Old Man. Bless you, my pretty lady, but I be used to waiting. I’ll just sit me down outside in the sun till you be man and wife.
Elizabeth. And that’ll not be till this day next year if this sort of thing goes on any longer.
Daniel. That’s right, Mother. You take and lead the way. ’Tis the womenfolk as do keep we back from everything. But I knows how to settle with they—[roaring]—come Mill, come Giles, Andrew, Annet, May. Come Mother, out of th’ house with all of you and to church, I say.
[He gets behind them all and drives them before him and out of the room. When they have gone, the Old Man sinks on a bench in the door-way.
Old Man. I’m done with all the foolishness of life and I can sit me down and sleep till it be time to eat.
[Curtain.]
BUSHES AND BRIARS
CHARACTERS
Thomas Spring, a farmer, aged 35.
Emily, his wife, the same age.