_(Kate replaces the note with a shrug of the shoulders.
Christie rises--to Fel.)_ Good-bye, little woman.
{Fel.} _(rises with a curtesy)_ Good-bye to ye, Mr.
Hythe. _(sits again)_
_(Gil. is going.)_
{Kate.} _(holds out her hand)_ Good-night, Gilbert.
_(Gil. looks at Chris., who is busy knitting, then speaks aside to Kate.)_
{Gil.} _(in an undertone)_ You haven"t read my note yet, Squire. _(Kate elevates her eyebrows in surprise--Gil. crosses to L., to Chris.)_ Good-bye, Chris., my girl.
{Chris.} Turn up your collar, Gilbert, it"s bitter cold, _(turns it up for him)_
{Gil.} You"re right, there"s a wet mist; we"re going to have a bad night, take my word for it. Good-night to you.
_(He goes out L., Kate rises and goes to window R.)_
{Kate.} _(looking out)_ Good-night. It is as black as ink. _(shivering)_ Christie, make up a fire here. I shall read for a little while before I go to bed. _(puts money and key basket in bureau drawer, and sits on stool by bureau)_
{Chris.} _(looking at Fel., who is reading the little books)_ My hands are as white as hers, but I suppose she is to be the lady"s maid.
{Kate.} Oh, Christie, Christie, after all these years! Surely you are my friend still, _(takes book from table)_
{Chris.} I know I"m your servant; whether or not I"m your friend, Squire, is another matter; but I"m not her friend, and I own it.
{Kate.} You"re very foolish, and very jealous.
{Chris.} That"s it, I"m jealous; I hope there"ll never be a worse name for it.
_(She goes out, door L., Kate sits on sofa L.)_
{Kate.} _(to Fel.)_ You can run off to bed, little maid.
{Fel.} Thank"ee, Squire, _(puts books down)_
{Kate.} I shan"t want you any more to-night.
_(Fel. curtseys--crosses to door L., carrying the soldier"s portrait.)_
Don"t forget to say your prayers.
{Fel.} _(coming down)_ Squire, _(looks round nervously, twitching ap.r.o.n. Kate looks up from her book)_
{Kate.} _(raising her head--fretfully)_ What is it?
{Fel.} I suppose there"s no harm in a girl praying for her sweetheart?
{Kate.} No--if he"s a good fellow and worthy of her.
{Fel.} If he"s a bad "un, praying"s likely to be of more good to him. _(she comes nearer Kate and speaks in an undertone)_ Because, Squire--don"t be vexed at me--because, if you like, when I"m praying for Tom I might make a small mention of--er--the other gentleman, _(close to Kate)_
{Kate.} What other gentleman?
{Fel.} _(bending forward and whispering)_ The young lieutenant, Squire. _(Kate rises angrily)_
{Kate.} How dare you! I am very angry with you! There"s not the slightest--Oh, Felicity, how came you to think of such a thing? _(she draws Fel.
to her. Fel. claps her hands and laughs)_
{Fel.} He"s such a nice young man, Squire--you couldn"t help it.
{Kate.} Be quiet, child. We don"t always fall in love with nice young men.
{Fel.} We do generally, Squire. May I just mention him along with Tom? Parson won"t know.
{Kate.} Well, Felicity, there"s no harm in praying for a man, even if one is not over-fond of him.
{Fel.} No, Squire.
{Kate.} So, if you like, just a little for the young lieutenant--
{Fel.} Yes, Squire?
{Kate.} And--
{Fel.} And who, Squire?
{Kate.} And the woman he loves. Good-night, dear, _(pats her cheeks--Fel. goes up L.)_
_(Chris, enters door L., followed by Izod carrying wood fuel. Chris, takes the wood from Izod, and crosses to fireplace R.)_
Why, Christie, what is he doing here?
{Chris.} _(R. on her knees before fire)_ He"s been sleeping off the effects of that wicked old man"s temptation, poor dear, _(takes up bellows)_
{Izod.} _(C.)_ I"m better now, Squire, thank you.
I"ve been precious queer all the afternoon.
{Kate.} _(L. C.)_ Have you, indeed! Well, now you"ve carried up the wood, you can be off home.
_(Fel. has gone up to door L.)_
{Fel.} _(up L., turning)_ Good-night, Miss Christiana.
{Chris.} _(sulkily--lighting fire)_ Good-night.
_(blowing fire)_
_(Izod, unnoticed by Kate, gives Fel. a low mock bow.)_