ter of the ceremonies,
I am.

_(Mr. and Mrs. Fell argue out the subject with Gun.
up C., Kate beckons the little Child, who runs to
her.)_

{Kate.} _(rises and kneels with Child C.)_ Come
here, Toddle--what's your little name?

{Child.} Stores.

_(Gunnion places Mrs. Fell on stool up C. Fell
takes chair from L., of bureau and sits beside her.)_

{Kate.} Stores! No, no, no, that's not your name.
_(crosses to R., with Child)_

_(Felicity places stool beside chair R., C., of it, and
Child sits. Fel. behind her. The Shabby Person,
representative of the "Pagley Mercury" appears,
supported on either side by two country people, men)_

{Gun.} Squire, I'm mortally grieved to say this 'ere
is _Mercury_. He's a little tired; we found him in the
parlour of the White Lion. Come on, drat 'ee!

_(Enter Dame, her husband and son with clarionet
Kate meets Dame.)_

{Kate.} Ah, Dame, glad to see you!

{Dame.} Long life to you, Squire.

{Kate.} _(pointing to chair L.)_ Sit down, Dame.

_(Crowd follow, all bob and curtsey and say)_
All. Mornin', Squire! How are you, Squire?

_(Group formed L., of stage, Gunnion arranging
them. Kate sits R., The S. P. is placed upon the
couch. The Villagers and Farm Servants,
Men, Women, and Children troop in and cluster
in doorway up stage L., At the same time the
Parson, breaking his way through them, enters and
comes to Kate. Kate. with the little child, rises
to receive him.)_

{Kate.} _(gratefully)_ Ah, Parson, how kind of you.

{Dormer.} You--you look ill.

{Kate.} No, no, not now.

{Dormer.} Whose child is this?

{Kate.} Mr. Fell's, the grocer's little girl.

{Dormer.} Bah! the world's full of girls.

{Gun.} Now then, Joe Parsley, leave go of Jane
Boadsley's waist! You don't see me lowering myself
with a woman! Squire, the Harvest Song! Go on,
drat 'ee!

_(A simple rustic chorus is sung to the accompaniment
of Rob's fiddle.)_

Chorus of Villagers.

A Woman.
What have you got for me, Good-man?

All Women.
Say--a--a--a--ay!

Men.
Laces and rings and womanly things,
Upon our harvest day--a--a--a--ay!

A Woman. _(holding up a baby)_
What's for your baby boy, Good-man?

All Women.