'd show me,
And I, dull as I was, but doubtful saw,--
A word from Master Walter made as clear
As daylight! When my schooling days were o'er--
That's now good three years past--three years--I vow
I'm twenty, Helen!--well, as I was saying,
When I had done with school, and all were gone,
Still Master Walter came! and still he comes,
Summer or winter--frost or rain! I've seen
The snow upon a level with the hedge,
Yet there was Master Walter!

_Helen_. Who comes here?
A carriage, and a gay one--who alights?
Pshaw! Only Master Walter! What see you,
Which thus repairs the arch of the fair brow,
A frown was like to spoil?--A gentleman!
One of our town kings! Mark!--How say you now?
Wouldst be a town queen, Julia? Which of us,
I wonder, comes he for?

_Julia_. For neither of us;
He's Master Walter's clerk, most like.

_Helen_. Most like!
Mark him as he comes up the avenue;
So looks a clerk! A clerk has such a gait!
So does a clerk dress, Julia!--mind his hose--
They're very like a clerk's! a diamond loop
And button, note you, for his clerkship's hat,--
O, certainly a clerk! A velvet cloak,
Jerkin of silk, and doublet of the same,--
For all the world a clerk! See, Julia, see,
How Master Walter bows, and yields him place,
That he may first go in--a very clerk!
I'll learn of thee, love, when I'd know a clerk!

_Julia_. I wonder who he is!

_Helen_. Wouldst like to know?
Wouldst for a fancy ride to town with him?
I prophesy he comes to take thee thither!

_Julia_. He ne'er takes me to town! No, Helen, no!
To town who will, a country life for me!

_Helen_. We'll see!

[Enter FATHOM.]

_Fath_. You're wanted, madam.

_Julia_. [Embarrassed.] Which of us?

_Fath_. You, madam.

_Helen_. Julia! what's the matter? Nay,
Mount not the rose so soon! He must not see it
A month hence. 'Tis loves flower, which once she wears,
The maid is all his own.

_Julia_. Go to!

_Helen_. Be sure
He comes to woo thee! He will bear thee hence;
He'll make thee change the country for the town.

_Julia_. I'm constancy. Name he the town to me,
I'll tell what I think on't!

_Helen_. Then you guess
He comes a wooing?

_Julia_. I guess nought.

_Helen_. You do!
At your grave words, your lips, more honest, smile,
And show them to be traitors. Hie to him.

_Julia_. Hie thee to soberness.

[Goes out.]

_Helen_. Ay, will I, when,
Thy bridemaid, I shall hie to church with thee.
Well, Fath