{Chris.} Insolent I may be, but I'm not worse! _(goes a little to R.)_ {Kate.} What do you mean? {Chris.} That your precious love-secret is known to my brother and me. That we can spell the name of the man who is the most welcome guest here, in broad daylight when doors are open, and in the dead of night when doors are locked! {Kate.} _(rising and seizing Christie's wrist)_ Christie! {Chris.} _(throwing her off--placing her hands behind her defiantly)_ Don't you touch me, because I'm your servant no longer! don't touch me, because you're not fit to lay your hand upon a decent woman! {Kate.} All the ills of the world at one poor woman's door! _(sits on sofa)_ What is it you want? {Izod.} _(aside to Chris.)_ Coin! {Chris.} This: I've got gipsy blood in me, and that means "all or none." Will you promise to turn old Gunnion's child away, never to have her near you again? {Kate.} If I refuse, what will you do? {Chris.} Tell the parson that there's a lady in Market-Sinfield who needs as much praying for as she can get from him on Sundays--tell him what Izod saw last night and what I heard--give him a new text to preach to the poor folks who call you their saint. {Kate.} You'll do this? _(rises)_ Then I promise to be a friend to little Felicity as long as she loves me and clings to me. Say the worst you can. _(Izod goes up towards L., D. and remains. Chris. makes a movement as if going. Kate stops her.)_ {Kate.} _(rises)_ Christiana! _(Chris. stands before Kate with her hands behind her back)_ I'll give you this thought to help you. I stand here, the last of my name, in our old house, wretched and in trouble. I'm not the first Verity that has come to grief, but I shall be the first at whose name there's a hush and a whisper. And this will be to your credit--to the credit of one who has fed and slept under my roof, and who has touched my lips with hers. _(She comes to Chris, and lays her hand upon her shoulder)_ Christie, if you ever marry and have children that cry to be lulled to sleep, don't sing this story to them lest they should raise their little hands against their mother. Remember that. _(sits again)_ _(Eric Thorndyke enters quickly, door L., and stands facing Kate. Christiana and Izod look at each other significantly; there is a pause--Christie backs a little so that Eric passes in front of her, Izod passes behind and gets on steps.)_ {Chris.} _(with a curtsey to Eric)_ Your servant, Lieutenant. You haven't forgotten the Harvest Feast, sir. _(He makes no answer. Chris, and Izod cross quietly to door L.)_ _(In Izod's ear)_ Come to the parson--now. _(They go out, Kate and Eric are alone--they look at each other.)_