re.)
Rest, if you can, and I will watch close by.

[Goody Gleason dozes off: Sarah sits by her and sings.

"Fortune, my foe, why dost thou frown on me,
And will thy favors never better be?
Wilt thou, I say, forever breed me pain?
And wilt thou not restore my joys again?"

[A pause: then from distance comes tumult of voices: "_Ho! Steady
there, Will Lackleather! Have a care, Robin Wakeless!_" (The voices are
very faint but clear: the sound of them coming from a long distance.)

BESS
(running ahead of the others, disheveled, breathless, excited, enters,
and swinging about, halloos to those who are following her, her hands
held clarion-wise).
Have a care, Simon! Look well to the Puritan!

SARAH
(running to her).
Bess! What's here! What's happened?

BESS
(still greatly excited).
I'll tell thee when I catch my breath! I've been in the stocks with the
whole of Wollaston to gape at me. Puritan heads a-wagging! Puritan eyes
a-staring! And after the stocks 'twas towards the whipping-post that
they were leading me! But I've learned a trick or two from our lanes
here at Merrymount. I gave a sudden twist--the constable loosened his
hold--I ran and ran! There was not one could catch me. And for the
shaming they've done me they are to pay full dear. I ran ahead to tell
you. Listen!

VOICES
(coming nearer).
Easy there, Kit! Have a care, Robin!

SARAH.
Heaven's mercy, Bess, what is it they're bringing?

BESS
(with a blaze of excitement and triumph).
Can you not see? Our lads have stolen Resolute Endicott, spinning-wheel
and all.

[It is soon seen that Bess speaks truly. Mistress Endicott makes her
entrance seated on a pine board that is carried between Robin Wakeless
and Kit Carmel. She is closely guarded by Jock, who marches behind.
Scarlett and Will Lackleather carry her spinning-wheel. Faunch brings
up the rear, with the Merrymount maidens following. Joan carries a
spinning-stool.

SCARLETT
(as he and Lackleather set down spinning-wheel, left).
Look to your steps, Robin! Steady there, Kit Carmel! (As Resolute
stands, center, he approaches her with elaborate mocking courtesy.)
Mistress, we bid you welcome to Merrymount!

ROBIN.
What will you have, Mistress Endicott? A merry stave, a cup of cherry
wine, or a maypole dance? Speak, and we do' your pleasure!

SCARLETT
(to Sarah).
Rouse our gran'am, sister. Sure, such a sight as this will warm her
bones! (To Resolute, indicating Bess.) See! There is o