door
L., listens, then turns the key)_ There's something
about to-night that I don't like. Christie! How
unkind of Christie to be so jealous! _(still listening,
she goes to window L., pulls tack the curtain and
opens window)_ That's Christie and her brother walking
over the stones, _(looking out)_ And there's the
light in Felicity's room still burning--I can see the
shadows. When will the house be still? Ugh! What
a dark night for Eric's lonely walk, _(the bell rings in
the court below. Katie draws back)_ The bell! So
late--what can that mean? _(she comes from the
window and draws the curtain over the recess)_ Something
wrong in the village--someone ill. _(she crosses
to fireplace, nervously)_ Perhaps poor Mrs. Tester
has sent for me to read to her, or old Mr. Parsley
wants me to witness another will--I've witnessed
eight of them--he has only a few spoons to leave
behind him--I can't go to-night. _(A knocking at the
door L.)_ Who is that?

{Chris.} _(outside)_ Christiana.

_(Kate crosses quickly to door L., and unlocks it.)_

{Kate.} Christiana! _(opening the door)_ What is
wrong, Christie?

_(Christiana enters.)_

{Chris.} Parson Dormer has walked over from
Market-Sinfield and must see you to-night.

{Kate.} Not to-night--not to-night--to-morrow.

_(Dormer enters; he wears an old Inverness cape and
woollen gloves.)_

{Dormer.} I suppose a man ought to apologize for
calling at this hour. It's cold enough, so one pays
the penalty, _(takes off cape, gloves, and hat, and puts
them on settee L.)_

{Kate.} _(crosses distractedly to fireplace)_ Come to
the fire, parson, _(he crosses to Kate.)_ Something
unusual must have brought you so late, _(crosses
towards fire below table)_

{Dormer.} _(pauses below table)_ Perhaps, _(crosses
to fire)_

_(While he does so, Chris, up stage gently looks
through the curtain into the window recess.)_

{Chris.} _(at L. C.--aside)_ She has opened the
window--the saint! Poor Izod won't have to wait
long, _(going to door L.)_ Shall I sit up, Squire?

{Kate.} No, I will see the parson through the
archway.

_(Chris, goes out.)_

{Dormer.} Something unusual has brought me to
you.

{Kate.} _(with exclamation and quickly)_ I