julia and opens the basket.  Julia looks in.