ere? _(goes to R., table)_

{Dormer.} _(with enjoyment)_ We shall, _(irritably)_
Now then, you--what's-your-name?--why don't you
come when you're called?

_(Christiana appears at door, wiping her hands on
her apron.)_

{Chris.} _(angrily)_ Who's calling me "what's-your-
name"? _(seeing Dor.)_ Why, parson! _(curtseys at
door)_

{Dormer.} _(rises--shaking his stick at her)_ The
gipsy girl, who won't sing the hymns on Sunday.

{Kate.} You start them in such a high key, parson.

{Chris.} _(curtseying)_ Yes, Squire, that he does.

{Dormer.} _(raising his finger)_ The higher the
key, Madam, the nearer Heaven! _(passes behind
table to L., of it. Chris, laughs)_

{Kate.} Hush, Christie, come here. _(Chris, comes
to Kate c.)_ Fill a basket with everything that is
tempting, fit for an invalid, _(gives key to Christie)_

{Chris.} _(to Dor.)_ For the lady at the White Lion,
parson?

{Dormer.} _(sitting L., of table)_ I'm not here to
feed woman's curiosity.

{Kate.} Run along, Christie.

_(Christie runs up the steps into the house R., C.
Kate crosses softly over to Dor. and stands by
table, R., of it.)_

_(quietly)_ It is not often, Parson Dormer, that you
stoop to ask help of a woman, by all accounts.

{Dormer.} _(without looking at her)_ No!

{Kate.} Don't think me rude--but in Market-Sinfield
the folks call you the Woman-Hater.

{Dormer.} What else do they call me in Market-Sinfield?

{Kate.} 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,