{Chris.} A common woman or a lady? {Izod.} A lady--jolly dark, jolly pretty, and jolly ill. {Chris.} _(curiously)_ What does she do at an inn in Market-Sinfield? _(sits on table)_ {Izod.} She gave out that she was a stranger in these parts, and wanted to see a clergyman. She was a weight! {Chris.} Well? {Izod.} So I fetched Mr. Dormer, the mad parson. {Chris.} Did he go to her? {Izod.} I dunno. Coin for tobacco! _(rises)_ _(Izod goes up to arch.)_ {Chris.} I've only got a little money. I'll fetch it, dear, _(she takes up mug reflectively)_ A pretty lady in Market-Sinfield--very dark, very ill, and among strangers, _(sighing)_ How unlucky all dark women seem to be! {Izod.} Coin for tobacco! _(rapping table)_ {Chris.} _(starting)_ Oh, yes, dear. _(She goes off L., Izod again produces the keys and jingles them on the table.)_ {Izod.} _(glancing in the direction of door R., C.)_ Keys! and a name cut on the key-ring, _(shaking them)_ What sort of a tune do they play, I wonder? _(rises)_ _(Chris, re-enters carrying a small purse. She comes L. of table, and empties the contents into his R. hand.)_ _(counting money)_ Five bob. {Chris.} Leave me a little. {Izod.} _(pocketing money)_ There's a shilling for you. I'll pay you what I owe you when you coax the squire to employ me regularly on the farm, _(goes to R., C.)_ {Chris.} _(C.)_ That'll never be--I've tried. {Izod.} Have you? _(showing bunch of keys)_ Look there. Don't snatch; read the name on the ring. _(showing the ring only)_ _(She examines the ring, which he still holds fast.)_ {Chris.} The name of the man who is always hanging about this place, _(quickly)_ Where did you get this? _(Gilbert Hythe appears in the archway from L.; as he enters, they separate, Izod to R., she to L.)_ {Gil.} Is the Squire indoors, Christie? _(He comes down C. He is a fine, strapping fellow, about thirty, dressed roughly in an old velvet jacket, cords and gaiters. He carries a light double-barrelled gun)_ {Chris.} _(L.)_ Yes, Mr. Hythe. {Gil.} _(C, seeing Izod)_ What the devil are you doing here? {Izod.} _(R.)_ Nothing. {Gil.} That's what you're always doing everywhere. Get out! {Izod.} _(defiantly)_ I cleaned the windows here last Tuesday, and I haven't been paid for it. {Gil.} That's a lie. _(goes towards him)_ {Izod.} Well, then, I _have_ been paid for it, and I've come to visit my dear sister. {Gil.} Look here, Izod, I've had half an hour at the ricks this morning, ferreting the rats. A man shoots rats because they are vermin--it's lucky for you, and idlers like you, that you're on two legs instead of four.