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Complete Plays of John Galsworthy Novel Chapters
List of most recent chapters published for the Complete Plays of John Galsworthy novel. A total of 379 chapters have been translated and the release date of the last chapter is Apr 02, 2024
Latest Release: Chapter 1 : The Project Gutenberg Plays of John Galsworthy.by John Galsworthy.FIRST SERIES: THE SILV
The Project Gutenberg Plays of John Galsworthy.by John Galsworthy.FIRST SERIES: THE SILVER BOX A COMEDY IN THREE ACTS
PERSONS OF THE PLAY JOHN BARTHWICK, M.P., a wealthy Liberal MRS. BARTHWICK, his wife JACK BARTHWICK, their son ROPER, their solicitor MR
- 179 BANNING. It's bad, Mrs. More--bad. There's no disguising it. That speech was moon-summer madness--Ah! it was! Take a lot of explaining away. Why did you let him, now? Why did you? Not your views, I'm sure![He looks at her, but for answer sh
- 178 OLIVE. Why isn't it fair? I suppose we're littler than them.KATHERINE. No.OLIVE. Oh! in history we always are. And we always win. That's why I like history. Which are you for, Mummy--us or them?KATHERINE. Us.OLIVE. Then I shall have to be.
- 177 ACT. II Before noon a few days later. The open windows of the dining-room let in the sunlight. On the table a number of newspapers are littered. HELEN is sitting there, staring straight before her. A newspaper boy runs by outside calling out his wares. At
- 176 HUBERT. Yes, it's bad for you, with Stephen taking it like this.But he'll come round now it's once begun.KATHERINE shakes her head, then goes suddenly up to him, and throws her arms round his neck. It is as if all the feeling pent up in her
- 175 STEEL. This to the Cottage Hospital--shall I say you will preside?MORE. No.STEEL writes; then looking up and seeing that MORE is no longer there, he goes to the window, looks to right and left, returns to the bureau, and is about to sit down again when a
- 174 They'll make you their figurehead. [MORE smiles] They will. Your chance of the Cabinet will go--you may even have to resign your seat.MORE. Dogs will bark. These things soon blow over.KATHERINE. No, no! If you once begin a thing, you always go on; an
- 173 MORE. My country, right or wrong! Guilty--still my country!MENDIP. That begs the question.[KATHERINE rises. THE DEAN, too, stands up.]THE DEAN. [In a low voice] 'Quem Deus volt perdere'----!SIR JOHN. Unpatriotic! MORE. I'll have no truck wi
- 172 THE DEAN. They have proved themselves faithless. We have the right to chastise.MORE. If I hit a little man in the eye, and he hits me back, have I the right to chastise him?SIR JOHN. We didn't begin this business.MORE. What! With our missionaries and
- 171 WELLWYN. Oh! Ah! yes![He gives them money; then something seems to strike him, and he exhibits certain signs of vexation. Suddenly he recovers, looks from one to the other, and then at the tea things. A faint smile comes on his face.]WELLWYN. You can fini
- 170 CONSTABLE. [Consulting with him.] Well, sir, we can't get over the facts, can we? There it is! You know what sooicide amounts to-- it's an awkward job.WELLWYN. [Calming himself with an effort.] But look here, Constable, as a reasonable man--This
- 169 CONSTABLE. [With intense relief.] That's brave! Good la.s.s!She'll pick up now, sir.[Then, seeing that TIMSON and the curious persons have again opened the door, he drives them out, and stands with his back against it. MRS. MEGAN comes to hersel
- 168 in her too there is something of wild-savage. She must have joy of life. I have seen her since I came back. She has embraced the life of joy. It is not quite the same thing. [He lowers his voice.]She is lost, Monsieur, as a stone that sinks in water. I ca
- 167 WELLWYN. Well, you see, as soon as he came out of the what d'you call 'em, he got drunk for a week, and it left him in low spirits.BERTLEY. Do you mean he deliberately sat down, with the intention--of--er?WELLWYN. Said he was tired of life, but
- 166 [They stop surprised. WELLWYN makes a gesture of discomfort, as they speak again with still more unanimity.]HOXTON. My----! CALWAY. My----! BERTLEY. My----![They stop in greater surprise. The stage is blotted dark.]Curtain.ACT III It is the first of Apri
- 165 CALWAY. [Swiftly.] You, sir, with your "devil take the hindmost,"have never even seen him.[SIR THOMAS HOXTON, throwing back a gesture of disgust, steps out into the night, and falls heavily PROFESSOR CALWAY, hastening to his rescue, falls more h
- 164 [BERTLEY, steadily regarding MRS. MEGAN, who has put her arm up in front of her face, beckons to FERRAND, and the young man comes gravely forward.]BERTLEY. Young people, this is very dreadful. [MRS. MEGAN lowers her arm a little, and looks at him over it.
- 163 MEGAN. Yus.[WELLWYN opens the door. MRS. MEGAN and FERRAND are revealed.They are about to enter, but catching sight of MEGAN, hesitate.]BERTLEY. Come in! Come in![MRS. MEGAN enters stolidly. FERRAND, following, stands apart with an air of extreme detachme
- 162 [ANN goes reluctantly. WELLWYN opens the street door. The lamp outside has just been lighted, and, by its gleam, is seen the figure of RORY MEGAN, thin, pale, youthful. ANN turning at the door into the house gives him a long, inquisitive look, then goes.]
- 161 [There come three loud knocks on the door. WELLWYN and ANN exchange a glance of consternation.]ANN. Who's that?WELLWYN. It sounds like Sir Thomas.CALWAY. Sir Thomas Hoxton?WELLWYN. [Nodding.] Awfully sorry, Professor. You see, we---- CALWAY. Not at
- 160 WELLWYN. "In" and "on." Mark my words, he'll restore the--bottles.BERTLEY. But, my dear WELLWYN, that is stealing.WELLWYN. We all have our discrepancies, Vicar.ANN. Daddy! Discrepancies!WELLWYN. Well, Ann, my theory is that as reg
- 159 WELLWYN. [At his picture.] I seemed to have noticed something.ANN. [Preparing for tea.] They were kissing.WELLWYN. Tt! Tt!ANN. They're hopeless, all three--especially her. Wish I hadn't given her my clothes now.WELLWYN. [Absorbed.] Something of
- 158 WELLWYN. Is there any necessity, Timson?TIMSON. Artful too. Full o' vice, I call'er. Where's 'er 'usband?WELLWYN. [Gravely.] Come, Timson! You wouldn't like her to---- TIMSON. [With dignity, so that the bottle in his pocket i
- 157 It is four o'clock in the afternoon of New Year's Day. On the raised dais MRS. MEGAN is standing, in her rags; with bare feet and ankles, her dark hair as if blown about, her lips parted, holding out a dishevelled bunch of violets. Before his ea
- 156 FERRAND. Ah! You are a Princess in disguise?MRS. MEGAN. No fear!FERRAND. No? What is it then you do to make face against the necessities of life? A living?MRS. MEGAN. Sells flowers.FERRAND. [Rolling his eyes.] It is not a career. MRS. MEGAN. [With a touch
- 155 WELLWYN. [Touching TIMSON's shoulder.] Drenched!FERRAND. That will do 'im no 'arm, Monsieur-no 'arm at all. He is well wet inside, remember--it is Christmas to-morrow. Put him a rug, if you will, he will soon steam.[WELLWYN takes up AN
- 154 FERRAND. In your country they say you cannot eat the cake and have it. But one must always try, Monsieur; one must never be content.[Refusing the cake.] 'Grand merci', but for the moment I have no stomach--I have lost my stomach now for two days
- 153 WELLWYN. And your husband?MRS. MEGAN. No. Irish, 'e is. Notting Dale, 'e comes from.WELLWYN. Roman Catholic?MRS. MEGAN. Yes. My 'usband's an atheist as well.WELLWYN. I see. [Abstractedly.] How jolly! And how old is he--this young man o
- 152 WELLWYN. Ah dear! Tt! Tt! Tt![After a look in the direction of ANN's disappearance, he opens the street door a very little way. By the light of the lamp there can be seen a young girl in dark clothes, huddled in a shawl to which the snow is clinging.
- 151 WELLWYN. [Gazing at his hat.] Calway wears one.ANN. As if anyone would beg of Professor Calway.WELLWYN. Well-perhaps not. You know, Ann, I admire that fellow.Wonderful power of-of-theory! How a man can be so absolutely tidy in his mind! It's most exc
- 150 ARNAUD. Madame! Madame! [He listens for her breathing; then suddenly catching sight of the little bottle, smells at it] Bon Dieu![At that queer sound they come from behind the screen--all four, and look. The dark night bird says: "Hallo; fainted!&quo
- 149 CLARE. First of June! This day last year I broke covert--I've been running ever since.YOUNG MAN. I don't understand a bit. You--must have had a--a--some one---- But there is such a change in her face, such rigidity of her whole body, that he sto
- 148 ARNAUD. The plovers' eggs veree good to-night, Sare. Veree good, Madame. A peach or two, after. Veree good peaches. The Roederer, Sare--not bad at all. Madame likes it frappe, but not too cold--yes?[He is away again to his service-table.]YOUNG MAN. [
- 147 MRS. MILER. [Pointing to the typewriter] D'you want this 'ere, too?CLARE. Yes.MRS. MILER carries it out. Then, from the doorway, gazing at CLARE taking her last look, she sobs, suddenly. At sound of that sob CLARE throws up her head.CLARE. Don&#
- 146 MRS. FULLARTON turns from her ashamed and baffled, but her quick eyes take in the room, trying to seize on some new point of attack.MRS. FULLARTON. You can't be--you aren't-happy, here?CLARE. Aren't I?MRS. FULLARTON. Oh! Clare! Save yoursel
- 145 MRS. MILER. [With another sudden sniff] Gawd knows I don't want to upset ye. You're situated very hard; an' women's got no business to 'urt one another--that's what I thinks.CLARE. Will you go out and do something for me? [MR
- 144 MALISE. It is not.CLARE. But you told me yourself MALISE. I lied.CLARE. Why?MALISE. [Shrugging] No use lying any longer--you'd know it tomorrow. CLARE. How much am I valued at?MALISE. Two thousand. [Grimly] He'll settle it on you. [He laughs]Mas
- 143 CLARE. [Shaking her head] I curl up all the time. The only thing I know for certain is, that I shall never go back to him. The more I've hated what I've been doing, the more sure I've been. I might come to anything--but not that.MALISE. Had
- 142 MALISE. Indeed! You've found that out? Brilliant!HUNTINGDON. We know it from my sister.MALISE. Oh! So you've tracked her down?HUNTINGDON. Mrs. Fullarton came across her yesterday in one of those big shops--selling gloves.MALISE. Mrs. Fullarton t
- 141 MALISE'S sitting-room. An afternoon, three months later.On the table are an open bottle of claret, his hat, and some tea-things. Down in the hearth is a kettle on a lighted spirit-stand. Near the door stands HAYWOOD, a short, round-faced man, with a
- 140 CLARE. If I must bring you harm--let me pay you back! I can't bear it otherwise! Make some use of me, if you don't mind!MALISE. My G.o.d![She puts up her face to be kissed, shutting her eyes.]MALISE. You poor---- He clasps and kisses her, then,
- 139 CLARE. You need not have come--or thought at all.GEORGE. Did you imagine I was going to let you vanish without an effort---- CLARE. To save me?GEORGE. For G.o.d's sake be just! I've come here to say certain things. If you force me to say them be
- 138 CLARE. No?LADY DEDMOND. George is most willing to take up things just as they were before you left.CLARE. Ah!LADY DEDMOND. Quite frankly--what is it you want?CLARE. To be left alone. Quite frankly, he made a mistake to have me spied on. LADY DEDMOND. But,
- 137 CLARE. I have nothing against my husband--it was quite unreasonable to leave him.TWISDEN. Come, that's good.CLARE. Unfortunately, there's something stronger than reason.TWISDEN. I don't know it, Mrs. Dedmond.CLARE. No? TWISDEN. [Disconcerte
- 136 MALISE. Ah! Proud to have given you that advice. When?CLARE. The morning after you gave it me . . .MALISE. Well?CLARE. I went down to my people. I knew it would hurt my Dad frightfully, but somehow I thought I could make him see. No good.He was awfully sw
- 135 CURTAIN.ACT II The scene is a large, whitewashed, disordered room, whose outer door opens on to a corridor and stairway. Doors on either side lead to other rooms. On the walls are unframed reproductions of fine pictures, secured with tintacks. An old wine
- 134 A silence. CLARE suddenly clasps her hands behind her head.CLARE. Let me go! You'd be much happier with any other woman.GEORGE. Clare!CLARE. I believe--I'm sure I could earn my living. Quite serious.GEORGE. Are you mad? CLARE. It has been done.G
- 133 CLARE. British home-made summer goods, light and attractive--don't wear long. [At the sound of voices in the hall] They seem 'to be going, Reggie.[HUNTINGDON looks at her, vexed, unhappy.]HUNTINGDON. Don't head for trouble, old girl. Take a
- 132 MRS. FULLARTON. Why not?CLARE. I don't want to torture him. If I strike--I'll go clean. I expect I shall strike.MRS. FULLARTON. My dear! You'll have the whole world against you.CLARE. Even you won't back me, Dolly?MRS. FULLARTON. Of co
- 131 CLARE. [Smiling-in a clear voice with the faintest possible lisp]Yes, we met on the door-mat. [Pause.]SIR CHARLES. Deuce you did! [An awkward pause.]LADY DEDMOND. [Acidly] Mr. Malise doesn't play Bridge, it appears.Afraid we shall be rather in the wa
- 130 HUNTINGDON. Oh, yes; George is all right, sir.LADY DEDMOND. They ought to have had children.HUNTINGDON. Expect they're pretty glad now they haven't. I really don't know what to say, ma'am.SIR CHARLES. Saving your presence, you know, Re
- 129 SIR CHARLES. Who's that?LADY DEDMOND. That Mr. Malise.SIR CHARLES. Oh! That chap!GEORGE. Clare isn't that sort.LADY DEDMOND. I know. But she catches up notions very easily. I think it's a great pity you ever came across him. SIR CHARLES. Wh
- 128 When I send up from the Club for my dress things, always put in a black waistcoat as well.PAYNTER. I asked the mistress, sir.GEORGE. In future--see?PAYNTER. Yes, sir. [Signing towards the window] Shall I leave the sunset, sir?But GEORGE has crossed to the
- 127 c.o.kESON. No one'll touch him now! Never again! He's safe with gentle Jesus!RUTH stands as though turned to stone in the doorway staring at c.o.kESON, who, bending humbly before her, holds out his hand as one would to a lost dog.The curtain fal
- 126 Again there is silence. WALTER and c.o.kESON steal glances at JAMES, who stands staring steadily at the detective.c.o.kESON. [Expansively] We're very busy at the moment. If you could make it convenient to call again we might be able to tell you then.
- 125 RUTH. Yes--only yesterday.JAMES. He's told us about himself, and we're very sorry for him.I've promised to take him back here if he'll make a fresh start.[Looking steadily at RUTH] This is a matter that requires courage, ma'am.RUT
- 124 JAMES. Well?FALDER. I had a lot of time to think it over in prison. [He stops]c.o.kESON. [Encouraging him] I'm sure you did.FALDER. There were all sorts there. And what I mean, sir, is, that if we'd been treated differently the first time, and p
- 123 FALDER. That's what I've found, Mr. c.o.keson. Awfully sorry for me.[With quiet bitterness] But it doesn't do to a.s.sociate with criminals!c.o.kESON. Come, come, it's no use calling yourself names. That never did a man any good. Put a
- 122 RUTH. It would be the saving of him.c.o.kESON. Well, I'll do what I can, but I'm not sanguine. Now tell him that I don't want him till I see how things are. Leave your address? [Repeating her] 83 Mullingar Street? [He notes it on blotting-p
- 121 SWEEDLE. [Suddenly seeing her, and dropping the lid of the washstand with a bang] h.e.l.lo! It's you!RUTH. Yes.SWEEDLE. There's only me here! They don't waste their time hurrying down in the morning. Why, it must be two years since we had t
- 120 FALDER. [Wistfully] Yes, sir.THE GOVERNOR. Take a good hold of yourself. Do you read?FALDER. I don't take the words in. [Hanging his head] I know it's no good; but I can't help thinking of what's going on outside. In my cell I can'
- 119 WOODER. [Going towards O'CLEARY'S cell] This one, sir; O'Cleary.He lifts the disc and glances through the peephole.THE GOVERNOR. Open.WOODER throws open the door. O'CLEARY, who is seated at a little table by the door as if listening, s
- 118 SCENE II Part of the ground corridor of the prison. The walls are coloured with greenish distemper up to a stripe of deeper green about the height of a man's shoulder, and above this line are whitewashed. The floor is of blackened stones. Daylight is
- 117 THE GOVERNOR. [To WOODER, who has come in] Ask the doctor to be good enough to come here for a minute. [WOODER salutes, and goes out] Let's see, he's not married?c.o.kESON. No. [Confidentially] But there's a party he's very much attach
- 116 WOODER. Yes, sir-fourth spell of penal. You'd think an old lag like him would have had more sense by now. [With pitying contempt]Occupied his mind, he said. Breaking in and breaking out--that's all they think about.THE GOVERNOR. Who's next
- 115 CLEAVER. May it please your lords.h.i.+p--[Rising on his toes] Gentlemen of the Jury,--The facts in this case are not disputed, and the defence, if my friend will allow me to say so, is so thin that I don't propose to waste the time of the Court by t
- 114 CLEAVER. [Cheerfully] Queer sort of accident, wasn't it? On which day did you alter the counterfoil?FALDER. [Hanging his head] On the Wednesday morning.CLEAVER. Was that an accident too?FALDER. [Faintly] No.CLEAVER. To do that you had to watch your o
- 113 FALDER leaves the dock; goes into the witness-box, and is duly sworn.FROME. What is your name?FALDER. William Falder.FROME. And age?FALDER. Twenty-three. FROME. You are not married?FALDER shakes his head FROME. How long have you known the last witness?FAL
- 112 RUTH. Dreadfully.FROME. Did he ever speak to you about a cheque?RUTH. Never.FROZE. Did he ever give you any money?RUTH. Yes. FROME. When was that?RUTH. On Sat.u.r.day.FROME. The 8th?RUTH. To buy an outfit for me and the children, and get all ready to star
- 111 RUTH. Ruth Honeywill. FROME. How old are you? RUTH. Twenty-six. FROME. You are a married woman, living with your husband? A little louder. RUTH. No, sir; not since July. FROME. Have you any children? RUTH. Yes, sir, two. FROME. Are they living with you?
- 110 FROME. You say a woman. Do you mean that she came to the office?c.o.kESON. Ye-es.FROME. What for?c.o.kESON. Asked to see young Falder; he was out at the moment.FROME. Did you see her? c.o.kESON. I did.FROME. Did she come alone?c.o.kESON. [Confidentially]
- 109 c.o.kESON. Robert c.o.keson.FROME. Are you managing clerk to the firm of solicitors who employ the prisoner?c.o.kESON. Ye-es.FROME. How long had the prisoner been in their employ?c.o.kESON. Two years. No, I'm wrong there--all but seventeen days. FROM
- 108 WALTER. Put yourself in his place, father.JAMES. You ask too much of me.WALTER. We can't possibly tell the pressure there was on him.JAMES. You may depend on it, my boy, if a man is going to do this sort of thing he'll do it, pressure or no pres
- 107 JAMES. Very well, then, how do you account for the fact that this nought was added to the nine in the counterfoil on or after Tuesday?c.o.kESON. [Surprised] How's that?FALDER gives a sort of lurch; he tries to pull himself together, but he has gone a
- 106 JAMES. No, thanks!FALDER turns and goes back into his own room. As he shuts the door JAMES gives the cas.h.i.+er an interrogative look, and the cas.h.i.+er nods.JAMES. Sure? This isn't as we suspected.COWLEY. Quite. He knew me. I suppose he can'
- 105 c.o.kESON. Ye-es! [He laughs. Then with a sudden gravity] I'm sorry for that young man. I feel it as if it was my own son, Mr. James.JAMES. A nasty business!c.o.kESON. It unsettles you. All goes on regular, and then a thing like this happens. Shan�
- 104 WALTER. I know; but the intention was obviously to exclude that bit of common ground.c.o.kESON. We needn't worry about that. We're the right side of the law.WALTER. I don't like it, c.o.kESON. [With an indulgent smile] We shan't want t
- 103 RUTH. They're mine, please.SWEEDLE. Shall I hold them in check?RUTH. They're quite small, sir. [She takes a step towards c.o.kESON]c.o.kESON. You mustn't take up his time in office hours; we're a clerk short as it is.RUTH. It's a
- 102 ACT II. a.s.sizes. Afternoon. October.ACT III. A prison. December.SCENE I. The Governor's office.SCENE II. A corridor.SCENE III. A cell. ACT IV. The office of James and Walter How. Morning.March, two years later.CAST OF THE FIRST PRODUCTION AT THE DU
- 101 SEELCHEN. Years, years I have slept. My spirit is hungry. [Then as she sees the Shepherd of THE COW HORN standing there] I know thee now--Life of the earth--the smell of thee, the sight of thee, the taste of thee, and all thy music. I have pa.s.sed thee a
- 100 and blue, rose-pink, and burnt-gold. Their bells are ringing.as they pelt each other with flowers of their own colours; and each in turn, wheeling, flings one flower at SEELCHEN, who puts them to her lips and eyes.SEELCHEN. The dew! [She moves towards the
- 99 When the day brings not new things, we are children of sorrow. If darkness and light did not change, could we breathe? Child! To live is to love, to love is to live-seeking for wonder. [And as she draws nearer] See! To love is to peer over the edge, and,
- 98 SCENE III The dark scene again becomes glamorous. SEELCHEN is seen with her hand stretched out towards the Piazza of a little town, with a plane tree on one side, a wall on the other, and from the open doorway of an Inn a pale path of light. Over the Inn
- 97 GENTIAN. My blue is deeper!THE WINE HORN. I will shower on you blushes.ALPENROSE. I can blush redder!THE WINE HORN. Little soul, listen! My Jewels! Silk! Velvet!EDELWEISS. I am softer than velvet! THE WINE HORN. [Proudly] My wonderful rags!THE FLOWERS. [M
- 96 From behind THE WINE HORN rise the rival voices Of VIEW OF ITALY, FLUME OF STEAM, and THINGS IN BOOKS: "I am Italy! Italy!""See me--steam in the distance!""O remember the things in books!"And all call out together, very softl
- 95 SEELCHEN. [Clasping her hands] That is like me but I am always here.LAMOND. Ah! yes; there is no one like you in towns.SEELCHEN. In two places one cannot be. [Suddenly] In the towns there are theatres, and there is beautiful fine work, and--dancing, and--
- 94 LAMOND. I've come to go up the Great Horn at sunrise.SEELCHEN. [Awed] The Great Horn! But he is impossible.LAMOND. I am going to try that.SEELCHEN. There is the Wine Horn, and the Cow Horn.LAMOND. I have climbed them. SEELCHEN. But he is so dangerous
- 93 It's not for him that's--that's to look down on her. [To FREDA] You hear the handsome offer that's been made you? Well? [FREDA moistens her lips and tries to speak, but cannot] If n.o.body's to speak a word, we won't get much
- 92 SIR WILLIAM. Do me the justice to admit that I have not attempted to persuade you to.BILL. No! you've chucked me out. I don't see what else you could have done under the circ.u.mstances. It's quite all right. But if you wanted me to throw h
- 91 SIR WILLIAM. I'm not going to see my eldest son ruin his life. I must think this out.LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. [Beneath her breath] I've tried that--it doesn't help.SIR WILLIAM. This girl, who was born on the estate, had the run of the house--brou
- 90 KEITH. Carries his ears in your mouth a bit, that's all. [Putting his hand on her shoulder] Cheer up, Mem-Sahib!CHRISTINE. Mother, must anything be said to father? Ronny thinks it all depends on her. Can't you use your influence? [LADY CHEs.h.i.
- 89 CHRISTINE. [In a hard voice] As we're all doing.DOT. She's so soft, that's what's so horrible. If one could only feel----!KEITH. She's got to face the music like the rest of us.DOT. Music! Squeaks! Ugh! The whole thing's like
- 88 HAROLD. John, I expect. [The sound ceases.]BILL. He's coming in here. Can't stand that!As LATTER appears from the billiard-room, he goes hurriedly out.LATTER. Was that Bill?HAROLD. Yes. LATTER. Well?HAROLD. [Pacing up and down in his turn] Rat i
- 87 JOAN. How awful!CHRISTINE. I never thought of anything as bad as that.JOAN. Oh! Chris! Something must be done!DOT. [Suddenly to herself] Ha! When Father went up to have his glove b.u.t.toned!There is a sound, JACKSON has came in from the corridor. JACKSON
- 86 JOAN. [Following her sisters] The car's round. What's the matter?DOT. Shut up!SIR WILLIAM'S voice is heard from the corridor calling "Dorothy!" As LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE, pa.s.sing her handkerchief over her face, turns round, he enters
- 85 In her distress she walks up and doom the room, then goes to the workroom door, and opens it.LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. Come in here, please, Freda.After a seconds pause, FREDA, white and trembling, appears in the doorway, followed by BILL.LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. No,
- 84 BILL. If you think she's trapped me into this---- LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. I do not. Neither do I think she has been trapped.I think nothing. I understand nothing.BILL. [Grimly] Good!LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. How long has this-engagement lasted? BILL. [After a si
- 83 She puts her hand behind her, opens the door, and slips through, leaving BILL to turn, following the direction of her eyes, and see FREDA with the cloak still in her hand.BILL. [Slowly walking towards her] I haven't slept all night.FREDA. No?BILL. Ha
- 82 HAROLD. [Cheerfully] I hate beginning to rehea.r.s.e, you know, you feel such a fool.DOT. [With her bandbox-gloomily] You'll feel more of a fool when you have begun. [To BILL, who is staring into the workroom] Shut the door. Now. [BILL shuts the door
- 81 LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. I just wondered whether you'd like to ask my advice.Your engagement with Dunning's broken off, isn't it?ROSE. Yes--but I've told him he's got to marry me.LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. I see! And you think that'll be t
- 80 BILL. Do you know you haven't seen me for eight weeks?FREDA. Quite--long enough--for you to have forgotten.BILL. Forgotten! I don't forget people so soon.FREDA. No?BILL. What's the matter with you, Freda? FREDA. [After a long look] It'