ne of our number
who hath been royally entertained by your townsfolk. We are minded to
do the same by you! (To the others.) Come, we'll spread a feast for
Mistress Endicott. Empty your traps, Robin! Bring on your game, Will
Lackleather! We'll show how Merrymount can sup when it has a mind!

JOAN
(aside: outraged).
What! Waste our substance on a Puritan?

KIT CARMEL.
Why, lass, do you not catch Simon's meaning? 'Tis a rare jest to make a
Puritan dance, whether she will or no. Can you not see she would rather
go straight to perdition than vouch us a word or a glance? 'Twas a
shrewd trick of Simon's to seize her as she sat in her dooryard. We'll
have more mirth to-day than hath been here a twelvemonth.

SCARLETT.
Come! Come! We must prepare to feast! (To Resolute.) Think not to stir
from here, Mistress. Puritan feet can never outrun the heels of
Merrymount! Come, lads, let's start, or the feast will not be ready.
Who goes with us?

ALL.
I! I! And I!

SARAH.
I'll bide with my gran'am.

[Exeunt all the others, save Resolute, Sarah, and Goody Gleason. There
is a pause of a moment or so. Sarah, seated on the ground by Goody
Gleason, looks curiously at Resolute. Resolute stares straight in front
of her.

SARAH
(rising, and bringing Resolute her spinning-stool).
Best to be seated, Mistress. You'll be a long time standing. What! Not
even a word of thanks from a model of worshipful manners? It must be a
sad thing not to be able to use one's tongue, Mistress Resolute.
Indeed, I pity you!

RESOLUTE.
Such words as I could speak would fall full strangely on Merrymount
ears.

SARAH.
I doubt it not. We are not given to canting here at Merrymount.

RESOLUTE.
I might give you such answer as those words deserve, did I not know
that they are the words of one who lives in sin and ignorance.

SARAH
(crossing rapidly to left, her hands clenched, amazement and wrath in
her voice).
Sin and ig----Zounds! A plague take you!

RESOLUTE
(turning: her fingers in her ears).
Oh! Oh! Now you are swearing!

SARAH.
You little weazened, mincing, purse-mouthed Puritan!

RESOLUTE
(her fingers still in her ears).
I do not hear a word that you are saying.

SARAH
(starting to pull Resolute's fingers from her ears).
I'll _make_ you hear, I warrant!

GOODY GLEASON
(moaning).
Alack! Alack! Will the posset never be done?

SARAH
(instantly remorseful).
Gran'am! Your posset! To think I could forget you! (Runs to fire.) And
yet