{Dormer.} A woman mismanages the White Lion. {Kate.} _(clapping her hands)_ Christie! _(to Dor.)_ Shan't we hurt the landlady's feelings by sending food there? _(goes to R., table)_ {Dormer.} _(with enjoyment)_ We shall, _(irritably)_ Now then, you--what's-your-name?--why don't you come when you're called? _(Christiana appears at door, wiping her hands on her apron.)_ {Chris.} _(angrily)_ Who's calling me "what's-your- name"? _(seeing Dor.)_ Why, parson! _(curtseys at door)_ {Dormer.} _(rises--shaking his stick at her)_ The gipsy girl, who won't sing the hymns on Sunday. {Kate.} You start them in such a high key, parson. {Chris.} _(curtseying)_ Yes, Squire, that he does. {Dormer.} _(raising his finger)_ The higher the key, Madam, the nearer Heaven! _(passes behind table to L., of it. Chris, laughs)_ {Kate.} Hush, Christie, come here. _(Chris, comes to Kate c.)_ Fill a basket with everything that is tempting, fit for an invalid, _(gives key to Christie)_ {Chris.} _(to Dor.)_ For the lady at the White Lion, parson? {Dormer.} _(sitting L., of table)_ I'm not here to feed woman's curiosity. {Kate.} Run along, Christie. _(Christie runs up the steps into the house R., C. Kate crosses softly over to Dor. and stands by table, R., of it.)_ _(quietly)_ It is not often, Parson Dormer, that you stoop to ask help of a woman, by all accounts. {Dormer.} _(without looking at her)_ No! {Kate.} Don't think me rude--but in Market-Sinfield the folks call you the Woman-Hater. {Dormer.} What else do they call me in Market-Sinfield? {Kate.} I--I--don't know. {Dormer.} That's not true. {Kate.} That's not polite. {Dormer.} What else do they call me in Market-Sinfield? {Kate.} _(firing up)_ They call you the Mad Parson! {Dormer.} Ah! The Woman-Hater and the Mad Parson--contradictory terms, _(moves stool to back of table and sits)_ {Kate.} You're not mad, Mr. Dormer--but you are rude. {Dormer.} How long will that woman take to pack the basket? {Kate.} Are you a woman-hater, Mr. Dormer? {Dormer.} I'm not a woman-lover. {Kate.} _(leaning her arms on table, and looking at Dor. timidly)_ Have you always been a woman-hater, parson? _(Dormer looks up quickly and turns away.)_ {Dormer.} _(roughly)_ How long will that woman take to pack that basket? {Kate.} Not very long, _(the Parson's arm is on the table; Kate places her hand on his sleeve--very gently)_ You--you--haven't always been a woman- hater, parson--have you? {Dormer.} _(drooping his head)_ No. {Kate.} Thank you, parson. Was she--pretty? {Dormer.} I suppose she was.