Scene IV Another Part of the House
Enter Cicely, Jenkin, and Butler.
Jenkin.
My mistress and Master Wendoll, my master, sup in her chamber to-night. Cicely, you are preferred from being the cook to be chambermaid: of all the loves betwixt thee and me, tell me what thou thinkest of this?
Cicely.
Mum; there’s an old proverb,—when the cat’s away, the mouse may play.
Jenkin.
Now you talk of a cat, Cicely, I smell a rat.
Cicely.
Good words, Jenkin, lest you be called to answer them.
Jenkin.
Why, God make my mistress an honest woman! are not these good words? Pray God my new master play not the knave with my old master! is there any hurt in this? God send no villainy intended! and, if they do sup together, pray God they do not lie together! God make my mistress chaste, and make us all His servants! what harm is there in all this? Nay, more; here is my hand, thou shalt never have my heart unless thou say Amen.
Cicely.
Amen, I pray God, I say.
Enter Serving-man.
Serving-man.
My mistress sends that you should make less noise, to lock up the doors, and see the household all got to bed: you, Jenkin, for this night are made the porter to see the gates shut in.
Jenkin.
Thus, by little and little, I creep into office. Come, to kennel, my masters, to kennel; ’tis eleven o’clock, already.
Serving-man.
When you have locked the gates in, you must send up the keys to my mistress.
Cicely.
Quickly, for God’s sake, Jenkin, for I must carry them. I am neither pillow nor bolster, but I know more than both.
Jenkin.
To bed, good Spigot; to bed, good honest serving-creatures; and let us sleep as snug as pigs in pease-straw.
[Exeunt.