h
betrays her intense nervousness, she retreats to the further end of the
table with the tea caddy and spoon, in her hands, exclaiming) Who's
that?

ANDERSON (going to her and patting her encouragingly on the shoulder).
All right, pet, all right. He won't eat you, whoever he is. (She tries
to smile, and nearly makes herself cry. He goes to the door and opens
it. Richard is there, without overcoat or cloak.) You might have raised
the latch and come in, Mr. Dudgeon. Nobody stands on much ceremony with
us. (Hospitably.) Come in. (Richard comes in carelessly and stands at
the table, looking round the room with a slight pucker of his nose at
the mezzotinted divine on the wall. Judith keeps her eyes on the tea
caddy.) Is it still raining? (He shuts the door.)

RICHARD. Raining like the very (his eye catches Judith's as she looks
quickly and haughtily up)--I beg your pardon; but (showing that his
coat is wet) you see--!

ANDERSON. Take it off, sir; and let it hang before the fire a while: my
wife will excuse your shirtsleeves. Judith: put in another spoonful of
tea for Mr. Dudgeon.

RICHARD (eyeing him cynically). The magic of property, Pastor! Are even
YOU civil to me now that I have succeeded to my father's estate?

Judith throws down the spoon indignantly.

ANDERSON (quite unruffled, and helping Richard off with his coat). I
think, sir, that since you accept my hospitality, you cannot have so
bad an opinion of it. Sit down. (With the coat in his hand, he points
to the railed seat. Richard, in his shirtsleeves, looks at him half
quarrelsomely for a moment; then, with a nod, acknowledges that the
minister has got the better of him, and sits down on the seat. Anderson
pushes his cloak into a heap on the seat of the chair at the fire, and
hangs Richard's coat on the back in its place.)

RICHARD. I come, sir, on your own invitation. You left word you had
something important to tell me.

ANDERSON. I have a warning which it is my duty to give you.

RICHARD (quickly rising). You want to preach to me. Excuse me: I prefer
a walk in the rain. (He makes for his coat.)

ANDERSON (stopping him). Don't be alarmed, sir; I am no great preacher.
You are quite safe. (Richard smiles in spite of himself. His glance
softens: he even makes a gesture of excuse. Anderson, seeing that he
has tamed him, now addresses him earnestly.) Mr. Dudgeon: you are in
danger in this town.

RICHARD. What danger?

ANDERSON. Your uncle's danger. Maj