[Sir Thomas, Julia, and Helen come forward.]
Come, my mistresses,
You dine in town to-day. Your father’s will,
It is, my Julia, that you see the world;
And thou shalt see it in its best attire.
Its gayest looks—its richest finery
It shall put on for thee, that thou may’st judge
Betwixt it, and this rural life you’ve lived.
Business of moment I’m but thus advised of,
Touching the will of my late noble master,
The Earl of Rochdale, recently deceased,
Commands me for a time to leave thee there.
Sir Thomas, hand her to the chariot. Nay,
I tell thee true. We go indeed to town!
[They go out.]
ACT II.
SCENE I.—An Apartment in Master Heartwell’s House.
[Enter Fathom and Thomas.]
Thos. Well, Fathom, is thy mistress up?
Fath. She is, Master Thomas, and breakfasted.
Thos. She stands it well! ’Twas five, you say, when she came home; and wants it now three-quarters of an hour of ten? Wait till her stock of country health is out.
Fath. ’Twill come to that, Master Thomas, before she lives another month in town! three, four, five six o’clock are now the hours she keeps. ’Twas otherwise with her in the country. There, my mistress used to rise what time she now lies down.