Mrs. Gardner. And you have come to a ripe age when ’tis the plain duty of a man to turn himself towards matrimony, William.
William. ’Tis a bit of quiet that I’m after, Mother.
Mrs. Gardner. Quiet! ’tis a good shaking up as you want, William. Why, you have got as set in your ways as last season’s jelly.
William. Then let me bide so. ’Tis all I ask.
Mrs. Gardner. No, William. I’m got to be an old woman now, and ’tis time that I had someone at my side to help in the house-keeping and to share the work.
William. What’s Susan for, if ’tisn’t to do that?
Mrs. Gardner. Susan? As idle a piece of goods as ever was seen on a summer’s day! No. ’Tisn’t a serving maid that I was thinking of, but someone who should be of more account in the house. ’Tis a daughter that I’m wanting, William, and I’ve picked out the one who is to my taste.
William. Then you’ve done more than I have, Mother.
Mrs. Gardner. ’Tis the young person whom Luther Smith has left his farm and all his money to. I’ve got my eye on her for you, William.
William. Then you’ll please to put your eye somewhere else, Mother, for I’ve seen them, and they don’t suit me.