The Squire Part 22

{Kate.} _(raising her head)_ You are an insolent woman!

{Chris.} Insolent I may be, but I'm not worse!

_(goes a little to R.)_

{Kate.} What do you mean?

{Chris.} That your precious love-secret is known to my brother and me. That we can spell the name of the man who is the most welcome guest here, in broad daylight when doors are open, and in the dead of night when doors are locked!

{Kate.} _(rising and seizing Christie's wrist)_ Christie!

{Chris.} _(throwing her off--placing her hands behind her defiantly)_ Don't you touch me, because I'm your servant no longer! don't touch me, because you're not fit to lay your hand upon a decent woman!

{Kate.} All the ills of the world at one poor woman's door! _(sits on sofa)_ What is it you want?

{Izod.} _(aside to Chris.)_ Coin!

{Chris.} This: I've got gipsy blood in me, and that means "all or none." Will you promise to turn old Gunnion's child away, never to have her near you again?

{Kate.} If I refuse, what will you do?

{Chris.} Tell the parson that there's a lady in Market-Sinfield who needs as much praying for as she can get from him on Sundays--tell him what Izod saw last night and what I heard--give him a new text to preach to the poor folks who call you their saint.

{Kate.} You'll do this? _(rises)_ Then I promise to be a friend to little Felicity as long as she loves me and clings to me. Say the worst you can.

_(Izod goes up towards L., D. and remains. Chris.

makes a movement as if going. Kate stops her.)_

{Kate.} _(rises)_ Christiana! _(Chris. stands before Kate with her hands behind her back)_ I'll give you this thought to help you. I stand here, the last of my name, in our old house, wretched and in trouble. I'm not the first Verity that has come to grief, but I shall be the first at whose name there's a hush and a whisper. And this will be to your credit--to the credit of one who has fed and slept under my roof, and who has touched my lips with hers. _(She comes to Chris, and lays her hand upon her shoulder)_ Christie, if you ever marry and have children that cry to be lulled to sleep, don't sing this story to them lest they should raise their little hands against their mother. Remember that. _(sits again)_

_(Eric Thornd.y.k.e enters quickly, door L., and stands facing Kate. Christiana and Izod look at each other significantly; there is a pause--Christie backs a little so that Eric pa.s.ses in front of her, Izod pa.s.ses behind and gets on steps.)_

{Chris.} _(with a curtsey to Eric)_ Your servant, Lieutenant. You haven't forgotten the Harvest Feast, sir.

_(He makes no answer. Chris, and Izod cross quietly to door L.)_

_(In Izod's ear)_ Come to the parson--now.

_(They go out, Kate and Eric are alone--they look at each other.)_

{Eric.} _(C.)_ Thank you for seeing me.

{Kate.} You ought to hate me for it. _(on sofa)_

{Eric.} I should have delayed this till you were stronger, but I was in dread that you would go without a word.

{Kate.} I leave Market-Sinfield to-morrow. I should not have said good-bye to you. You look tired and worn out.

_(Eric advances to sit beside her, she checks him and points to stool C.)_

Sit down--there. _(he sits wearily)_ Has your mother written?

{Eric.} _(with a short bitter laugh produces a letter from his pocket-book)_ _(C.)_ Oh, yes; here is my conge. The gates of The Packmores are shut and locked. Stibbs, the butler, has orders to clear out everything that spells the name of Eric. Poor mother!

{Kate.} Ah, that needn't be now; you must tell her we have quarrelled, that I have jilted you, or you me --anything for a home.

{Eric.} _(rises)_ Home, Kate! Home! That's all over. _(comes down C.)_

{Kate.} Hus.h.!.+ hus.h.!.+

{Eric.} I've been with Sylvester, our lawyer, this morning; he is going to raise money on the reversion of my aunt Tylcote's little place, which must come to me. It is the merest trifle, but it is something.

And I've written to the agents in town about setting aside half my pay.

{Kate.} _(looking up)_ What is the meaning of that?

{Eric.} For you, Kate. I've no thought but for you, dear, and the little heart which is to beat against yours.

{Kate.} _(starts up--rises)_ Oh, Eric, unless you wish to make me mad, you mustn't be kind to me, I can't bear it. _(advancing C. firmly)_ Why, Eric, do you think I'd let you pinch and struggle for me!

_(they meet C.)_

{Eric.} _(hotly)_ Why, Kate, you wouldn't live in a fas.h.i.+on that doesn't become my wife!

_(He stops short--they look at each other, then turn away.)_

{Kate.} _(sits again on sofa--under her breath)_ Oh, Eric, what made you say that?

{Eric.} It slipped from me--I didn't meant to say it. Oh, it comes so naturally, _(goes up to L., of L.

window)_

{Kate.} It doesn't matter; it's all through wrangling about miserable money, _(goes to R., of L. window)_

_(The lights are getting duller, the faint glow of the setting sun is seen outside the windows.)_

Look! there's the sun going down; we mustn't stay here longer. _(She comes closer to him, looking up into his face. They stand with their hands behind them.)_ There's time only for one last word.

{Eric.} I'm listening, _(coming down R.)_

{Kate.} _(tearfully)_ It's this. You may--of course--write to me--to the Post Office at Bale, for the present. Not to make it a tax upon you. But when you've nothing better or more cheerful to do-- oh, write to me then!

{Eric.} Oh, Kate! _(He moves down R., towards her, she goes back a pace to avoid him)_

{Kate.} _(leans against chair)_ No, no, I'm not going to cry. _(smiling)_ A man is always so frightened that a woman is going to cry. And, Eric, promise me, dear, never to gamble, nor bet--only very little.

Will you promise?

{Eric.} Yes, I promise!

{Kate.} _(both centre)_ Don't listen to stories at the mess table about officers' wives--don't sit up too late--don't drink too much wine.

{Eric.} There's no chance of that, _(walks toward settee L.)_