Page:Miscellaneous Plays 1.pdf/61

RAYNER (without).

I do not ask admittance as a guest,

Would'st thou not save a creature from destruction,
Ev'n a dumb animal? unbar the door,
And let me lay my body under shelter.

(Old Man makes no answer: the storm heard very loud.)

RAYNER (without).

If thou'rt a man in nature as in voice,

Thou canst not sit at peace beneath thy roof,
And shut a stranger out to the rude night.
I would, so circumstanced, have shelter'd thee.

OLD MAN.

He tries to move me with a soothing voice.

(Aside.)
(Aloud.) Thou art a knave; I will not let thee in.

RAYNER (without).

Belike I am, yet do not fear my wiles:

All men are honest in a night like this.

OLD MAN.

Then I will let thee in, whoe'er thou art:

Thou hast some sense, shouldst thou lack better things. (He unbars a small door, and Rayner enters much ruffled and exhausted by the storm, and without his hat.)

RAYNER.

I'm much beholden to thee.