The Squire Part 18

{Gil.} _(madly)_ In the sight of the law?

{Eric.} No.

{Gil.} Heaven forgive you--stand back!

_(He raises his gun. Kate rushes forward with a cry, and catches his uplifted arm.)_

{Kate.} Gilbert! Gilbert! The father of my child!

_(music.)_

_(She falls in a swoon at his feet. Gil. with a cry drops his gun, and looks down with horror upon Kate. Eric kneels beside her, as the curtain falls quickly.)_

QUICK ACT DROP.

_(Picture--Eric supporting Kate's head, L., of her, {Gil.} looking on dumbfounded.)_

END OF ACT II.

ACT III. -- GOOD-BYE.

Scene:--The same as in Act II. Daylight. The curtains over the window recesses are drawn back.

The fire is burning brightly. It is afternoon. The sun sets as the act advances. All lights full. Bed lime R., for fire. Red lime on slot behind cloth for sun. Amber line behind transparent cloth R.

Ditto L., to be worked on at cue. Music for Act drop. Clear lamp and book from table, lamp from bureau, and shut it _(bureau)_ up. L. window open.

Laughter and voices off L. as curtain rises, till Christie gets to window, then a Voice.

{Voice.} There's Christie! _(she shuts window)_ Ah, we're not good enough for Christie! _(murmurs from All)_

_(Christiana enters up stage, door L., There is the distant sound of rough laughter. She looks out of L. C.)_

{Chris.} What a lot of animals! Ugh! How awful common people look when they're clean, _(comes down C.)_

_(Izod's head appears in doorway L.)_

{Izod.} Christie!

{Chris.} _(turning sharply)_ Hallo!

{Izod.} _(entering)_ What's wrong with the Squire?

{Chris.} _(R. C.)_ Ill, she says. Hush! _(pointing, to door R.)_ She's in there. What do you want, dear?

{Izod.} _(C.)_ Coin, _(falls back up R. C., as Gunnion enters door L., much perturbed. He is attired in his grandest, wearing a large rosette of coloured ribbons)_

{Gun.} Where's Squire? that's what I want to know!

{Chris.} Hush! she's in her room. What's the matter?

{Gun.} _(sitting on stool C., wiping his forehead)_ Hunpunctuality's the matter--a lot of 'em's not come yet. The fiddle ain't come; the _Mercury_ ain't come.

I don't give 'em a single sentiment till _Mercury's_ here to take me down.

{Izod.} You want somebody here to take you down.

{Gun.} Fell the grocer's not come. If he 'adn't been harsked he'd have 'owled. Now he have been harsked, he's for marching in late like a prince, _(rising)_ I'm the master of the ceremonies, I am --take care he don't find hisself heaved out.

{Chris.} You're quite right, Gunnion; act up to your ribbons.

{Gun.} _(going to door L.)_ Ay, that I'll do. The Squire's made me what I am this blessed day. I'm Squire's representative, I am, and they'll find me darned unpleasant. _(He goes off L., muttering.)_ John Parsley ain't come; old Buckle ain't come; Mouldy Green ain't come.

_(Izod comes down R., C.)_

{Chris.} _(R. to Izod)_ Go away, Izod, and keep quiet till you're wanted.

{Izod.} _(down R., C.)_ I tell you I want coin, _(sniffing)_ I've got such an awful cold through lying under those ricks in the mist. I want coin.

{Chris.} I haven't any.

{Izod.} Then I don't open my mouth to the parson about what I saw last night. I tell you I want coin.

{Chris.} What for?

{Izod.} _(reflectively)_ For--for--to buy a pocket- handkerchief.

{Chris.} _(hurriedly takes out her purse)_ How much?

{Izod.} _(after consideration)_ Six and sixpence.

{Chris.} _(turns)_ For a pocket-handkerchief!

{Izod.} I want rather a large size pocket-handkerchief.

{Chris.} _(gives him the money, then listens--looking towards R.)_ Somebody's coming--go away.

_(Izod slouches off L., as Felicity enters door R.)_ _(C. to Fel.)_ Now then, you! _(meets Fel. C.)_

{Fel.} _(R. C, turning)_ Yes, Miss Christiana.

_(meeting Chris, C.)_

_(Chris, takes a letter from the pocket of her ap.r.o.n, and holds it up, and then puts it behind back.)_

{Chris.} Here's a pretty thing, and a very pretty thing; and who is the owner of this pretty thing?

You shan't have it till you guess what it is.