The Squire Part 11

_(crosses to seat R., pulls table forward)_

{Kate.} _(opening the desk)_ It isn't locked--how silly of me. _(they sit side by side with the desk open before them)_ What are you going to do, dear? _(R.

of Eric.)_

{Eric.} Listen to this, _(writing)_ "Mother, I have sown my wild oats in Squire Verity's farm, and have reaped a rich crop of womanly love and duty."

{Kate.} Dear old boy! _(touches his R., hand)_

{Eric.} You've made me make a blot, _(writing)_ "I suppose you will shut your heart upon me. So be it. But if Heaven ever gives us a little daughter, I promise you she shall bear the name of my dear old mother. Your dutiful, Eric." _(folds and addresses the letter)_

{Kate.} What are you going to do with it?

{Eric.} Leave it at The Packmores on my way back to Pagley; give it boldly to Stibbs the butler, and run off as fast as my legs can carry me.

_(Chris, comes out of the house on to balcony; hearing voices below, she bends over slyly and catches sight of Eric and Kate, who are gazing dubiously at the letter.)_

{Kate.} What a red-letter day for both of us, Eric.

{Eric.} _(pocketing letter)_ What a red letter day for mother, when she has read this letter!

{Chris.} _(aside, between her teeth)_ And that's the woman they make a saint of in Market-Sinfield.

And she dares to turn her back on me--for Felicity.

{Kate.} _(to Eric)_ Must you go?

{Eric.} _(taking out watch)_ Look.

_(Gilbert enters through the archway from L., and takes up his gun.)_

{Kate.} _(to Eric)_ Don't let the idlers at the White Lion see you on the highroad.

{Gil.} _(hearing voices, turns--aside, watching Eric)_ The man who has robbed me of my hope-- my ambition! If I stay another day at the Priors I shall go mad!

_(Gunnion and Izod, with very uncertain steps, and supporting each other shoulder to shoulder, stagger out of the outhouse up to the archway.)_

{Chris.} _(aside)_ Felicity! Not the name for this house! _(she takes the bunch of keys from her pocket and looks at them exultingly)_ Ah! I shall have to jingle you yet.

_(Eric. rises to part. Chris. draws back)_

{Gil.} _(stops Gun. and Izod)_ My successor, _(taking Gun's hand)_ G.o.d bless you, man. May you be happier in my shoes than I have been. _(Gun hiccoughs)_ Confound you, you're not sober.

{Gun.} Milk!

_(Music. Curtain falls quickly.)_

ACT II. -- THE SIREN.

Scene:--An old-fas.h.i.+oned, comfortable, oak-panelled room. The furniture dark and c.u.mbersome.

Down stage R., a door. Up stage, R., C, capacious fireplace, with solid mantel-piece above it. At back R., and L., two substantial cas.e.m.e.nt windows.

The windows are in deep recesses, about two steps above the stage level. These recesses are sheltered by heavy draperies. Between the windows, up stage, C., a ma.s.sive bureau, opened, with writing materials upon it. Before bureau a square stool. On L., of bureau a chair. Up stage L., a door. Below door L., a settee; above settee, a bell rope. Before fire a comfortable arm-chair; L. of arm-chair, a small table with a reading lamp upon it. On mantel-piece, a clock to strike; other articles of furniture, etc., to fill s.p.a.ces. The flooring of dark oak, square carpeting R., of stage.

The whole to produce the effect of "a woman's room" Curtains closed, L. window unfastened.

See written letter on bureau. All gas out behind.

Gas one-half up inside. Music for act drop.

It is night time--no moon. The lighting to be sombre throughout the act.

_(Before the curtain rises Felicity's voice is heard singing off R.)_

There's a jingle to make a maiden glad And flush the skies above her, The clink of the spurs of her soldier lad, "I am a faithful lover."

Sun is s.h.i.+ning, flow'rs are blooming, Light and bloom are not for aye; What if sob and sigh are looming, Hear the jingle while you may!

CURTAIN.

There's a jingle to make a maiden glad, etc.

_(Kate enters at close of song--puts keys on table.)_

{Kate.} _(leans over back of arm-chair--listening)_ Poor little bird, singing of her soldier lover. How am I to tell her that her soldier's heart is not of so bright a colour as his jacket? How can I tell her, when there is another soldier lover in the world so good and so true? _(sits R., of table--she opens her locket; it contains a likeness of Eric)_ Eric! Ah!

the man who painted this miniature hasn't done Eric justice; the face is too white and pink, and the moustache isn't at all the right shade. I know I could catch the exact tone of Eric's moustache if I were a painter. It's a kind of browny, yellowy, red-tinted, a sad auburn, with a sea-weedy wash about it.

Under the nose it suggests one of our daybreak skies, and there, where the ends droop, a sunset of Turner's.

Dear old Eric! _(kisses locket)_

_(There is a knock at the door L.,; Kate hastily closes the locket and glances at clock.)_

It's late! _(aloud)_ Who is it?

_(The door opens, L., and Christiana enters, knitting stocking.)_

{Chris.} Gilbert Hythe and Gunnion, with a box of clothes for the girl, _(down by settee L.)_

_(Gilbert and Gunnion enter--Gil. carrying a very diminutive wooden trunk; he places the box down L. C., and doffs his hat. Gil. still has his gun with him; he goes up to bureau.)_

{Gun.} Good-night to you, Squire. Gilbert Hythe's been so kind as to lend me a hand with this blessed box. _(pointing to box)_ My child's wardrobe, Squire, sc.r.a.ped together by the sweat of my brow.

{Kate.} Sit down, Gilbert. _(Gilbert puts his gun down L., of bureau and gets to R., of it, standing)_ Take Felicity's wardrobe upstairs into Felicity's room, Mr. Gunnion. _(Gun. goes to take box--Chris.

down L.)_

{Chris.} Excuse me, Squire, but before Gunnion goes I should like you to make note of the ale _(Gun. drops box)_ that's been drawn from the new cask.

The ale was in my keeping and it's due to me for you to know of the loss.

{Gun.} _(on his knees--to Chris.)_ Drat you for a mischievous hussy! Why, your own flesh and blood helped me to drive the tap in with a mallet, and drank double what I did.

{Chris.} More shame for an old man to lead a poor boy astray!

{Kate.} _(shaking her finger at Gun.)_ Oh! Mr.

Gunnion, how could you!