her.

_Mrs. Cromwell:_
Being right doesn't make you less vexatious.

_Elizabeth:_
Have they finished in Long Close?

_Cromwell:_
Yes. They will be here soon.

_Bridget:_
They all come up from the field for prayers, Mr. Ireton, at the day's
end.

_Hampden:_
Is your hay good, Oliver?

_Cromwell:_
I haven't much down this year. What there is, is good.

_Hampden:_
We got the floods too late. But it has mended well enough.

_Bridget:_
The dancers came for some money, father.

_Elizabeth:_
Shall I give them something?

_Cromwell:_
To be sure.

_Elizabeth:_
How much?

_Cromwell:_
Oh--a crown or two.

_Hampden:_
Dancers?

_Cromwell:_
Aye, John. Don't you hold with them?

_Hampden:_
They're no offence, perhaps--but I'm never quite sure.

_Cromwell:_
Oh, but be sure, John. We must make no mistake about that. They are
lovely, the dancers. I'm all for singing and dancing. The Lord is one to
sing and dance, I'll be bound.

_Mrs. Cromwell:_
Now you talk sense, Oliver. Mr. Herrick is very clear about that. So was
David.

_Ireton:_
Who is Mr. Herrick, ma'am?

_Mrs. Cromwell:_
He's a poet, young man. And he's for being quiet, and not bustling about
everywhere. You ought to read him.

_Ireton:_
Do you know Mr. Herrick's work, Mr. Hampden?

_Hampden:_
I've nothing to say against that, though it's not very serious.

_Mrs. Cromwell:_
Don't be silly, Mr. Hampden--if you excuse me for saying so. Mr. Herrick
is very serious indeed, only he isn't always telling us of it.

_Hampden:_
Yes: perhaps you're right, ma'am. I prefer George Herbert.

_Bridget:_
Yes, I like his book, too, Cousin John.

_Mrs. Cromwell:_
Well, it's no bad judgment to stand for Mr. Herbert. Only I won't have
nonsense talked about Mr. Herrick.

_Elizabeth:_
Are you ready, Oliver? They are coming.

_Oliver:_
Yes.
(To HAMPDEN and IRETON.)
Friends, you are welcome to this house.

(The labourers from the farm are gathering outside the window. The
people in the room form towards them.)

_Cromwell:_
Brethren in God, at the end of another day's labour we are met to praise
Him from whom are the means to labour and its rewards. As we go about
these fields, He is with us. As you deal by me, and I by you, His eye
sees us. Nothing good befalls us but it is by His will, no affliction is
ours but His loving mercy will hear us. The Lord God walks at our hand.
He is here now in our midst. His desires are our freedom, His wrath