The Garden of Road Farm as in Act I.
Mrs. Gardner is knitting in the Arbour. William strolls about gloomily, his hands in his pockets.
Mrs. Gardner. And serve you right, William, for sending the man when you should have gone yourself.
William. John has a tongue that is better used to this sort of business than mine.
Mrs. Gardner. Nonsense, when was one of our family ever known to fail in the tongue?
William. If she that was asked first had only been the right one, all would have been over and done with now.
Mrs. Gardner. ’Tis John that you have got to thank for the blunder.
William. [Sighing.] That was a rare fine maid, and no mistake.
Mrs. Gardner. And a rare brazen hussy, from all that has reached my ears.
William. Well—I’ve done with courting—now and for all time, that I have. And you may roast me alive if I’ll ever go nigh to a maid again.