{Fel.} Will you let me tell you all about Tom Morris?
{Kate.} Perhaps. Christie! _(gives her a key from chatelaine. Chris, L., C.)_ Felicity Gunnion is coming to live with us, and to be my little maid. Take her up stairs, and give her the small room above mine.
_(Felicity rises and goes R., C.)_
{Chris.} I beg your pardon, Squire, but I have been good enough to wait on you since you were that high. What"s wrong with me now?
{Kate.} Wrong, Christie? Only that you"re an industrious, hard-working girl, and deserve a help-mate.
{Chris.} _(tugging at her ap.r.o.n impetuously)_ I don"t want a helpmate. I want all you, Squire. We were children together, you and me, mistress and maid. Don"t halve your heart now, Squire. I can"t bear it.
{Kate.} _(rises)_ My heart"s large enough, Christie, for all folks.
{Chris.} _(biting her lips)_ I can"t help what I"m saying. I won"t bear it.
{Kate.} Hush, hush! Take the child upstairs and don"t be silly, _(goes up to Gun. and Dor.)_
{Chris.} _(crosses to Fel. C.--in an undertone to Fel.)_ You"re the girl that they say is in love with a soldier, aren"t you?
{Fel.} Yes, miss.
{Chris.} A soldier! That"s why the Squire has gushed over you, isn"t it?
{Fel.} No, miss.
{Chris.} _(contemptuously)_ "No, miss!" _(shaking her finger at Fel.)_ Now listen to one word from me.
You get wed to your common soldier as soon as you can hook him, do you hear?
{Fel.} Why?
{Chris.} Because as long as you"re in this house, there"s mischief and bad blood in it, upon my soul there is! Come along and see your bedroom.
_(She seizes Fel. by the arm, and takes her up the steps into the house, pushing her in front of her --Gun. and Kate come down.)_
{Gun.} _(L. C.)_ Well, I"m mightily obliged to you, Squire. I"ll bring the brat"s box down to-night, that I will.
{Kate.} _(R. C.)_ Do, Gunnion. Are you thirsty?
{Gun.} Thirsty! I"m perishing for a drop o"
drink.
{Kate.} Get it for yourself. _(Gun. crosses to L.
door)_ And, Gunnion, _(Gun. turns)_ Milk!
{Gun.} Milk?
{Kate.} No ale till to-morrow night.
{Gun.} I"m the father of thirteen, I am. I ain"t got a tooth to my yead. Did I understand you, Squire, to say milk?
{Kate.} Yes, milk, _(joins Dormer in archway)_
_(Eric saunters on from R., 1 e., sits on seat R., looks at Kate"s book for a moment.)_
{Gun.} _(downcast)_ Milk! Oh!
_(He goes off door L.)_
{Dormer.} _(up stage with Kate)_ Will you walk towards Market-Sinfield, Mr. Thornd.y.k.e?
{Eric.}. _(on seat r.)_ Not yet, parson, thanks.
{Dormer.} _(turning away)_ Pah!
{Kate.} _(stopping him)_ You will come to the Harvest Supper, Parson Dormer, won"t you?
{Dormer.} _(looking at Eric)_ No.
{Kate.} And smoke your clay pipe like father used to?
{Dormer.} _(looking at Kate)_ Perhaps, _(he goes off through archway, to L.)_
_(Kate watches him through archway till he has disappeared, then she comes softly to door L., listens for a moment and sees that it is closed. She then crosses to R., C., gives a glance at the house, and runs to Eric"s side. Eric puts his arms round her, and kisses her fondly. Music ceases.)_
{Kate.} Dear old Eric! _(kneeling)_
{Eric.} My darling wife!
{Kate.} Hush! you noisy fellow. Whisper it, there"s a good boy, now. _(she bends her head, he whispers)_
{Eric.} _(softly)_ Wife!
{Kate.} _(takes her wedding ring from her purse, and gives it to him)_ Place my ring upon my finger, Eric, for a moment. _(He slips the ring on her finger and kisses her hand. Pressing the ring to her lips)_ I have so much in my heart to tell you. Oh, husband, storm-clouds, storm-clouds!
{Eric.} Let them break, Kate. Love is a good substantial umbrella.
{Kate.} A gingham, dear, a gingham. They are talking in Market-Sinfield about me.
{Eric.} I envy them their topic.
{Kate.} I can"t bear it, Eric. What shall I do?
{Eric.} The yokels mustn"t see me here so frequently, that"s all.
{Kate.} _(rises)_ To stop their tongues and break my heart. Eric, turn your back to me, I"ve something to say to you. _(they sit back to back)_
{Eric.} Fire away, darling.
{Kate.} Eric, when we two were wed a year ago our compact was that our marriage should never become known during your mother"s lifetime.