rmer.} So does the Racquet Court at Pagley
Barracks.

{Kate.} A friend likes a friend better than racquets.

{Dormer.} And a woman likes a lover better than
a friend. There, I have thrown my pebble--the tide
washes it away.

_(Christiana enters from L., carrying mug and a
glass of milk; she gives mug to Dormer and places
glass on table, waits till Dormer has finished, and
then takes mug off with her.)_

{Chris.} Will you taste the milk, gentlemen?
_(Dor. stands L., of table--Chris, goes out as Gunnion
enters through archway. Gun. is a very old
man, a dirty specimen of the agriculturist, with
straggling grey hair and an unshaven chin. He
wears a battered hat, worsted stockings, and huge
boots. He speaks a broad country dialect in a
wavering treble key.)_

{Gun.} _(coming down R., c.)_ Mornin', Squire!

{Kate.} _(sitting R., of table)_ Good afternoon, Mr.
Gunnion.

{Gun.} _(seeing Dormer)_ Lord bless my eyesight,
there's Parson Dormer, a-drinkin' a mug o' milk, as
nat'ral as may be--the very man I wanted for to see.
_(seeing Eric)_ Ay, and there's the young lieutenant
--well, he be fond of our bit of a place.

{Eric.} _(raising his head)_ Who's that? _(seeing
Gun)_ Oh, are you quite well? _(relapsing)_

{Gun.} I'm an old man, I am. I ain't got a tooth
in my yead.

{Eric.} _(dreamily)_ Don't name it.

{Kate.} _(impatiently)_ Have you heard the news,
Mr. Gunnion?

{Gun.} I hear as how Gilbert Hythe leaves the
Priors, and that I'm to do his dooties.

{Kate.} How do you like the prospect?

{Gun.} I'm an old man, I am. I ain't got a tooth
in my yead. But says Gilbert Hythe to me, "Mr.
Gunnion, if you do double dooty, you'll get hadykit
remuneration."

{Kate.} Of course you will, Mr. Gunnion.

{Gun.} To which I said, "If I had the chance, I'd
die for the Squire."

{Eric.} Give him the chance.

{Kate.} Then that is settled, and you are head
man here. You enter on your new duties at once.

{Gun.} Which I shall do all the freer when I've
got a burden off my chest. _(Dor. rises as if to leave)_

{Kate.} A burden?

{Gun.} Don't you go, parson, for you're the man
to lift it.

{Dormer.} What's the burden, Gunnion? _(Dormer
comes down below cha