Chapter V: Act III: Scene 1

_The parlour at Camel Farm_. ELIZABETH, _in her best dress_, _is moving about the room putting chairs in their places and arranging ornaments on the dresser_, _etc._ MAY _stands at the door with a large bunch of flowers in her hands_.

ELIZABETH. And what do you want to run about in the garden for when I’ve just smoothed your hair and got you all ready to go to church?

MAY. I’ve only been helping Annet gather some flowers to put upon the table.

ELIZABETH. You should know better then. Didn’t I tell you to sit still in that chair with your hands folded nicely till we were ready to start.

MAY. Why, I couldn’t be sitting there all the while, now could I, Aunt?

ELIZABETH. This’ll be the last time as I tie your ribbon, mind.

[_She smoothes_ MAY’S _hair and ties it up for her_. ANNET _comes into the room with more flowers_.

ELIZABETH. What’s your cousin doing now, Annet?

ANNET. The door of her room is still locked, Aunt. And what she says is that she do want to bide alone there.

ELIZABETH. In all my days I never did hear tell of such a thing, I don’t know what’s coming to the world, I don’t.

MAY. I count that Millie do like to be all to herself whilst she is a-dressing up grand in her white gown, and the silken cloak and bonnet.

ANNET. Millie’s not a-dressing of herself up. I heard her crying pitiful as I was gathering flowers in the garden.

ELIZABETH. Crying? She’ll have something to cry about if she doesn’t look out, when her father comes in, and hears how she’s a-going on.

MAY. I wonder why Cousin Millie’s taking on like this. I shouldn’t, if ’twas me getting married.

ELIZABETH. Look you, May, you get and run up, and knock at the door and tell her that ’twill soon be time for us to set off to church and that she have got to make haste in her dressing.

MAY. I’ll run, Aunt, only ’tis very likely as she’ll not listen to anything that I say. [MAY _goes out_.

ELIZABETH. Now Annet, no idling here, if you please. Set the nosegay in water, and when you’ve given a look round to see that everything is in its place, upstairs with you, and on with your bonnet, do you hear? Uncle won’t wish to be kept waiting for you, remember.

ANNET. I’m all ready dressed, except for my bonnet, Aunt. ’Tis Millie that’s like to keep Uncle waiting this morning. [_She goes out_.

[DANIEL _comes in_.

DANIEL. Well, Mother—well, girls—but, bless my soul, where’s Millie got to?

ELIZABETH. Millie has not seen fit to shew herself this morning, Father. She’s biding up in her room with the door locked, and nothing that I’ve been able to say has been attended to, so perhaps you’ll kindly have your try.

DANIEL. Bless my soul—where’s May? Where’s Annet? Send one of the little maids up to her, and tell her ’tis very nigh time for us to be off.

ELIZABETH. I’m fairly tired of sending up to her, Father. You’d best go yourself.

[MAY _comes into the room_.

MAY. Please Aunt, the door, ’tis still locked, and Millie is crying ever so sadly within, and she won’t open to me, nor speak, nor nothing.

ELIZABETH. There, Father,—perhaps you’ll believe what I tell you another time. Millie has got that hardened and wayward, there’s no managing of her, there’s not.

DANIEL. Ah, ’twon’t be very long as us’ll have the managing of she. ’Twill be young Andrew as’ll take she in hand after this day.

ELIZABETH. ’Tis all very well to talk of young Andrew, but who’s a-going to get her to church with him I’d like to know.

DANIEL. Why, ’tis me as’ll do it, to be sure.

ELIZABETH. Very well, Father, and we shall all be much obliged to you.

[DANIEL _goes to the door and shouts up the stairs_.

DANIEL. Well, Millie, my wench. Come you down here. ’Tis time we did set out. Do you hear me, Mill. ’Tis time we was off.

[ELIZABETH _waits listening_. _No answer comes_.

DANIEL. Don’t you hear what I be saying, Mill? Come you down at once. [_There is no answer_.

DANIEL. Millie, there be Andrew a-waiting for to take you to church. Come you down this minute.

ELIZABETH. You’d best take sommat and go and break open the door, Father. ’Tis the sensiblest thing as you can do, only you’d never think of anything like that by yourself.

DANIEL. I likes doing things my own way, Mother. Women-folk, they be so buzzing. ’Tis like a lot of insects around of anyone on a summer’s day. A-saying this way and that—whilst a man do go at anything quiet and calm-like. [ANNET _comes in_.

ANNET. Please, Uncle, Millie says that she isn’t coming down for no one.

DANIEL. [_Roaring in fury_.] What! What’s that, my wench—isn’t a-coming down for no one? Hear that, Mother, hear that? I’ll have sommat to say to that, I will. [_Going to the door_.

DANIEL. [_Roaring up the stairs_.] Hark you, Mill, down you comes this moment else I’ll smash the door right in, and that I will.

[DANIEL _comes back into the room_, _storming violently_.

DANIEL. Ah, ’tis a badly bred up wench is Millie, and her’d have growed up very different if I’d a-had the bringing up of she. But spoiled she is and spoiled her’ve always been, and what could anyone look for from a filly what’s been broke in by women folk!

ELIZABETH. There, there, Father—there’s no need to bluster in this fashion. Take up the poker and go and break into the door quiet and decent, like anyone else would do. And girls—off for your bonnets this moment I tell you.

[_She takes up a poker and hands it to_ DANIEL, _who mops his face and goes slowly out and upstairs_. ANNET _and_ MAY _leave the room_. _The farmer is heard banging at the door of Millie’s bedroom_.

[ELIZABETH _moves about the room setting it in order_. ANDREW _comes in at the door_. _He carries a bunch of flowers_, _which he lays on the table_.

ANDREW. Good-morning to you, mistress.

ELIZABETH. Good-morning, Andrew.

ANDREW. What’s going on upstairs?

ELIZABETH. ’Tis Father at a little bit of carpentering.

ANDREW. I’m come too soon, I reckon.

ELIZABETH. We know what young men be upon their wedding morn! I warrant as the clock can’t run too fast for them at such a time.

ANDREW. You’re right there, mistress. But the clock have moved powerful slow all these last few weeks—for look you here, ’tis a month this day since I last set eyes on Mill or had a word from her lips—so ’tis.

ELIZABETH. You’ll have enough words presently. Hark, she’s coming down with Father now.

[ANDREW _turns eagerly towards the door_. _The farmer enters with_ MILLIE _clinging to his arm_, _she wears her ordinary dress_. _Her hair is ruffled and in disorder_, _and she has been crying_.

DANIEL. Andrew, my lad, good morning to you.

ANDREW. Good morning, master.

DANIEL. You mustn’t mind a bit of an April shower, my boy. ’Tis the way with all maids on their wedding morn. Isn’t that so, Mother?

ELIZABETH. I wouldn’t make such a show of myself if I was you, Mill. Go upstairs this minute and wash your face and smooth your hair and put yourself ready for church.

DANIEL. Nay, she be but just come from upstairs, Mother. Let her bide quiet a while with young Andrew here; whilst do you come along with me and get me out my Sunday coat. ’Tis time I was dressed for church too, I’m thinking.

ELIZABETH. I don’t know what’s come to the house this morning, and that’s the truth. Andrew, I’ll not have you keep Millie beyond a five minutes. ’Tis enough of one another as you’ll get later on, like. Father, go you off upstairs for your coat. ’Tis hard work for me, getting you all to act respectable, that ’tis.

[DANIEL _and_ ELIZABETH _leave the room_. ANDREW _moves near_ MILLIE _and holds out both his hands_. _She draws herself haughtily away_.

ANDREW. Millie—’tis our wedding day.

MILLIE. And what if it is, Andrew.

ANDREW. Millie, it cuts me to the heart to see your face all wet with tears.

MILLIE. Did you think to see it otherwise, Andrew?

ANDREW. No smile upon your lips, Millie.

MILLIE. Have I anything to smile about, Andrew?

ANDREW. No love coming from your eyes, Mill.

MILLIE. That you have never seen, Andrew.

ANDREW. And all changed in the voice of you too.

MILLIE. What do you mean by that, Andrew?

ANDREW. Listen, Millie—’tis a month since I last spoke with you. Do you recollect? ’Twas the evening of the great Fair.

MILLIE And what if it was?

ANDREW. Millie, you were kinder to me that night than ever you had been before. I seemed to see such a gentle look in your eyes then. And when you spoke, ’twas as though—as though—well—’twas one of they quists a-cooing up in the trees as I was put in mind of.

MILLIE. Well, there’s nothing more to be said about that now, Andrew. That night’s over and done with.

ANDREW. I’ve carried the thought of it in my heart all this time, Millie.

MILLIE. I never asked you to, Andrew.

ANDREW. I’ve brought you a nosegay of flowers, Mill. They be rare blossoms with grand names what I can’t recollect to all of them.

[MILLIE _takes the nosegay_, _looks at it for an instant_, _and then lets it fall_.

MILLIE. I have no liking for flowers this day, Andrew.

ANDREW. O Millie, and is it so as you and me are going to our marriage?

MILLIE. Yes, Andrew. ’Tis so. I never said it could be different. I have no heart to give you. My love was given long ago to another. And that other has forgotten me by now.

ANDREW. O Millie, you shall forget him too when once you are wed to me, I promise you.

MILLIE. ’Tis beyond the power of you or any man to make me do that, Andrew.

ANDREW. Millie, what’s the good of we two going on to church one with t’other?

MILLIE. There’s no good at all, Andrew.

ANDREW. Millie, I could have sworn that you had begun to care sommat more than ordinary for me that last time we were together.

MILLIE. Then you could have sworn wrong. I care nothing for you, Andrew, no, nothing. But I gave my word I’d go to church with you and be wed. And—I’ll not break my word, I’ll not.

ANDREW. And is this all that you can say to me to-day, Mill?

MILLIE. Yes, Andrew, ’tis all. And now, ’tis very late, and I have got to dress myself.

ELIZABETH. [_Calling loudly from above_.] Millie, what are you stopping for? Come you up here and get your gown on, do.

[MILLIE _looks haughtily at_ ANDREW _as she passes him_. _She goes slowly out of the room_.

[ANDREW _picks up the flowers and stands holding them_, _looking disconsolately down upon them_. MAY _comes in_, _furtively_.

MAY. All alone, Andrew? Has Millie gone to put her fine gown on?

ANDREW. Yes, Millie’s gone to dress herself.

MAY. O that’s a beautiful nosegay, Andrew. Was it brought for Mill?

ANDREW. Yes, May, but she won’t have it.

MAY. Millie don’t like you very much, Andrew, do she?

ANDREW. Millie’s got quite changed towards me since last time.

MAY. And when was that, Andrew?

ANDREW. Why, last time was the evening of the Fair, May.

MAY. When I was hid in the cupboard yonder, Andrew?

ANDREW. So you were, May. Well, can’t you recollect how ’twas that she spoke to me then?

MAY. O yes, Andrew, and that I can. ’Twas a quist a-cooing in the tree one time—and then—she did recollect herself and did sharpen up her tongue and ’twas another sort of bird what could drive its beak into the flesh of anyone—so ’twas.

ANDREW. O May—you say she did recollect herself—what do you mean by those words?

MAY. You see, she did give her word that she would speak sharp and rough to you.

ANDREW. What are you talking about, May? Do you mean that the tongue of her was not speaking as the heart of her did feel?

MAY. I guess ’twas sommat like that, Andrew.

ANDREW. O May, you have gladdened me powerful by these words.

MAY. But, O you must not tell of me, Andrew.

ANDREW. I will never do so, May—only I shall know better how to be patient, and to keep the spirit of me up next time that she do strike out against me.

MAY. I’m not a-talking of Mill, Andrew.

ANDREW. Who are you talking of then, I’d like to know?

MAY. ’Twas Annet.

ANDREW. What was?

MAY. Annet who was dressed up in the cloak and bonnet of Millie that night and who did speak with you so gentle and nice.

ANDREW. Annet!

ELIZABETH. [_Is heard calling_.] There, father, come along down and give your face a wash at the pump.

MAY. Let’s go quick together into the garden, Andrew, and I’ll tell you all about it and how ’twas that Annet acted so.

[_She seizes_ ANDREW’S _hand and pulls him out of the room with her_.

[_Curtain_.]