Isabel. All shall be ready in a moment, Miss Kitty.
[She goes hurriedly out followed by Lubin. Kitty glances round the room and then stands at the side of the front door. John, giving an arm to each of Robert’s cousins, enters. The cousins are dressed in coloured flowered dresses, and wear bonnets that are heavy with bright plumes. They look cumbered and ill at ease in their clothes, and carry their sunshades and gloves awkwardly.
Liz. [Looking round her.] Very comfortable, I’m sure. But I count as that there old-fashioned grate do take a rare bit of elbow grease.
Jane. Very pleasant indeed. But I didn’t reckon as the room would be quite the shape as ’tis.
Liz. Come to that, I didn’t expect the house to look as it do.
Jane. Very ancient in appearance, I’m sure.
John. Ah, the house has done well enough for me and my father and grandfather afore me.
[Rose, very grandly dressed, comes in hanging on Robert’s arm. Robert is clothed in the fashion of the town.
Rose. Please to remove your bonnet, Miss Eliza. Please to remove yours, Miss Jane.
John. [Heartily.] Ah, that’s so—’Twill be more homely like for eating.