ACT ONE.

(LADY HARRIET, _maid of honor to the queen, has grown listless and pale, refusing to join in the court revels._ SIR TRISTAN, _an old knight, makes love to her; she will have nothing to say to him, and only asks to be let alone. She is tired of her conventional life, and longs for some new and strange adventure. The curtain rises on her richly furnished boudoir._ LADY HARRIET _is lying listlessly on a couch or arm chair, before her dressing table._ NANCY _is putting finishing touches on her mistress' toilet. The ladies in attendance are grouped near the door in center._)

NO. 1.

CHORUS. Bright as are the stars of heaven, Sweet as any April flow'r, Gay of heart, of gentle bearing, Bless'd with beauty's radiant dower, Why so sad and pale with languor Grows thy face, O lovely maid? Why our friendly circle shunning, Dost thou sigh alone, As were some dawning joy delayed? Every splendid gift of fortune, All that riches can impart, Waits upon the maiden's pleasure, Nothing wins her heart.

(NANCY _takes a bouquet of flowers from one of the ladies and offers it to_ LADY H.)

NANCY. See these flowers Sir Tristan sent.

LADY HARRIET (_pushing flowers away_). I've no heart for lovers' folly, Every pleasure is at end.

CHO. Bright as are the stars of heaven, etc.

NANCY. Every splendid gift of fortune, etc.

LADY H. Ah, there's naught can win my sad and weary heart. All your words are vain.

(_Ladies in waiting leave stage._)

(NANCY _holds hand mirror before_ LADY H.)

NO. 2.

NAN. Every heart with love inflaming, You the Queen's gay court adorn, Tho' from all a tribute claiming, Think not love alone to scorn. Pastimes for your pleasure framing, We all labor night and day, Sorrow still your soul is weighing, All your thoughts to sadness bend, If I fail in grief allaying, In its spring your life will end.

LADY H. On my heart 'tis preying, (_she sits up_) Love, wealth, fame, not weighing, In its spring time my life will end. There's naught that charm to life can lend.

(LADY H. _lies back languidly_.)

FOOTMAN (_enters, speaks_). Sir Tristan of Mickleford, Member of the House of Lords, Knight honored--

LADY H. (_interrupting_). We'll spare you the rest.

(_Enter_ SIR TRISTAN _with flowers. Bows to the ladies, presents flowers, which_ LADY H. _looks at carelessly and drops on table beside her. He is an elderly beau very precise in manner. A few of the ladies return, stealing on the stage to watch the scene, remaining at rear._)

NO. 3.

TRISTAN (_sings_). Lovely cousin, I implore you, Hear my suit and do not chaff. I would say that I adore you--

LADIES (_near door_). He's too civil, though, by half, He would make a mummy laugh.

(LADIES _leave stage again one by one_.)

TRISTAN. Dare I ask you--

LADY H. Don't be foolish.

TRIS. Dare I ask it you--O dear! Would you deign--disdain--an offer--

LADY H. For my hand--

NANCY (_aside_). To box his ear!

(LADY H. _laughs aside with_ NAN.)

LADY H. Ah, Sir Tristan, he at least can make me smile!

NAN. Ah, Sir Tristan, he at least can make her smile.

TRIS. O, see already she is smiling, Happy omen, well I know, O, if mine could be this treasure, Happy man were I, that's so!

LADY H. Ah, he can all my woe beguile. What a funny old beau, Ah! A funny beau.

TRIS. (_speaks_). Fair Cousin, may I ah--dare hope that you--er--will so far condescend to me--uh--uh--as to go for a walk in the park?

LADY H (_indifferently_). Go fetch my fan!

TRIS. (_brings it._ LADY H. _fans violently_). Would it amuse you to--er--er--let us say--go out for a row on the river?

LADY H. (_ignoring him, glances round_). It seems very chilly here. Shut the window--there's a good man!

(TRISTAN _shuts it, trots back to her._)

TRIS. (_rubbing his hands_). Shall we go hunting, perhaps? It's a capital day for it.

LADY H. (_fans herself violently again_). O, how close it is! Air--give me air! Open the window.

TRIS. Why, I just closed it, at your command. (_Stands with hands spread out in comical dismay._)

LADY H. (_impatiently_). Open it, open it--don't you hear? Quick, air! (_very affectedly_).

(TRIS. _runs, trottingly, to open the window._)

NAN. (_aside_). My lord is running for the prize.

(_Here the song of the servants bound for Richmond fair is heard outside._)

NO. 3a.

CHO. (_singing_). Hither come, linger not, Fate a home shall allot; She who works and not shirks, Finds her fun, when 'tis done.

LADY H. Hear them sing!

CHO. Hither come, take your pick, We will serve through thin and thick, Masters kind, come and bind, If we find you to our mind.

NAN. It's quite amusing!

TRIS. Nonsense! you must be mad.

NAN. You do not find them funny?

TRIS. Servants ignorant and bad.

LADY H. Ah, but they are gay and happy!

NAN. O, the bound girls, I now remember! This is Richmond market day. Where the servants, flocking yearly, Seek new masters, better pay.

TRIS. Stupid custom!

NAN. But 'tis an old one.

LADY H. (_goes to window_). I might join them. What a thought! How I'd like to go among them, See such curious prizes bought!

TRIS. What a notion! What folly's this?

LADY H. Nancy, get the peasant costumes ready That we wore at the fancy dress ball.

(NANCY _is busy at chiffonier at one side. Tosses bright colored kerchief out._ LADY H. _picks it up and throws it over her head as the singing goes on._)

TRIS. You'd degrade yourself like this?

LADY H. Just amuse myself, that's all. Hurry Nancy, we must run, Now at last I'll have some fun! Martha (_curtseys_), Nancy (_curtseys_) and--old John!

(_Tosses her kerchief over_ TRISTAN'S _head, blinding him._ TRIS. _is bewildered, kerchief hanging over one eye._)

TRIS. Who is John? What old John?

LADY H. Who but you? You are old John!

TRIS. I? I old John? No that's too much.

(_Snatches off kerchief and throws it down._)

LADY H. Sir Tristan, whene'er the fair we woo, sir, With caprices we comply, Else we see tears fall in showers, See, dear John, these charming flowers--

(_Gives him flowers from his own nosegay. He kisses her hand, puts flowers in coat._)

LADY H. Take them, nor my prayer deny! (_lifts skirt at side and dances a step_). With the village people dancing, Nancy's partner you're enroll'd.

TRIS. No, in sooth I'm far too old.

LADY H. Stuff! In spite of years advancing, Man can do all, if he's bold.

NAN. (_drags him about stage dancing_). This way, that way, loosely hopping, Each one jigging as he can, Lumb'ring, stumbling, never stopping, Mighty maze without a plan.

TRIS. Then, I must--

LADY H. I command it!

TRIS. But no, I can't.

LADY H. Your paces show!

TRIS. But my rank,--

NAN. How well you stand it! That's well I vow.

(_They all dance and the ladies sing la-la-la._)

LADY H. Danced superbly!

NAN. What a figure.

TRIS. I shall soon be out of breath.

NAN. Come, more vigor! come, more vigor!

TRIS. This I'm sure will be my death.

LADY H. AND NAN. Come, old John, come, old John, 'Tis we who ask, so come along.

TRIS. This is too much! I, old John? What I?

(_All run off stage dancing_, TRISTAN _between the two ladies, who drag him._)

_Curtain._