Liz. As good as any I ever tasted.
Jane. Couldn’t better it at the King’s Head up our way.
John. Good drink—plenty of it. Now we’ll start upon the meat I reckon.
[He takes up a knife and fork and begins to carve, and Lubin hands round plates. During this Robert’s gaze restlessly wanders about the room, finally fixing itself on Isabel, who presently goes out to the back kitchen with plates.
Robert. The new serving maid you’ve got there, Rose, should wear a cap and not her bonnet.
Rose. How sharp you are to notice anything.
Robert. A very pretty looking wench, from what I can see.
Rose. [Speaking more to the cousins than to Robert.] O she’s but a rough and untrained girl got in all of a hurry. Not at all the sort I’ve been used to in this house, I can tell you.
[Isabel comes back with fresh plates and stands at the side table.
Liz. [To Jane.] A mellower piece of pig meat I never did taste, sister.