g her head)_ You, Mr. Hythe?
Thank you. In the future don't meddle with their
legitimate pleasures, _(laughing with pain)_ They've
so little to amuse them. How selfish I am! _(the
bell rings)_ Who is that?

_(The Rev. Paul Dormer appears in the archway
from L., He is a dark-browed man, about forty,
but with white hair; he is attired as a clergyman,
but his dress is rusty, shabby, and slovenly; he
carries a heavy stick.)_

{Gil.} _(surprised)_ Parson Dormer! _(going up C.)_

{Kate.} _(rising)_ Mr. Dormer! _(Dor. comes down,
meeting Gil.)_

{Dormer.} _(to Gil. roughly)_ You're Gilbert
Hythe, I think.

{Gil.} You think aright--I am.

{Dormer.} Can you carry a basket?

{Gil.} Where to?

{Dormer.} To the White Lion!

{Gil.} What for?

{Dormer.} For the sake of a sick woman.

{Gil.} I can carry a basket to the White Lion.

{Dormer.} _(gruffly)_ Thank you.

{Gil.} _(looking at Dor.)_ For the sake of a sick
woman?

{Dormer.} _(turning away)_ Ah!

{Gil.} _(to Kate.)_ Call me when I'm wanted,
Squire. I'm going to say good-bye to the dog.
_(Goes off through archway to R., Dor. sits R., of
table.)_

{Kate.} _(L. C.)_ If your business is with Gilbert
Hythe, you can dispense with the mistress of the
house, Mr. Dormer, _(about to go)_

{Dormer.} No, I want you, too.

{Kate.} Really, parson--you haven't shown face
at The Priors since father died, two years ago; you
don't say "How do you do?" to John Verity's
daughter; and you don't say "Good-day" to the
nearest approach to a Squire that your parish can
boast. The one omission is rude--the other
impolitic.

{Dormer.} I didn't like your father--you resemble
him in face and manner.

{Kate.} My father didn't like you. _(she holds out
her hand, going to him)_ How are you, parson?
What can I do for you?

_(He looks at her, takes her hand sulkily.)_

{Dormer.} Fill a basket with food, fit for an invalid,
and send your man with it to Market-Sinfield.

{Kate.} _(calling)_ Christie! _(to Dor.)_ A woman
manages the White Lion, I think.

{Dormer.} A woman mismanages the White Lion.

{Kate.} _(clapping her hands)_ Christie! _(to Dor.)_
Shan't we hurt the landlady's feelings by sending
food th