it not, protest against it.

_Julia_. Not if 'tis Master Walter's will.

_Helen_. What then?
Thou wouldst not break thy heart for Master Walter?

_Julia_. That follows not!

_Helen_. What follows not?

_Julia_. That I
Should break my heart, because we go to town.

_Helen_. Indeed?--Oh, that's another matter. Well,
I'd e'en advise thee then to do his will;
And, ever after, when I prophesy,
Believe me, Julia!

[They retire. MASTER WALTER comes forward.]

[Enter FATHOM.]

_Fath_. So please you, sir, a letter,--a post-haste letter! The bearer
on horseback, the horse in a foam--smoking like a boiler at the heat--be
sure a posthaste letter!

_Wal_. Look to the horse and rider.

[Opens the letter and reads.]

What's this? A testament addressed to me,
Found in his lordship's escritoire, and thence
Directed to be taken by no hand
But mine. My presence instantly required.

[SIR THOMAS, JULIA, and HELEN come forward.]

Come, my mistresses,
You dine in town to-day. Your father's will,
It is, my Julia, that you see the world;
And thou shalt see it in its best attire.
Its gayest looks--its richest finery
It shall put on for thee, that thou may'st judge
Betwixt it, and this rural life you've lived.
Business of moment I'm but thus advised of,
Touching the will of my late noble master,
The Earl of Rochdale, recently deceased,
Commands me for a time to leave thee there.
Sir Thomas, hand her to the chariot. Nay,
I tell thee true. We go indeed to town!

[They go out.]

ACT II.

SCENE I.--An Apartment in Master Heartwell's House.

[Enter FATHOM and THOMAS.]

_Thos_. Well, Fathom, is thy mistress up?

_Fath_. She is, Master Thomas, and breakfasted.

_Thos_. She stands it well! 'Twas five, you say, when she came home;
and wants it now three-quarters of an hour of ten? Wait till her stock
of country health is out.

_Fath_. 'Twill come to that, Master Thomas, before she lives another
month in town! three, four, five six o'clock are now the hours she keeps.
'Twas otherwise with her in the country. There, my mistress used to rise
what time she now lies down.

_Thos_. Why, yes; she's changed since she came hither.

_Fath_. Changed, do you say, Master Thomas? Changed, forsooth! I know
not the thing in which she is not changed, saving that she is still a
woman. I tell thee there is no keeping pace with her moods. In the
country she had none of them. When I brought what sh