Nat. Come you off with me afore he do perceive you, Susan. I’ll take you where you shall bide hid from all the Johns in the world if you’ll but come along of me.
Julia. That’s it. Take her off, Nat; take her, Tansie. And do you go along too, Chris, for I have a fancy to bide alone in the stillness of the wood for a while.
[Susan, Tansie and Nat go out.
Chris. Be I to leave you too, Julia?
Julia. [Slowly.] Only for a little moment, Chris; then you can come for me again. I would like to stay with myself in quiet for a while. New thoughts have come into my mind and I cannot rightly understand what they do say to me, unless I hearken to them alone.
Chris. Then I’ll leave you, Julia. For things be stirring powerful in my mind too, and I’d give sommat for to come to an understanding with they. Ah, that I would.
[They look at one another in silence for a moment, then Chris slowly follows the others, leaving Julia alone. Julia sits alone in the wood. Presently she begins to sing.
Julia. [Singing.]
I sowed the seeds of love,
It was all in the Spring;
In April, in May, and in June likewise
When small birds they do sing.
[John with a large basket on his arm comes up to her.