Emily. [Setting down the basket.] Maggie, you idle, bad girl, whatever are you doing here when master expects you down in the meadow to help with the raking?
Maggie. I be just a-going off yonder, mistress.
Emily. I’d thank other folk not to bring dressed up fine young serving minxes down here—you was bad enough afore, Maggie, but you’ll be a hundred times worser now.
Maggie. I’ll be off and help master. I’ve been and put the meat on to boil as you said, missis.
[Maggie goes off.
[Clara continues to sew, quietly. Jessie has put her bowl down on the table, and now comes to her side. Robin also comes close to her. Emily flings herself into a chair for a moment and contemptuously watches them.
Jessie. We don’t care much about our new aunt, Joan.
Robin. Dad said as how Aunt would be sure to bring us sommat good from London town in them great boxes.
Jessie. And Aunt has been here two days and more, and she hasn’t brought us nothing.
Emily. Your fine aunt have been too much took up with her fancy gentlemen to think of what would be suitable behaviour towards you children.