John.  An that I did, Master William, but a more contrary coxsy sort of a maid I never did see.  “I baint one as fancies pig meat,” her did say.  And the nose of she did curl away up till it could go no higher.  That’s not the wench for me, I says to myself.

Mrs. Gardner.  Is the jowl hung up in its right place again, John?

John.  That ’tis, mistress.  I put it back myself, and a good job for that ’taint went out of the family and off to the mouths of strangers, so says I.

Mrs. Gardner.  Do you tend to Master William’s garden John, instead of talking.  We’ve had enough of your tongue for one day.

John.  Why, be Master William goin’ out for to court again, this afternoon?

William.  No, John—­No, I’ve had enough of that for my life time.

John.  So have I, master, and more nor enough.  I don’t care particular if I never set eyes on a maid again.

William. [Pointing to a plot of ground.] That’s where I pulled the young carrots this morning.

John.  Ah, and so you did, master.

William.  And there’s from where I took the Early Snowballs.

John.  And a great pity as you did.  There be none too many of that sort here.

William.  She had a wonderful soft look in her eyes as she did handle them and the spring cabbage, John.

John.  Ah, and a wonderful hard tongue when her knowed ’twasn’t for she as they was pulled.

William.  Was t’other maid anything of the same pattern, John?

John.  Upon my word, if t’other wasn’t the worst of the two, for she did put a powerful lot of venom into the looks as she did give I, and the words did fall from she like so many bricks on my head.

William.  Pity the first was not the right maid.

John.  Ah, a maid what can treat a prime home-cured jowl as yon did baint the sort for to mistress it over we, I’m thinking.

Mrs. Gardner.  See here, John—­suppose you were to let your tongue bide still in its home awhile, and start doing something with your hands.

John.  That’s right enough, mistress.  What’s wanted, Master William?

William.  I’m blessed if I can recollect, John.  This courting business lies heavy on me, and I don’t seem able to get above it, like.

John.  I’d let it alone, master, if I was you.  They be all alike, the maids.  And ’twouldn’t be amiss if we was to serve they as we serves the snails when they gets to the young plants.

[Susan comes hurriedly into the garden.

Susan.  Please master, please mistress.

Mrs. Gardner.  What do you mean, Susan, by coming into the garden without your cap?  Go and put it on at once.