Elizabeth. No, Father, I’ll leave you to manage this affair. ’Tis you who have spoiled Mill and brought her up so wayward and unruly, and ’tis to you I look for to get us out of this unpleasant position.
May. Dear Millie—don’t wed my brother Giles. Why, look at his ragged smock and his bare feet.
Millie. I shall be proud to go bare too, so long as I am by his side, May.
[Giles goes to the door and blows his whistle three times and loudly.
May. What’s that for, Giles?
Giles. You shall soon see, little May.
Daniel. I’ll be hanged if I’ll stand any more of this caddling nonsense. Here, Mill—the trap’s come to the door. Into it with you, I say.
Giles. I beg you to wait a moment, master.
Daniel. Wait!—’Tis a sight too long as we have waited this day. If all had been as I’d planned, we should have been to church by now. But womenfolk, there be no depending on they. No, and that there bain’t.
[George, John and the Old Man come up. George and John carry their packets and the Old Man has Giles’ coat and hat over his arm.