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Fifty Contemporary One-Act Plays Novel Chapters
List of most recent chapters published for the Fifty Contemporary One-Act Plays novel. A total of 301 chapters have been translated and the release date of the last chapter is Apr 02, 2024
Latest Release: Chapter 1 : Fifty Contemporary One-Act Plays.by Various.INTRODUCTION Tradition in the sphere of book
Fifty Contemporary One-Act Plays.by Various.INTRODUCTION Tradition in the sphere of books is relentlessly imperious and will not be denied. The present anthology of one-act plays, in defiance of a keen reluctance on the part of the editors, is condemned a
- 101 VENNEMA. I can't help being distressed over it. That she should have descended to this!VAN ELST. Do you know what the maid told me? She said that they are happy together, and that he is truly in love with her.VENNEMA. Yes. But why did he allow her to
- 102 Everything is in perfect readiness for you: your little room, the flowers, the trees ... everything. Louise....LOUISE. Father, that can never be. Never.VENNEMA. Why not? We have arranged everything. Nothing will be lacking for your welcome, your comfort.L
- 103 VAN ELST. The maid said that it happened quite often, too.VENNEMA. What do you think he will do when he learns that she is gone?VAN ELST. If he is anything of a man, if he is a man of honor, then he will stay away. If not, there is the law. But I believe
- 104 [_Curtain._]THE GRANDMOTHER A PLAY BY LAJOS BIRO Authorized Translation by Charles Recht.Copyright, 1920, by Charles Recht. All rights reserved.CHARACTERS THE GRANDMOTHER.HER GRANDCHILDREN: THE BLOND YOUNG LADY.THE BRUNETTE YOUNG LADY.THE BRIDE.THE VIVACI
- 105 THE POLITE YOUNG MAN. Your pardon! Do you suppose that all a person gets out of this remarkable occasion is a good dinner? Have you no appreciation? Do you realize what this day means to all of us?THE DISAGREEABLE YOUNG MAN. Very well, my boy. Now tell me
- 106 [_The Disagreeable Young Man shrugs his shoulder and buries his head in his book. Grandmother begins to narrate, and the circle of her admiring and attentive audience grows narrower._]GRANDMOTHER. Well, my children, it happened in the year eighteen hundre
- 107 GRANDMOTHER. Very well, my dears, but now run along to your tennis game.I'll come over later to watch on. [_They all agree._]THE POLITE YOUNG MAN. Three cheers for our very dear beloved charming grandma.[_They all cheer three times, then they surround he
- 108 GRANDMOTHER. No. I promise you I will not be angry. Say whatever you please.[_The Disagreeable Young Man hesitates._]GRANDMOTHER. Well, then--out with it--speak up, my child--be it what it may as long as it is frank and sincere. Speak up, now. Come!THE DI
- 109 PLACE: _A villa at Brianza_.TIME: _The Present_.Applications for the right of performing THE RIGHTS OF THE SOUL must be made to Frank Shay, who may be addressed in care of Stewart & Kidd Company.THE RIGHTS OF THE SOUL ONE ACT BY GIUSEPPE GIACOSA [SCENE:
- 110 PAOLO. The scoundrel.MARIO. What date is that letter?PAOLO. Luciano himself has noted the hour and date when he received it.He has written here in pencil: "Received to-day, June 26th, 11 A.M." He killed himself before noon.MARIO. Poor devil! One can see
- 111 PAOLO. No!MARIO. The engineer Falchi has arrived. The day after to-morrow there is the meeting of the water-company.PAOLO. Send it to the devil.MARIO. I cannot, I am the president.PAOLO. It was arranged that we were to leave to-day. We put it off on your
- 112 But as soon as I entered I saw immediately. [_With imperceptible accent of mocking pity._] You had a modest and embarra.s.sed air. I know you so well. Do you want to hear how well? When Mario proposed you go for the carriage, I thought--he will not go. Wh
- 113 PAOLO. Look out. If--no, no, go--go--we shall see afterwards. [_Mario exits. Paolo takes a letter from the wallet, reads it attentively, accentuating the words._] "You write me that if I do not respond you will return immediately." [_Speaks._] You write
- 114 PAOLO. So she, foreseeing his intentions, felt that he would come ... by that divination....MARIO. You are the first husband to get angry because a wife did her duty.PAOLO. Uhm! Duty--the ugly word!MARIO. If there ever was a virtuous woman!PAOLO. Woman or
- 115 PAOLO. Mario, who knew him!ANNA. I ignore that.PAOLO. Did he ever speak of it?MARIO. Do not reply, Anna, do not answer, come away--he is ill, he does not reason--poor devil--it will pa.s.s and he will understand then-- ANNA. No, it is useless. PAOLO. A us
- 116 PAOLO. And if I command?ANNA. You will, in one moment, destroy all my plan. Think--your violence is a liberation for me.PAOLO. Oh, come--or speak!ANNA. Do you wish it so? We have come to that? I have done all that I could.PAOLO. Yes, go on. Speak! ANNA. I
- 117 FIRST TOURIST. He's young.SECOND TOURIST. How old?FIRST TOURIST. Twenty-eight.SECOND TOURIST. Twenty-six. Fright has made him look older.FIRST TOURIST. How much will you bet? SECOND TOURIST. Ten to a hundred. Put it down.FIRST TOURIST [_writing in his no
- 118 TOURIST. Under you, under you, lady.LITTLE LADY. I am so tired. What a wretched camera you have. I thought it felt uncomfortable and I was wondering why. Now I know; I am sitting on your camera.TOURIST [_agonized_]. Lady!LITTLE LADY. I thought it was a st
- 119 TOURIST [_angrily_]. Do you mean to tell me it's genuine if it isn't stolen? Go on. Not much.MILITARY WOMAN [_amiably_]. Are all these your children?TOURIST. Yes, madam. A father's duty. You see, they are protesting. It is the eternal conflict between
- 120 UNKNOWN MAN [_rather loudly_]. Yes, it's bad. I am sick and tired of it.DRUNKEN MAN. Can't you get a drink?UNKNOWN MAN. No, how can I?SECOND DRUNKEN MAN. Say, what are you talking about? How can he get a drink? The man is about to die and you tempt him
- 121 MILITARY WOMAN [_indignantly_]. My! He lies like a salesman.MARY [_wearily_]. Papa, children, look, he is starting to fall again.TOURIST [_angrily_]. Don't bother me. Such a tragedy is unfolding itself right before your very eyes--and you--What are you m
- 122 UNKNOWN MAN [_aloud_]. Take that jacka.s.s away to the devil. He wants to shoot me. And tell the boss that I can't stand it any longer.VOICES. What's that? What boss? He is losing his mind, the poor man.TOURIST. Aleck! Mary! This is a mad scene. Jimmie,
- 123 PHOTOGRAPHER. I spoiled three films photographing that scamp. You will have to answer for this, sir. I will hold you responsible.TOURIST. An official report! An official report! Such a bare-faced deception. Mary, Jimmie, Aleck, Charlie, call a policeman.H
- 124 PLACE: _The Estate of Mrs. Popov_.TIME: _The Present_.[_The stage shows an elegantly furnished reception room._]Reprinted from "The World's Best Plays by Celebrated European Authors," edited by Barrett H. Clark, and published by Samuel French, by permi
- 125 SMIRNOV. So you can't pay?MRS. POPOV. I cannot.SMIRNOV. Hm.--Is that your last word?MRS. POPOV. My last.SMIRNOV. Absolutely? MRS. POPOV. Absolutely.SMIRNOV. Thank you. We shan't forget it. [_He shrugs his shoulders._]And then they expect me to stand for
- 126 SMIRNOV [_laughing disrespectfully_]. Mourning! What on earth do you take me for? As if I didn't know why you wore this black domino and why you buried yourself within these four walls. As if I didn't know! Such a secret! So romantic! Some knight will p
- 127 LUKA. Oh, sir. Go away. Go away from here.SMIRNOV. That _is_ a woman. I can understand her. A real woman. No s.h.i.+lly-shallying, but fire, powder, and noise! It would be a pity to shoot a woman like that.LUKA [_weeping_]. Oh, sir; go away.[_Enter Mrs. P
- 128 FLORENCIO.CASALONGA.ZURITA.VALDIVIESO.THE SCENE _is laid in a provincial capital_. Reprinted from "Plays: First Series," by permission of, and special arrangements with, Mr. John Garrett Underhill and Charles Scribner's Sons. Applications for permissio
- 129 FLORENCIO. How ridiculous! That only shows how far we are behind the times. You certainly have no feeling of that sort after having been the companion of that great, that liberal man. I remember the trip we took to Italy together--you surely recollect it,
- 130 PAQUITA. I should not make light of it, if I were you. You know what Somolino's wife is, to say nothing of Sanchez the confectioner.CAROLINA. I didn't know about the confectioner.EUDOSIA. No respectable woman, no woman who even pretends to be respectabl
- 131 CAROLINA. But this is outrageous; this book is a libel. It invades the private life--the most private part of it! It must be stopped.EUDOSIA. It cannot be stopped. You will soon see whether or not it can be stopped.PAQUITA. Probably the edition is exhaust
- 132 FLORENCIO. "This woman and this man, the two greatest, the two pure, the two unselfish pa.s.sions of my life, in whom my very being was consumed--how can I bring myself to confess it? I hardly dare admit it to myself! They are in love--they love each oth
- 133 CAROLINA. Florencio!FLORENCIO. Stop at nothing! Do not haggle over terms. Let it be pistols with real bullets, as we pace forward each to each!ZURITA. But, Don Florencio!CAROLINA. Don't go, I beg of you! Don't leave the house!FLORENCIO. You are my frien
- 134 CASALONGA. Ha, ha, ha! That might be. Stranger things have happened. But you are not angry with me, are you? The thing is not worth all this fuss.FLORENCIO. Do you hear what he says?VALDIVIESO. You may be sure that if I had had the slightest idea.... I bo
- 135 VALDIVIESO. I use it where I like.FLORENCIO. Gentlemen, gentlemen! This is my house, this is the house of my wife!ZURITA. Valdivieso!CASALONGA [_to Florencio_]. I choose you for my second. And you too, my friend--what is your name?VALDIVIESO. But will you
- 136 CAROLINA. _Ay!_ CASALONGA. I had you scared! At your service.... Here is the entire edition. I returned him his thousand pesetas--I declined to make it another penny. I told you that would be all that was necessary. I am a man of my word. Now it is up to
- 137 PETRA. The sun is rather hot.DOnA LAURA. Yes, to you who are only 20 years old. [_She sits down on the bench._] Oh, I feel more tired to-day than usual. [_Noticing Petra, who seems impatient._] Go, if you wish to chat with your guard.PETRA. He is not my g
- 138 DON GONZALO [_brus.h.i.+ng the dust from his shoes with his handkerchief_].If the grounds were sprinkled more freely it would be an improvement.DOnA LAURA. What an idea, to brush your shoes with your handkerchief.DON GONZALO. What?DOnA LAURA. Do you use a
- 139 DOnA LAURA. Pa.s.s me the book, please. [_takes book, reads aloud._]"Twenty years have pa.s.sed. He returns. And each upon beholding the other exclaims--Can it be possible that this is he? Merciful heavens, can this be she?"[_Dona Laura returns book to
- 140 DOnA LAURA. And was it you, by chance, who advised your cousin to forget Laura?DON GONZALO. Why, my cousin never forgot her for one instant.DOnA LAURA. How do you account, then, for his conduct?DON GONZALO. I will explain. The young man first took refuge
- 141 DON GONZALO. Wait, Juanito, wait.DOnA LAURA [_aside_]. There is no doubt. It is he.DON GONZALO [_walks toward left. Aside_]. There can be no mistake. It is she.[_Dona Laura and Don Gonzalo wave farewells to each other from a distance._]DOnA LAURA. Mercifu
- 142 ADOLF. No; her growth remained stationary, and I shot up.GUSTAV. Yes; it's really remarkable, but her literary talent already began to deteriorate after her first book, or, to put it as charitably as possible, it didn't develop any further. [_He sits do
- 143 GUSTAV. Because I watched these symptoms in a younger brother of mine, who eventually died of excess.[_He sits down in the arm-chair by the circular table._]ADOLF. How did it manifest itself--that disease, I mean?[_Gustav gesticulates vividly; Adolf watch
- 144 [_He goes round the circular table on the right._]ADOLF. What you say jabs a knife into my flesh. I've got a feeling as though something in me were cut through, but I can do nothing to stop it all by myself, and it's as well it should be so, for abscess
- 145 GUSTAV [_he laughs_]. In sculpture?[_He turns round by the square table and comes to Adolf's right._]ADOLF [_hesitating_]. Yes.GUSTAV. And you believed in it?--in that abstract, obsolete art from the childhood of the world. Do you believe that by means o
- 146 ADOLF [_gets up_]. I am like a child without any bones, and my brain is empty.GUSTAV. Take a walk through the room.ADOLF. I can't.GUSTAV. You must; if you don't I'll hit you.ADOLF [_stands up_]. What do you say? GUSTAV. I've told you--I'll hit you.AD
- 147 ADOLF [_after a pause_]. Good. Since I've been condemned to death once--so be it--sooner or later it's all the same what's to happen.GUSTAV. One question first. Hasn't your wife got just one weak point?ADOLF. Not that I know of. [_Adolf goes to the op
- 148 ADOLF. Quite so--but all the rest? Nice?THEKLA [_taps him caressingly on yhe cheek_]. Will he shut up? Otherwise I'll kiss him.[_She goes behind him; Adolf defending himself._]ADOLF. Look out, look out, anybody might come.THEKLA [_nestling close to him_]
- 149 [_Adolf laughs._]THEKLA. There, there!ADOLF [_laughs involuntarily_]. You d.a.m.ned witch, you! I really believe you can bewitch people.THEKLA [_comes in front of the sofa_]. He can see for himself, and that's why he mustn't worry me, otherwise I shall
- 150 ADOLF. And you never see him in the street?THEKLA. No; he must have buried himself somewhere on the west coast. But why do you harp on that subject just now?ADOLF. I don't know. When I was so alone these last few days, it just occurred to me what he must
- 151 ADOLF. No, I noticed as much, for when I remarked, some time back, that you wanted to sneak away from me, and get a set of your own, so as to be able to deck yourself out with my feathers, to scintillate with my jewels, I wanted to remind you of your guil
- 152 ADOLF. I'll kiss your hand, if only you won't speak to me any more.THEKLA. And now you'll go out and get some fresh air before dinner.ADOLF [_getting up_]. Yes, that will do me good, and afterwards we'll pack up and go away.THEKLA. No.[_She moves away
- 153 THEKLA. It was you and no one else who taught me that. Do you still remember finding out my special colors?GUSTAV. No.THEKLA. It was quite simple, don't you remember? Come, I still remember distinctly how angry you used to be with me if I ever had anythi
- 154 THEKLA. If you would like me to.[_They keep their eyes looking into each other's for a minute._]GUSTAV. Do you think it is possible to forget a thing which has made so deep an impression on one's life?THEKLA. No; the power of impressions is great, parti
- 155 THEKLA. The false brute!GUSTAV. When?THEKLA. He goes away to-night by the eight-o'clock boat.GUSTAV. Then-- THEKLA. At nine. [_A noise in the room on the right._] Who's in there making such a noise? GUSTAV [_goes to the right at the keyhole_]. Let's ha
- 156 GUSTAV. I have none--and shall never have one. I am not going home because I have no home, and shall never have one.[_Waiter comes in on the lef._]SCENE VI.[_Previous characters--Waiter standing back._]GUSTAV. Bring me the bill--I'm leaving by the twelve
- 157 KRAKAU. There, I've done it again.HELMS [_without looking up from his paper_]. It's easy enough if one cheats.KRAKAU. Who cheats?HELMS. Well, year after year you work out the same problem. Anybody can do that.KRAKAU [_rearranging the chessmen_]. You can
- 158 KRAKAU. Yes.HELMS. Then why do you say so--e like that?KRAKAU [_restraining himself_]. We'd better not talk about that. I told you so before.HELMS. But, d.a.m.n it, I insist upon talking about it. I want to know what you mean.KRAKAU. That's all right. H
- 159 HELMS. Well, then--but what can an innocent old bachelor like you know of such things.KRAKAU. Are you going to talk stuck up again, Helms?HELMS. Sure I will: I am too stuck up to let an ignorant bachelor like you teach me what's what about married life.
- 160 KRAKAU. Never! We should be equal partners. And oh, the long talks we could have about him!... Before it was different ... you were so stuck up about your grandson, I couldn't bear it any longer.... But now we can both be stuck up.HELMS [_hotly_]. No....
- 161 HAMMER. Theres something the matter with all of us. How is your throat, Helms? HELMS. Pretty good. [_There is silence again._] HANSEN. Fine weather to-day. JOHNSTON. Regular birthday weather. HAMMER. On my birthday it always rains. HANSEN [_points to th
- 162 BUFFE [_to Bolling_]. Come over to the table; we are going to have wine. [_Bolling stands up. They move his chair to the table. He sits again._] HANSEN. Why are you so quiet, Bolling? BOLLING. Everything there is to say has been said. JOHNSTON. Hes a smar
- 163 HAMMER. Then its a good thing shes a nurse. HELMS. Every young woman ought to be trained as a nurse. BUFFE [_to Bolling_]. The nurse in the hospital is going to marry the doctor. BOLLING. I was married, too. HELMS. Fill the gla.s.ses, Krakau. [_Krakau doe
- 164 BOLLING. I was seventeen--once. Now Im ninety-two. HAMMER. I am seventy-three. KNUT. Lets add up the number of years in this room. HELMS. Theres too many. It cant be done. KNUT [_with a laugh_]. Lets try. [_Rapidly._] Mr. Bolling is 92 and grandfather is
- 165 JOHNSTON. Its nice to have young people around once in a while. BUFFE [_nods sadly_]. Yes. JOHNSTON. You have a fine young grandson, Helms. HELMS [_with an uneasy glance at Krakau_]. Yes, I cant complain of him. BUFFE. Its good to have a family that look
- 166 KRAKAU [_hastily changing the subject_]. It's funny about old Bolling.How he's changed in the last year! He never talks any more.HELMS. When you get to be ninety-two and not a relation in the world--[_His voice breaks in self-pity._]KRAKAU [_finished wi
- 167 KRAKAU [_comfortably lights his pipe, relaxes_]. Well, now we'll see how good you are at working out problems.HELMS. I don't think I can do it.KRAKAU [_reading_]. Sure you can.HELMS. Look here. Would you check with the bishop?KRAKAU [_studies the board_
- 168 _A man of forty enters, leaving the bedroom door open behind him.His small head and childish face, on a tall, thin, and extremely erect body, resemble those of a species of putty-like rubber doll whose head may be reshaped by the hand. He wears a winter c
- 169 SETH. I ain't in two.LON [_in despair_]. Seth, she's cut twenty cords o' wood t' sell.SETH [_shaking his head_]. An' me without a roof o' my own.LON. Me an' the kids wonder sometimes where our next meal's comin' from.SETH [_as though there were s
- 170 LON. Huh! I could tell a tale. Who was it set with his feet in the oven last winter, an' let Jack Tompkins break into them cottages--_with keys_? [_Seth does not answer._] I could tell, I could. But I ain't a goin' t' 'til they put me on the witness-
- 171 SETH. I don't want it! I want Pa's old place.LON. An' I want it. I'm older 'an yuh.SETH. I got the best claim t' it.LON. Yuh ain't. We with three mouths t' feed. Yer a swindler, yuh are.Yuh always tried t' cheat me. SETH. No one kin say that t'
- 172 SETH. She's that stingy, cuttin' an' choppin' wood, sellin it t' the city folks. We might a knowd.LON. An' me a comin' all the three miles an' a quarter t' see him a fore he died.SETH. I been settin' here two days a waitin'.LON. An' then t' t
- 173 [_Curtain._]IN THE MORGUE A PLAY BY SADA COWAN Copyright, 1920, by Stewart & Kidd Company. All rights reserved.IN THE MORGUE is reprinted from "The Forum" by special permission of Miss Sada Cowan. Application for right of performing IN THE MORGUE must b
- 174 CAREN. What do you mean by that?KRAIG. Nothing! [_A pause, then bitterly._] Oh there's one joy down here. You can burrow and hide like a rat from it all. The d.a.m.n carriages don't roll by before your eyes. The women don't!... Oh, those women, how I h
- 175 KRAIG. Oh, let me see what's wrong with him ... please.CAREN. You go out that door and you don't come back. [_A pause._] I guess you'll stay.KRAIG [_looks his hatred_]. Just as you say.[_Outside the door there is a short, sharp scream._]VOICE. Maria! K
- 176 CAREN. Who is he? Quick!HELPER. Our.... [_Exultantly._] Our King!CAREN [_open-mouthed, aghast_]. Our ... King!KRAIG [_laughing triumphantly_]. Ha ... ha ... ha ... ha--HERE! [_He clasps his hands together._]CAREN [_excited_]. Are you mad, Boy, mad? Our Ki
- 177 VOICE OF HANK [_rather rich and fine_]."When your heart was mine, true love, And your head lay on my breast, You could make me believe By the falling of your arm That the sun rose up in the west--"[_There is a momentary pause, filled in by--_ A VOICE. Y
- 178 [_Padie shakes her head, runs up, and slams her door._]HANK [_to Lon in friendly fas.h.i.+on_]. Women folks is cur'us, cur'us.LON [_surlily_]. Take my advice and keep free from 'em.HANK. It was a woman did fer my brother.LON [_with increased interest_]
- 179 [_She comes down to meet him and the two are momentarily hidden from the audience. Lon continues to drink steadily, pouring down one gla.s.s after another. Hank reappears, treading with a certain gayety, and goes out rear, whistling the Tennessee "warble
- 180 LON [_sullenly_]. I _knowed_ you'd come.GHOST [_triumphantly_]. And you believe in me, eh? Well, that's good, too.LON [_stubbornly_]. Believe? Well! I knowed I'd be seein' things soon, what with the booze. I knowed it'd be the snakes or you. Padie to
- 181 HANK. Did you--love him--so much?PADIE [_very low_]. Once--a little. [_With sudden, fierce joy._] I don't care! Now--I kin--live!HANK [_looking out over the desert where the dawn begins to show_]. Both of us.[_Curtain._]THE SLAVE WITH TWO FACES AN ALLEG
- 182 FIRST GIRL. --Is why we must never let him see us without our crowns!SECOND GIRL. How do you know these things?FIRST GIRL. They were told me by an old wise man, who sits outside the gate of our town.SECOND GIRL. How did he know? Because he was one of thos
- 183 FIRST GIRL. Come here![_Life comes to her. With a quick movement she s.n.a.t.c.hes one of the gold chains from about his neck._]SECOND GIRL [_frightened_]. How can you dare?FIRST GIRL. What you see you must take. [_She seizes his wrist and pulls from it a
- 184 ANOTHER VOICE. A little love to make the day less terrible!THIRD VOICE. Only rest, a little rest! Time to think of the sea, and of gra.s.ses blowing in the wind.A WOMAN. Master![_Life lashes her with his whip. The woman screams. Life draws back from them,
- 185 SECOND GIRL [_holds it out cautiously toward him, then changes her mind_]. No-- LIFE. Let me hold it in my fingers. I shall give it back to you. SECOND GIRL. No. LIFE. I shall give it back. SECOND GIRL. If you will surely give it back to me-- LIFE [_tak
- 186 LIFE. Kneel.SECOND GIRL. You would be always kind, you said-- LIFE. Will you obey?SECOND GIRL. I shall never-- [_Life curls his whip around her shoulders._] SECOND GIRL [_screams_]. Do not flog me. I will kneel. [_Kneels_.]LIFE. So? In that way I can win
- 187 MADDEN [_still looking down and trying to control his feelings_]. The head bookkeeper kept me, checkin' up the mill pay roll. I been here [_consulting his watch_] just seven minutes.MRS. MADDEN [_yawning_]. Thanks. Yer s' darn acc'rate, Jim. I didn're
- 188 MRS. MADDEN. Well, I guess anybody'd be glad not t' have kids with _you_ f'r a husban'. Y' don't earn enough money t' keep a cat--let alone kids!An' jus' t' think they'd be like you!MADDEN [_more surprised than angry_]. Florence--you're talkin
- 189 MADDEN. Would you call Florrie a ... a ... well one o' them high-strung girls?MIX. Gosh, no!MADDEN. You don't think she'd be the sort to fly off the handle an' do ... well, somethin' desp'rate?MIX. Come off. You know's well's I do, Florrie's noth
- 190 [_Madden continues his nervous pacing of the floor. Mix watches him with increasing annoyance._]MADDEN [_suddenly_]. Was that a footstep?[_Mix shakes his head. Madden goes quickly to the window and looks out. From there he rushes to the door and peers out
- 191 MRS. MADDEN [_impatiently_]. That's all right. [_She looks down again at her book._]MADDEN [_with increasing emotion. Going to the arm chair and looking down at her tenderly from behind it_]. I kept thinkin' ... thinkin' how pretty an' how ... how goo
- 192 LYDIA. Yes. But he would much rather watch while it is being done.HARRIET. Well naturally. But from upstairs you can't see through the leaves of the maple tree. Why, Lydia, there isn't another tree for miles around with such marvelous foliage. Great-gra
- 193 LYDIA [_startled_]. If he should die?HARRIET [_decidedly_]. That is simply another foolish fancy. He has been confined so long, that he gets restless and imagines these strange things.LYDIA. Poor Joe.HARRIET. Don't sympathize with him, please. I can't p
- 194 LYDIA. Having them is part of her religion.JOE. Well, this is mine. What is yours, Lydia? I don't believe I ever heard you say.LYDIA [_shortly_]. I haven't any.JOE. Sure enough?LYDIA [_nodding, then speaking quite slowly_]. I never did anything for any
- 195 JOE. Where is the key?LYDIA. I don't know where it is now. She has probably thrown it away. It would be just like her to do it. [_Changing her manner suddenly and rising._] Joe, wouldn't you like a cup of tea?JOE [_earnestly_]. No, I wouldn't. Sit down
- 196 JOE. Oh, I don't know. I'd rather like to get ahead of her in something, though.LYDIA. Well, you do believe in preparation. I can't see why you are being so beforehanded, but if it gives you any pleasure to scare me to death---- JOE. It certainly does,
- 197 HARRIET [_horrified_]. You wouldn't touch the piano in the presence of death!LYDIA. Where is the key?HARRIET [_unable to fathom Lydia's strange demand_]. It is gone. I don't know where it is.LYDIA. Don't you? Don't you? [_Sliding her hands toward her
- 198 COUNTY ATTORNEY. By the way, has anything been moved? Are things just as you left them yesterday?SHERIFF [_looking about_]. It's just the same. When it dropped below zero last night I thought I'd better send Frank out this morning to make a fire for us-
- 199 COUNTY ATTORNEY. I'd like to talk more of that a little later. I want to get the lay of things upstairs now.[_He goes to the left, where three steps lead to a stair door._]SHERIFF. I suppose anything Mrs. Peters does'll be all right. She was to take in
- 200 [_After she has said this they look at each other, then start to glance back at the door. After an instant Mrs. Hale has pulled at a knot and ripped the sewing._]MRS. PETERS. Oh, what are you doing, Mrs. Hale?MRS. HALE [_mildly_]. Just pulling out a st.i.