Thomas. Look here, my wench, I be master in my own house, and at the asking in marriage of my only sister like, ’tis me as shall say what shall sit down with who. And there’s an end of it. That’s all.
Maggie. I hear them a coming in, master.
[Emily, holding the hands of Jessie and Robin, comes into the room. Her eyes fall on Thomas who is standing between Clara and Maggie, looking suddenly sheepish and nervous.
Emily. [In a voice of suppressed anger.] Thomas! O, if I catch any more of these goings on in my kitchen.
[Joan, very elegantly dressed and hanging on the arm of Miles Hooper, follows Emily into the room.
Emily. I’ll not have the food kept back any longer for Luke Jenner. If folk can’t come to the time when they’re asked, they baint worth waiting for, so sit you down, all of you.
[She sits down at the head of the table, a child on either side of her. Joan languidly sinks into a chair and Miles puts himself at her right. A place at her left remains empty. Thomas sits opposite. Three places at the end of the table are left vacant. As they sit down, George, wearing a new smock and neck handkerchief, comes in.
Emily. [Beginning to help a dish.] You need not think you’re to be helped first, Clara, for all that the party is given for you, like. The poor little children have been kept waiting a sad time for their supper, first because you was such a while a having your head curled and puffed out, and then ’twas Luke Jenner as didn’t come.
[Clara sits down at a place at the end of the table. George and Maggie still remain standing.
Emily. [Perceiving Clara’s movement.] Well, I never did see anything so forward. Who told you to sit yourself down along of your betters, if you please, madam serving maid?