{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. {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.)_