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Transcribed from the 1921 W. Heffer & Sons edition by David Price,email ccx074@coventry.ac.uk




SIX PLAYS BY FLORENCE HENRIETTA DARWIN




Contents:
   The Lovers’ Tasks
   Bushes and Briars
   My man John
   Princess Royal
   The Seeds of Love
   The New Year




THE LOVERS’ TASKS




CHARACTERS

FARMER DANIEL,
ELIZABETH, his wife.
MILLIE, her daughter.
ANNET, his niece.
MAY, Annet’s sister, aged ten.
GILES, their brother.
ANDREW, a rich young farmer.
GEORGE, JOHN servants to Giles.

AN OLD MAN.



ACT I. - Scene 1.



The parlour at Camel Farm.

Time: An afternoon in May.

ELIZABETH is sewing by the table with ANNET.  Atthe open doorway MAY is polishing a bright mug.

ELIZABETH.  [Looking up.]  There’s Uncle,back from the Fair.

MAY.  [Looking out of the door.]  O Uncle’s gotsome rare big packets in his arms, he has.

ELIZABETH.  Put down that mug afore you damage it, May; and, Annet,do you go and help your uncle in.

MAY.  [Setting down the mug.]  O let me go along ofher too - [ANNET rises and goes to the door followed by MAY,who has dropped her polishing leather upon the ground.

ELIZABETH.  [Picking it up and speaking to herself in exasperation.] If ever there was a careless little wench, ’tis she.  I neverdid hold with the bringing up of other folks children and if I’dhad my way, ’tis to the poor-house they’d have went, insteadof coming here where I’ve enough to do with my own.

[The FARMER comes in followed by ANNET and MAYcarrying large parcels.

DANIEL.  Well Mother, I count I’m back a smartish bitsooner nor what you did expect.

ELIZABETH.  I’m not one that can be taken by surprise, Dan. May, lay that parcel on the table at once, and put away your uncle’shat and overcoat.

DAN.  Nay, the overcoat’s too heavy for the little maid -I’ll hang it up myself.

[He takes off his coat and goes out into the passage to hang it up. May runs after him with his hat.

ANNET.  I do want to know what’s in all those great packets,Aunt.

ELIZABETH.  I daresay you’ll be told all in good season. Here, take up and get on with that sewing, I dislike to see young peopleidling away their time.

[The FARMER and MAY come back.