{Chris.} Wait till a man walks from the Market-Sinfield road, and you won't wait long, _(to Kate)_ Good-night, Squire, dear. {Kate.} _(turning)_ Good-night, Christie. _(Chris, and Izod go out L., closing the door after them. The clock strikes nine.)_ _(Looks at her watch)_ Already! Oh, if that boy should not have passed the Five Trees before Eric comes! How provoking! _(she crosses to door L., listens, then turns the key)_ There's something about to-night that I don't like. Christie! How unkind of Christie to be so jealous! _(still listening, she goes to window L., pulls tack the curtain and opens window)_ That's Christie and her brother walking over the stones, _(looking out)_ And there's the light in Felicity's room still burning--I can see the shadows. When will the house be still? Ugh! What a dark night for Eric's lonely walk, _(the bell rings in the court below. Katie draws back)_ The bell! So late--what can that mean? _(she comes from the window and draws the curtain over the recess)_ Something wrong in the village--someone ill. _(she crosses to fireplace, nervously)_ Perhaps poor Mrs. Tester has sent for me to read to her, or old Mr. Parsley wants me to witness another will--I've witnessed eight of them--he has only a few spoons to leave behind him--I can't go to-night. _(A knocking at the door L.)_ Who is that? {Chris.} _(outside)_ Christiana. _(Kate crosses quickly to door L., and unlocks it.)_ {Kate.} Christiana! _(opening the door)_ What is wrong, Christie? _(Christiana enters.)_ {Chris.} Parson Dormer has walked over from Market-Sinfield and must see you to-night. {Kate.} Not to-night--not to-night--to-morrow. _(Dormer enters; he wears an old Inverness cape and woollen gloves.)_ {Dormer.} I suppose a man ought to apologize for calling at this hour. It's cold enough, so one pays the penalty, _(takes off cape, gloves, and hat, and puts them on settee L.)_ {Kate.} _(crosses distractedly to fireplace)_ Come to the fire, parson, _(he crosses to Kate.)_ Something unusual must have brought you so late, _(crosses towards fire below table)_ {Dormer.} _(pauses below table)_ Perhaps, _(crosses to fire)_ _(While he does so, Chris, up stage gently looks through the curtain into the window recess.)_ {Chris.} _(at L. C.--aside)_ She has opened the window--the saint! Poor Izod won't have to wait long, _(going to door L.)_ Shall I sit up, Squire? {Kate.} No, I will see the parson through the archway. _(Chris, goes out.)_ {Dormer.} Something unusual has brought me to you. {Kate.} _(with exclamation and quickly)_ I feared so. {Dormer.} I am here to render a service to John Verity's daughter. {Kate.} Thank you.