Mrs. Gardner. You’ll please to come indoors with me, William, and I’ll brush you down and make you look more presentable than you appear just now. Susan, you’ll get a cap to you head at once, do you hear me! And John, take and water master’s seedlings. Any one can stand with their mouths open and their eyes as big as gooseberries if they’ve a mind. ’Tis not particular sharp to do so. Come, William.
William. I’d like a word or two with John first, Mother.
Mrs. Gardner. You come along with me this moment, William. ’Tis a too many words by far that you’ve had with John already, and much good they’ve done to you. Come you in with me.
William. O I’m blessed if I do know whether ’tis on my head or on my feet that I’m standing.
[William follows his mother slowly and gloomily into the house.
John. Well—if ever there was a poor, tormented animal ’tis the master.
Susan. Ah, mistress should have been born a drover by rights. ’Tis a grand nagging one as her’d have made, and sommat what no beast would ever have got the better of.
John. I wouldn’t stand in Master William’s shoes, not if you was to put me knee deep in gold.
Susan. Nor I.
John. Ah, this courting business, ’tis a rare caddling muddle when ’tis all done and said.