COL. G. _hastens to the door_. CON. _peeps in and draws back_. COL. G. _follows her._ WATERFIELD _approaches_ MATTIE. _Wat_. Miss Pearson, if that's-- _Mat_. I don't know you--don't even know your name. _Wat_. (_looking round_). You hear her say it! She don't know me! _Mat_. Could you try and rise, father? I want to get out of this. There's a lady here says I'm a thief! _Tho._ Nea, that she connot say, Mattie! Thae cooms ov honest folk. Aw'll geet oop direckly. (_Attempts to rise_.) Eigh! eigh! aw connot! aw connot! _Mrs. C._ If I have been unjust to you, Miss Pearson, I shall not fail to make amends. _Sus_. It's time you did then, ma'am. You've murdered her, and all but murdered me. That's how your little bill stands. _Ger._ (_to_ WAT.) Leave the place, Mr. Waterfield. _Wat_. You shall answer for this, Gervaise. _Ger._ Leave the study at once. _Wat_. Tut! tut! I'll make it up to them. A bank note's a good plaster. _Bill_. Pleasir, shall I run and fetch a bobby? I likes to see a swell wanted. _Ger._ You hold your tongue. (_Retires to the dais and sits down._ MRS. C. _follows him_.) _Wat_. (_taking out his pocket-book, and approaching_ MATTIE). I didn't think you'd have served me so, Mattie! Indeed I didn't! It's not kind after what's been between you and me. (MATTIE _rises and stands staring at him_.) You've ruined my prospects--you have! But I don't want to bear malice: take that.--Old times, you know!--Take it. You're welcome. (_Forces the note on her. She steps back. It drops_.) _Mat_. This is a humiliation! Will nobody take him away? _Sus_. (_rushing at him_). You be off! An' them goggle eyes o' yours, or _I_'ll goggle 'em! I can't bear the sight on 'em. _I_ should never ha' taken you for a gentleman. You don't look it. You slope, I say! (_Hustles him_.) WATERFIELD _picks up the note, and exit_. _Mat_. (_bursting into tears_) Father! father! don't hate me; don't despise me. THOMAS _tries to get up, but falls back_. _Bill_. Don't be in no hurry, Daddy. There's none but friends here now--'cep' the old lady;--she do look glum. _Sus_. I'll soon settle her hash! _Mat_. Susie! Susie! Don't--there's a dear! _Sus_. What business has she here then! She's not a doin' of nothink. _Mat_. Don't you see she's looking after the poor gentleman there? _Ger._ William!--William!--Gone again! What a fellow he is! The best servant in the world, but always vanishing! Call your James--will you, aunt? We must have the old man put to bed. But the poor girl looks the worse of the two! She can have the spare room, and William can sleep on the sofa in mine. _Mrs. C._ I'll see to it. _Exit_. GER. _goes towards_ THOMAS. _Tho._ Coom whoam--coom whoam, Mattie! Thi mother, hoo's cryin' her eighes eawt to whoam. _Mat_. I'll run for a doctor first, father. _Tho._ No, no, chylt! Aw're only a bit stonned, like. Aw'll be o' reet in a smo' bit. Aw dunnot want no doctor. Aw'm a coomin' reawnd.