"Now, damsels, get to bed," Plunkett said to Martha and Nancy as he opened the door of the farmhouse upon their arrival. "Get to bed, because ye must get up at dawn." The two giddy young women looked about them. There were doors at the right and left of the big room which they first entered, and they doubtless led to bedrooms. On the table a lamp was burning and there were a couple of spinning wheels to be seen. As they came in they noticed a bell hung on a pole just outside the door. Not a bit like the palace of Queen Anne! and altogether the lark didn't appear to have the advantages it first had.
"O heaven! What shall we do?" Martha said to Nancy. "We must get out of this soon, in some way."
"Well, the main thing is to get to bed now," Nancy declared, and so the girls turned to say good-night to the two farmers.
"Good-night? Not so. There are your duties to be done first."
"Our duties?" Martha exclaimed, looking blank.
"Oh, don't disturb them to-night," Lionel interrupted, speaking to his brother. Lionel was more and more impressed with both of them, especially with the beauty of Martha. "They are very tired. Don't disturb them to-night."
"But you will spoil them to begin with," Plunkett insisted. "And by the way, what are your names?" he asked.
"Mine is Martha," Lady Harriet answered dolefully.
"Mine is—Julia," Nancy said impatiently.
"Ho, ho! Too grand to please me!—but, Julia, my dame of fashion, pray, put my cloak away," Plunkett returned, handing it to her.