ibbs,
the butler at Mrs. Thorndyke's, who has saved money,
and wants for to marry again, and I have mentioned
you as a steady hard-working lass who would make
any man's home a palace. Send me back the silver
earrings you had from me, as they will only remind
you of him you have lost. So, no more from your
heart-broken Tom." Oh, Squire!

{Kate.} _(kisses Fel. on the forehead)_ Thank
Heaven, on your knees, little woman, that you can
never be that man's wife.

{Fel.} _(rises and dries her eyes, and crosses to R. C.)_
I--I'm sure I'm very glad of it. _(standing C.)_
Oh, Squire, them soldiers are a bad, deceiving lot.
The King has their chests padded, and so girls think
they've got big hearts, but it's all wadding, Squire,
it's all wadding, _(goes up R.)_

_(Gunnion enters door L.)_

{Gun.} I'm darned if this ain't a'most too much
for an old man. _(calling off, at door)_ Come on
with ye!
_(Robjohns, Junior enters, attired in his best and
carrying his fiddle in a green baize bag; he has a
white hat in his hand.)_

I've got him at last; blessed if he ain't been dressing
hisself since nine o'clock this morning, _(up by L., D.)_

{Rob.} _(L. U, advancing)_ Well, Squire, I'm truly
sorry that I'm two hours and a yarf behind time, and
I hope it'll make no difference.

{Kate.} _(sitting L., C.)_ No, no.

{Rob.} But, fact is, Squire, father's a-lingerin' in
a most aggravatin' way, and rare work I had to get
the yat from him.

{Kate.} _(absently)_ The hat?

{Rob.} _(holding out the hat)_ Father's white 'at,
Squire--he's full o' yearthly pride and wouldn't give
it up.

_(Rob. goes to L., D. and takes fiddle out of bag, as
Fell, the grocer, a stout man, with his Wife and
a little Child enter--types of village trades-people.)_

{Gun.} _(C.)_ Squire, this is Mr. Fell, the proprietor
of the grocer shop down by Thong Lane.

{Fell.} _(L. U., advancing)_ I beg pardon, not a
grocer's shop--stores!

{Gun.} Maybe it's grocer's shop, maybe it's stores,
but if the Fells imagine that droppin' in late is
Market-Sinfield manners, they're darned well mistook.
Dooks may do it, but not grocers nor even
stores.

{Kate.} _(on sofa--reproachfully)_ Gunnion!

{Gun.} Well, I'm the mas