"Force the girl? No, I think not, old fellow," Plunkett now cried, coming forward with Lionel. The two of them had been watching the quarrel. "No farmer can hire a maid against her will. There are servants to spare here; take your pick and let these alone," and the tricky Martha and Nancy nearly fainted with trying to suppress their laughter as they witnessed Sir Tristram's plight.
At that moment all the unhired serving maids rushed to Sir Tristram and crowded about him and began their eternal, "I can bake, sir, I can brew, sir," etc., and begged him to hire them. Now this was the last straw, and Sir Tristram looked for Martha and Nancy to come to his assistance, but they only shrieked with laughter and urged the girls on. Meantime, Plunkett and Lionel had approached them, and, when Martha noticed that they were about to speak, she became a little frightened.
"Oh, see how they are looking at us!" she gasped to Nancy.
"Well, I can't say I mind it. I am willing to be seen," Nancy laughed, still more giddily than Lady Harriet.
"I'd like her to do the cooking," Plunkett remarked aside to Lionel and pointing to Nancy.
"I think it would be best to hire them both."
"Well, that might be a good plan. Go up and bargain with them."
"I do not dare," Lionel answered, hanging back.
"Pooh! Then I must show you, now then—er—now then—er—ahem!" Plunkett, too, found himself embarrassed. In fact, the women did not seem at all like the other serving maids, though their clothing was that of the others.
"Pooh, they'll never dare ask us!" Nancy told Martha.