paltry as her money.
     (Eric turns to embrace her)
     Eric. My darling.

     Kate. (looking round) Don't, Eric. I shall have
     to go indoors if you behave badly.

     Eric. My dear Kate, there is another point of
     view which presents itself to the prudent husband.

     Kate. What's that?

     Eric. How much does Priors Mesne bring you in?

     Kate. Oh, dear, I'm afraid to tell you!

     Eric. Ah!

     Kate. It's not my fault. I've done everything
     I could.

     Eric. Well, then, Kate, my pay and my mother's
     allowance tot up to three hundred and fifty a year,
     and, my darling, I'm in debt.

     Kate. (turning and seizing him by the shoulder)     Oh, Eric, how can you!

     Eric. (laughingly) Don't, dear, I shall have to
     go home if you behave badly.

     Kate. Why, Eric, some of my farmhands flourish
     with families on eighteen shillings a week.

     Eric. Yes, darling, there are animals who live on
     flesh and fruit, and there are animals who subsist
     on nuts. If I were a beast I could not look at a nut.

     Kate. If you tried very hard, Eric, do you think
     you could write?

     Eric. I've been taught, dear.

     Kate. No, no, I mean in journals and magazines.

     Eric. Never can write anything fluently but a
     cheque, and that's not always presentable. I'm an
     ornament, Kate, or nothing. I'm afraid I'm nothing
     —but your sweetheart, (she bows her head in
     her hands) Why, Kate, this is one of your gloomy
     days.

     Kate. (rises and dries her eyes with her
     hand-kerchief) I suppose, Eric, there is not the faintest
     ray of hope that your mother would ever forgive you
     for your marriage.

     Eric. Not the faintest. Poor mother, I'm the
     only living thing belonging to her upon earth. I
     once persuaded her to keep rabbits, with a view to
     diverting her affections—it didn't answer. (Kate
     walks slowly to C. by stone. Eric follows her) You
     are not yourself, Kate; brighten up. Aren't you
     happy?

     Kate. (gives a quick look round) Is any man's
     love so strong for a woman that he would beggar
     himself for her sake?

     Eric. Why, Kate!

     Kate. What sacrifice will you make for me?
     Tell me how many bright golden prospects you will
     blot out for the silly woman you have married.
     Quick!

     Eric. What is it you wish?

     Kate. (seizing his hand) Eric, publish our foolish
     marriage of a year ago—let it be known and
     laughed at in every house and every inn-yard in the
     country. Do this for me, and for heaven's sake, do
     it quickly!

     Eric. (holding her hand) A little silly gossip has
     upset you. It can't be, dear.

     Kate. Then, as surely as we stand here—man
     and wife—you drive me from the place where I was
     born—where even every weed growing on my poor
     poverty-stricken land has a voice for me; where the

     women and children love and pray for me; you, the
     man who has brought this ill upon my head, drive
     me out! (turns up a little)
     Eric. What do you mean? Where are you going?

     Kate. To hide, abroad, anywhere, in any hole and
     corner where no soul knows me. (comes down to
     front of stone C.)
     Eric. (going to her) Kate, you have some secret
     —tell me it.

     Kate. (with his hand in hers she turns from
     him, softly) Can't you guess? (sinks on stone)
     Eric. (quickly) Kate!

     Kate. Dear, dear husband! (there is a pause,
     then Eric raises her and kisses her)
     Eric. Kate, my dear, fetch me pen and ink, and
     some writing paper.

     (She crosses sadly to the steps then turns to him,
     half way up steps.)
     Kate. (timidly) Husband!

     Eric. (thoughtfully) Wife! (foot on first step)
     Kate. Are you angry?

     Eric. (taking her hands in his) Angry! (runs
     up to her) Kate, (drawing his breath) you are a
     wonder! (kiss. She runs into the house.)     (Eric leans a moment with elbow on pillar, descends
     steps, rubs his ear, one foot resting on bottom
     step, then whistles "See the conquering hero
     comes" and crosses to L., table and takes up his
     mug of milk.)
     (raising the mug) Baby's health!
     (He drinks. Kate comes out of the house, carrying
     a small desk; she places it on table R.; he crosses
     to her.)
     Kate. (looking at the closed desk) There—I
     haven't brought the key.

     Eric. (searching his pockets) Try my keys—oh!
     I forgot—I have had no keys for the last week or so.
     (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.