PATIENCE. Never mind, sister, here come Myles and Nathan. [_Enter the boys._] Myles, has thee seen Roger?
NATHAN. Roger has gone to fetch our Mother home.
PRUDENCE [_going to table_]. Oh, Myles, won't thee please put the dishes up for us? Patience and I are far too little. [NATHAN _and_ PRUDENCE _carry dishes one at a time to_ MYLES, _who puts them on mantel._ PATIENCE _wrings out her dishcloth._]
PATIENCE. Mistress Submit Wells hath a fever, and after supper Mother went to see if there was aught she could do to help.
NATHAN [_looking out of the window_]. I see Mother and Roger coming up the hill now.
PATIENCE. Quick, Nathan! Empty the pan for us! [PATIENCE _opens the door for_ NATHAN, _who carries pan out._ PATIENCE _hangs up dishcloth in haste._] Mother must find everything neat when she comes.
[_Re-enter_ NATHAN, _putting pan in cupboard or under table._
MYLES [_mockingly_]. Thou art a great housewife, Patience.
[_Enter_ MOTHER _and_ ROGER. PRUDENCE, PATIENCE, _and_ NATHAN _gather about her while she takes off her cape and follow her to the door (L.) when she puts it away._ ROGER, _hanging up his hat, goes to fire._
PATIENCE. How did thee find Mistress Wells, Mother?
PRUDENCE [_catching at her skirts_]. Thou'lt not go back, then, Mother?
MOTHER. No, little Prudence, not to-night.
ROGER. It's fearsome cold out. Do stir the fire, Myles. [_Warms his hands, while_ MYLES _stirs fire._]
NATHAN. Then come sit down with us by the fire, Mother. Thee surely won't work any more to-night?
MOTHER. I am willing, Nathan, but I must be knitting. With three great lads who wear out so many stockings, I am kept more than busy, even if the good parson did not exhort us never to be idle. [_Exit and re-enter with knitting._]
PATIENCE [_drawing up her_ MOTHER'S _chair and arranging stools_]. Here, Mother, here's thy big chair. Prudence and I will get our stools. Oh, Roger, do get out of the way! Make haste! Thee's such a giant thee'll block the firelight out entirely.
[ROGER _gets up and stands before the fire, while the_ MOTHER _sits down_, PRUDENCE _beside her with a corncob doll and_ PATIENCE _at her knee, also knitting._ MYLES _sits with his back against the chimney and_ NATHAN _lies at full length before the fire._