The Squire | Page 6

I--I--don't know.
{Dormer.} That's not true.
{Kate.} That's not polite.
{Dormer.} What else do they call me in Market-Sinfield?
{Kate.} (firing up) They call you the Mad Parson!
{Dormer.} Ah! The Woman-Hater and the Mad Parson--contradictory terms, (moves stool to back of table and sits)
{Kate.} You're not mad, Mr. Dormer--but you are rude.
{Dormer.} How long will that woman take to pack the basket?
{Kate.} Are you a woman-hater, Mr. Dormer?
{Dormer.} I'm not a woman-lover.
{Kate.} (leaning her arms on table, and looking at Dor. timidly) Have you always been a woman-hater, parson?
(Dormer looks up quickly and turns away.)
{Dormer.} (roughly) How long will that woman take to pack that basket?
{Kate.} Not very long, (the Parson's arm is on the table; Kate places her hand on his sleeve--very gently) You--you--haven't always been a woman- hater, parson--have you?
{Dormer.} (drooping his head) No.
{Kate.} Thank you, parson. Was she--pretty?
{Dormer.} I suppose she was.
{Kate.} She must have been. Was she--good? (no answer) We've never had a chat together, till now. Was she good?
{Dormer.} No.
{Kate.} (in a whisper) Oh! (rises and lays her hand on Dor's shoulder, gently) I'm so sorry. And now they tell me you've no woman-folk at the Rectory.
{Dormer.} No.
{Kate.} Only awkward, clumsy men.
{Dormer.} Two honest men.
{Kate.} (looking at his shoulder) That's why your sleeve is coming away from your coat at the shoulder for want of a few stitches. Shall I mend it for you?
{Dormer.} When will that woman bring the basket? (rises and crosses to c.)
{Kate.} (pointing to table R.) There's a needle and thread, and a thimble on my table. Take off your coat and I'll sew till the basket comes. Please.
(With a sigh of despair he lets her take off his coat, she standing behind him.)
{Dormer.} That's the worst of women. I should never have known the coat was torn.
(Kate takes the coat over to R., and sits on garden seat mending coat Dormer stands with his hands in his pockets.)
{Kate.} (seated r). Would you rather go indoors, parson?
{Dormer.} No. I'd rather stay where I am.
{Kate.} Please to walk up and down, then, to avoid catching cold. (Dormer sits obstinately at table; as he does so, the contents of one of his coat pockets drop at Kate's feet) Oh, dear, something has fallen out of the pocket.
{Dormer.} (rising quickly) What is it?
(Kate picks up a clay pipe much blackened.)
{Kate.} A clay pipe--dirty one.
{Dormer.} (hurrying over to C.) Is it broken?
{Kate.} (handing it to him) Not a chip, (picking up a tobacco pouch which has also dropped) Would you care to smoke?
{Dormer.} (returning to table) No, thank you, ma'am.
{Kate.} Poor father used to feel great interest in the colouring of a clay pipe.
{Dormer.} (with interest) Did he? I think better of him for it.
{Kate.} But father had great troubles, which made him throw his pipes at the servant, (rises, comes across to Dormer, who is seated L., C., again, and offers pipe which she has filled, then strikes a match which she has brought from R., table) I could load a pipe very nicely once--father used to say I crammed pretty thoughts into it. (quickly) Of course I don't want you to say that if you don't think so. (gives him the match)
{Dormer.} (lighting pipe) Thank ye.
(Kate goes back to R., and puts matches on table. Chris. enters from house R., C. carrying a basket neatly packed and covered with a white napkin.)
{Chris.} (comes down steps to C.) The basket is packed, parson. Chicken and jelly, sponge cakes, grapes--(seeing Dormer in his coat sleeves) Well, I never--!
{Dormer.} Have you never seen a man with his coat off before?
{Chris.} Never a clergyman, sir!
{Kate.} Call Gilbert, Christie; he's by the kennel. (sitting R.)
{Chris.} (goes up through the archway and calls) Gilbert!
{Kate.} Would the sick lady like me to see her, parson?
{Dormer.} No, she doesn't speak in your language.
{Kate.} A foreigner!
(Gil. enters at bach from R., takes the basket from {Chris.} and comes down R., C. to Kate. Chris. drops down L.)
{Gil.} I shall bring the keys of the barns and the oats house to you to-night, Squire, also my books and such like. I should feel happier if you'd take them from me.
{Kate.} Very well, Gilbert. And as you pass the cottages, tell Gunnion, the shepherd, to come to me --he will do your duties from to-morrow.
{Gil.} Gunnion's a very old man.
{Kate.} I know that (looking at him) but it's safer.
(Gil. turns away and goes to Dormer.)
{Gil.} Er--is--there--any message--with the basket?
{Dormer.} No--I'll follow you when I've smoked my pipe.
{Gil.} (rests his gun against the R., side of the arch. To Chris.) I'll come back for the gun, Christie.
(Chris. goes into outhouse L.)
(As Gil. walks through the archway, Lieutenant Thorndyke passes him with a careless nod.)
{Eric.} (to Gil.) Hello, Hythe! Playing at Little Red Riding Hood? Mind the wolf. (Gil. looks angrily at him, and goes off L., Eric comes down;