Susan. O, I didn’t know you was here, Mistress Julia.
Julia. Well, Susan, and so you live at Road Farm. Are you happy there?
Susan. I should be if ’twern’t for mistress.
Julia. No mistress could speak harshly to you, Susan—you are so young and pretty.
Susan. Ah, but mistress takes no account of aught but the work you does, and the tongue of her be wonderful lashing.
Julia. Then how comes it that you have got away to the forest so early on a week day?
Susan. ’Tis that mistress be powerful took up with sommat else this afternoon, and so I was able to run out for a while and her didn’t notice me.
Tansie. Why Su, what’s going on up at the farm so particular to-day?
Susan. ’Tis courting.
All. Courting?