Scene 6

Question 1

LADY COOKE: Miss Marten? Ah - good - you’re in! Maria, isn’t it?

Answer 1

Lady Cooke! How do you do!

Question 2

LADY COOKE: Here is a basket for your step mother Ann

Answer 2

Oh - there’s no need -

Question 3

LADY COOKE: It’s alright, my dear, the second Thursday of the month is my day for visiting the poor.

Answer 3

We manage perfectly fine, thank you Ma’am.

Question 4

LADY COOKE: Doesn’t look like it. Anyway I came because I needed to ask. Is it true?

Answer 4

What?

Question 5

LADY COOKE: That you are expecting a child and the father is Thomas Corder, the son of our tenant.

Answer 5

Yes, ma’am, it is true.

Question 6

LADY COOKE: You do not seem ashamed.

Answer 6

I believe the blame should be equally shared between the man and the woman, ma’am.

Question 7

LADY COOKE: When will you marry?

Answer 7

He hasn’t asked.

Question 8

LADY COOKE: He must. He must ask today.

Answer 8

His mother does not approve.

Question 9

LADY COOKE: Why? Is there something wrong with you? You attend church. You speak well and are not unattractive. What can be his mother’s objection?

Answer 9

We are not in the same station in life.

Question 10

LADY COOKE: Nonsense - who do they think they are? - they’re not gentry.

Answer 10

I was going to go to the magistrate, ma’am, for a bastardy order—

Question 11

LADY COOKE: Don’t go. You cannot bring up a child in this village and the father live just around the corner. I won’t have it. Leave it with me, my dear. I like you. Who cares about station? Love will have its way!

Answer 11

Thank you.

I don’t know why she took such an interest in me. But thanks to her we survived the winter and the baby came at the end of spring.