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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
- 79 LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. [Still speaking to the fire] It seems dreadful to force him. I do so believe in people doing things of their own accord. [Then seeing FREDA standing so uncertainly by the stairs] Do you want me, Freda?FREDA. Only your cloak, my lady. Sh
- 78 BILL. Has she?MABEL. "She walks in beauty."BILL. Really? Hadn't noticed.MABEL. Have you been taking lessons in conversation?BILL. Don't think so. MABEL. Oh! [There is a silence] Mr. Ches.h.i.+re!BILL. Miss Lanfarne!MABEL. What's t
- 77 SIR WILLIAM. I'll give him till to-morrow. If he remains obstinate, he'll have to go; he'll get no character, Studdenham. Let him know what I've said. I like the fellow, he's a good keeper. I don't want to lose him. But this
- 76 LATTER. [Frigidly] Why not?HAROLD. [Who has entered from the dining-room] Pull devil, pull baker!KEITH. Shut up, Harold!LATTER. "To play the game" is the religion even of the Army.KEITH. Exactly, but what is the game? LATTER. What else can it be
- 75 CHRISTINE. Of course not!JOAN. Dot! You are!---- DOT. Hallo! my little snipe!LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. Dot, dear!DOT. Don't shut me up, mother! [To JOAN.] Are you in love with John? [JOAN turns hurriedly to the fire.] Would you be going to marry him if you
- 74 JOAN. [Flying towards the drawing-roam, is overtaken at the door]Oh! Dot! You're pinching!As they disappear into the drawing-room, MABEL LANFARNE, a tall girl with a rather charming Irish face, comes slowly down. And at sight of her FREDA's whol
- 73 ACT III. The smoking-room; tea-time.A night elapses between Acts I. and II.ACT I SCENE I The scene is a well-lighted, and large, oak-panelled hall, with an air of being lived in, and a broad, oak staircase. The dining-room, drawing-room, billiard-room, al
- 72 ROUS. It's a lie!THOMAS. Ye were past endurance, man.GREEN. If ye'd listen to me!BULGIN. (Under his breath.) Hold your jaw!ROBERTS. Ye waited for that! HARNESS. [Taking the Director's copy of the terms, and handing his own to TENCH.] That&#
- 71 ANTHONY. [In a grim voice.] These are the words of my own son.They are the words of a generation that I don't understand; the words of a soft breed.[A general murmur. With a violent effort ANTHONY recovers his control.]EDGAR. [Quietly.] I said it of
- 70 SCANTLEBURY. Then I shall not listen to you. I shall not listen!It's painful to me.[He covers his ears.]w.a.n.kLIN. None of us are opposed to a settlement, except your Father.EDGAR. I'm certain that if the shareholders knew---- w.a.n.kLIN. I do
- 69 ANTHONY. No.[There is a pause of general dismay.]WILDER. It's a deadlock then. [Letting his hands drop with a sort of despair.] Now I shall never get off to Spain!w.a.n.kLIN. [Retaining a trace of irony.] You hear the consequences of your victory, Ch
- 68 ENID. [With rage and emotion.] That's wicked! My father is suffering himself through this wretched strike.MADGE. [With sombre triumph.] Then tell him Mrs. Roberts is dead!That 'll make him better.ENID. Go away!MADGE. When a person hurts us we ge
- 67 dumb-waiter--n.o.body gave him anything for it, an' there it is, bein'used all over the place.[ENID moves closer to the double-doors.]There's a kind o' man that never forgives the world, because 'e wasn't born a gentleman. Wh
- 66 ENID. Don't!ANTHONY. You think with your gloved hands you can cure the trouble of the century.[He pa.s.ses on. ]ENID. Father![ANTHONY Stops at the double doors.] I'm only thinking of you!ANTHONY. [More softly.] I can take care of myself, my dear
- 65 EDGAR. There's a lot to be said on the men's side.ENID. I don't feel half so sympathetic with them as I did before I went. They just set up cla.s.s feeling against you. Poor Annie was looking dread fully bad--fire going out, and nothing fit
- 64 BULGIN. [Growling.] I'll smash 'er jaw.GREEN. If I'd a-been listened to, that poor woman---- THOMAS. It's a judgment on him for going against Chapel. I tolt him how 't would be!EVANS. All the more reason for sticking by 'im.
- 63 ROBERTS. Ah! Turned your coat you mean![The crowd manifests a great surprise.]LEWIS. [Apostrophising Rous.] Hallo! What's turned him round?ROUS. [Speaking with intense excitement.] 'E said fair. "Stand by us," 'e said, "and w
- 62 It iss no disgrace whateffer to a potty to give in to Nature. For this Nature iss a fery pig thing; it is pigger than what a man is.There iss more years to my hett than to the hett of any one here.It is fery pat, look you, this Going against Nature. It is
- 61 If I speak till to-morrow I can't say more.JAGO. [A dark, sallow, Spanish-looking man with a short, thin beard.] Mister, want to ask you! Can they get blacklegs?BULGIN. [Menacing.] Let 'em try.[There are savage murmurs from the crowd.]BROWN. [A
- 60 [MADGE comes in and stands at the open door, watching the street.]MADGE. You'll be late, Father; they're beginning. [She catches him by the sleeve.] For the love of G.o.d, stand up to him, Father--this time!THOMAS. [Detaching his sleeve with dig
- 59 ENID. I make one more appeal to you, Mr. Roberts, for the sake of your wife.ROBERTS. [With polite malice.] If I might advise ye, Ma'am--make it for the sake of your husband and your father.[ENID, suppressing a retort, goes out. UNDERWOOD opens the do
- 58 ENID. [Earnestly.] I've come on purpose to speak to you; will you come outside a minute?[She looks at MRS. ROBERTS.]ROBERTS. [Hanging up his hat.] I have nothing to say, Ma'am.ENID. But I must speak to you, please.[She moves towards the door.] R
- 57 MRS. ROBERTS. It's only my weak 'eard, M'm.ENID. You used to be so well when you were with us.MRS. ROBERTS. [Stiffening.] Roberts is always good to me.ENID. But you ought to have everything you want, and you have nothing!MRS. ROBERTS. [Appe
- 56 MRS. ROBERTS. You won't beat Roberts![They look silently at each other.]MADGE. Won't I? The cowards--when their own mothers and their own children don't know where to turn.MRS. ROBERTS. Madge!MADGE. [Looking searchingly at MRS. ROBERTS.] I
- 55 [ANTHONY shakes his head. FROST goes to the sideboard, and prepares the drink.]TENCH. [In a low voice, almost supplicating.] If you could see your way, sir, it would be a great relief to my mind, it would indeed.[He looks up at ANTHONY, who has not moved.
- 54 ANTHONY. You--don't--believe--in--barriers--between the cla.s.ses?ENID. [Coldly.] And I don't know what that has to do with this question.ANTHONY. It will take a generation or two for you to understand.ENID. It's only you and Roberts, Fathe
- 53 HARNESS. [Ironically.] I congratulate you on the conciliatory spirit that's been displayed. With your permission, gentlemen, I'll be with you again at half-past five. Good morning![He bows slightly, rests his eyes on ANTHONY, who returns his sta
- 52 WILDER. Well, thank G.o.d for that!ROBERTS. Ye will not dare to thank Him when I have done, Mr. Wilder, for all your piety. May be your G.o.d up in London has no time to listen to the working man. I'm told He is a wealthy G.o.d; but if he listens to
- 51 HARNESS. You were about to say something, I believe?[But SCANTLEBURY says nothing.]EDGAR. [Looking up suddenly.] We're sorry for the state of the men.HARNESS. [Icily.] The men have no use for your pity, sir. What they want is justice.ANTHONY. Then le
- 50 EDGAR. Men of business are excused from decency, you think?WILDER. n.o.body's more sorry for the men than I am, but if they [las.h.i.+ng himself] choose to be such a pig-headed lot, it's nothing to do with us; we've quite enough on our hand
- 49 ANTHONY. Can't be helped!WILDER. Shan't pay a dividend till goodness knows when!SCANTLEBURY. [With emphasis.] We ought to think of the shareholders. [Turning heavily.] Chairman, I say we ought to think of the shareholders. [ANTHONY mutters.]SCAN
- 48 w.a.n.kLIN. What's the Union's game, Tench? They have n't made up their split with the men. What does Harness want this interview for?TENCH. Hoping we shall come to a compromise, I think, sir; he's having a meeting with the men this af
- 47 The action takes place on February 7th between the hours of noon and six in the afternoon, close to the Trenartha Tin Plate Works, on the borders of England and Wales, where a strike has been in progress throughout the winter.ACT I It is noon. In the Unde
- 46 COLONEL. They're at the stile now. Oughtn't I to stop them, eh?[He stands on tiptoe.] We must n't spy on them, dash it all. [He drops the gla.s.ses.] They're out of sight now.MISS BEECH. [To herself.] He said he wouldn't let her.C
- 45 d.i.c.k. Don't think about it! No, no, no! I know exactly what it's like. [He strokes her arm.]JOY. [Shrinking, in a whisper.] You mustn't.[The music of a waltz is heard again.]d.i.c.k. Look here, joy! It's no good, we must talk it ove
- 44 JOY. That you and he are---- [Searching her Mother's face, which is deadly still. In a whisper.]Then it is true. Oh!MRS. GWYN. That's enough, Joy! What I am is my affair--not yours-- do you understand?JOY. [Low and fierce.] Yes, I do. MRS. GWYN.
- 43 JOY. I want him.d.i.c.k. Alone?JOY. Yes.d.i.c.k. Joy, what is the matter?JOY. I 've got something to tell him. d.i.c.k. What? [With sudden inspiration.] Is it about Lever?JOY. [In a low voice.] The mine.d.i.c.k. The mine?JOY. It 's not--not a pr
- 42 MRS. GWYN. Because you don't want to.LEVER. Do you mean she does?MRS. GWYN. Her heart knows.[LEVER makes a movement of discomfiture; suddenly MRS. GWYN looks at him as though to read his soul.]I seem to bring you nothing but worry, Maurice. Are you t
- 41 MRS. GWYN. [With a violent effort.] It's all right, Uncle Tom![MISS BEECH wipes her own eyes stealthily. From the house is heard the voice of MRS. HOPE, calling "Tom."]MISS BEECH. Some one calling you.COLONEL. There, there, my dear, you jus
- 40 [MRS. GWYN looks at her quickly and averts her eyes.]COLONEL. Excitable little thing. You don't understand her, Peachey.MISS BEECH. Don't I?COLONEL. She's all affection. Eh, Molly? I remember what I was like at her age, a poor affectionate
- 39 MISS. BEECH. D' you think they'll do her any good?d.i.c.k. [Crestfallen.] I thought she'd like--I don't want to worry her--you might try.[MISS BEECH shakes her head.]Why not?MISS BEECH. The poor little creature won't let me in. d.
- 38 MRS. GWYN. Indeed!JOY. I will never--never make friends with him.MRS. GWYN. [Cuttingly.] I have not asked you to.JOY. [With a blind movement of her hand.] Oh, Mother![MRS. GWYN half turns away.] Mother--won't you? Let's tell Uncle Tom and go awa
- 37 JOY. Mother! [After a moment MRS. GWYN reappears in the opening of the wall.] MRS. GWYN. Oh! here you are! JOY. [Breathlessly.] Yes. MRS. GWYN. [Uncertainly.] Where--have you been? You look dreadfully hot; have you been running? JOY. Yes----no. MRS. GWY
- 36 [He goes, but cannot help returning softly, to make sure.]You're quite sure you 're all right?[JOY nods. He goes away towards the river. But there is no rest for JOY. The voices of MRS. GWYN and LEVER are heard returning.]JOY. [With a gesture of
- 35 MRS. GWYN. [Her eyes fixed on the ground.] Joy comes home to-morrow. I thought if I brought you here--I should know---- LEVER. [Vexedly.] Um!MRS. GWYN. [Losing her control.] Can't you SEE? It haunts me? How are we to go on? I must know--I must know!L
- 34 LEVER. Oh, come, sir, Mrs. Hope only meant---- [MRS. GWYN looks eagerly at LEVER.]d.i.c.k. [Quietly.] Let's go on the river, Joy.[JOY rises, and goes to her Mother's chair.]MRS. HOPE. Of course! What rubbish, Tom! As if any one ever invested mon
- 33 LETTY. [Touching ERNEST's arm.] Look, Ernie! Four couples and Peachey---- ERNEST. [Preoccupied.] What couples?JOY. Oh! Mums, here you are![Seizing her, she turns her back on LEVER. They sit in various seats, and MRS. HOPE pours out the tea.]MRS. HOPE
- 32 COLONEL. [Pursuing his own thoughts.] I don't believe a word of it.[He rises and walks about]MRS. HOPE. Don't believe a word of what?[The COLONEL is Silent.][Pursuing his thoughts with her own.] If I thought there was anything between Molly and
- 31 COLONEL. Be quiet, Peachey!MISS BEECH. On a beautiful summer's day, too.COLONEL. That'll do now.MISS BEECH. [Unmoved.] For every ounce you take out of a gold mine you put two in.COLONEL. Who told you that rubbish? MISS BEECH. [With devilry.] You
- 30 LEVER. Well, nothing, except that as a matter of fact it doesn't.COLONEL. [With some excitement.] I'm very glad you showed me these papers, very glad! I say that it's a most astonis.h.i.+ng thing if the ore suddenly stops there. [A gleam of
- 29 MRS. GWYN. [Still smiling.] Ten per cent.MRS. HOPE. What did I tell you, Tom? And are they safe?MRS. GWYN. You'd better ask Maurice.MRS. HOPE. There, you see, you call him Maurice! Now supposing your uncle went in for some of them---- COLONEL. [Takin
- 28 COLONEL. Well-well! Look here, old girl! It's my experience never to--what I mean is--never to trust too much to a man who has to do with mining. I've always refused to have anything to do with mines.If your husband were in England, of course, I
- 27 JOY. Oh, nothing! [Hugging her.] Mother! You do look such a duck.Why did you come by the towing-path, was n't it cooking?MRS. GWYN. [Avoiding her eyes.] Mr. Lever wanted to go into Mr.Henty's.[Her manner is rather artificially composed.] JOY. [D
- 26 ROSE. [Speaking to Miss BEECH.] The Missis says you're to please move your things into the blue room, please Miss.LETTY. Aha, Peachey! That settles you! Come on, Ernie![She goes towards the house. ERNEST, rising from the swing, turns to Miss BEECH, w
- 25 JOY. [Flas.h.i.+ng out.] I hate him.d.i.c.k. [Troubled.] Do you? Why? I thought--I didn't know--if I'd known of course, I'd have---- [He is going to say "hated him too!" But the voices of ERNEST BLUNT and the COLONEL are heard app
- 24 MISS BEECH. Oh! dear![She sits down on the swing, concealing the paint pot with her feet and skirts.]JOY. [On the rustic seat, and in a violent whisper.] I hope the worms will crawl up your legs![d.i.c.k, in flannels and a hard straw hat comes in. He is a
- 23 JOY. Was she as bad to teach as me?MISS BEECH. Worse![Joy claps her hands.]She was the worst girl I ever taught.JOY. Then you weren't fond of her? MISS BEECH. Oh! yes, I was.JOY. Fonder than of me?MISS BEECH. Don't you ask such a lot of question
- 22 MRS. HOPE. Nonsense, Peachey! As if they'd go there if they did n't want to!COLONEL. Why don't you read your paper, then you'd see what a lot of wild-cat things there are about.MRS. HOPE. [Abstractedly.] I can't put Ernest and Let
- 21 MRS. HOPE. Well, it's beyond me how you can make pets of worms- wriggling, crawling, horrible things![ROSE, who is young and comely, in a pale print frock, comes from the house and places letters before her on a silver salver.][Taking the letters.]Wh
- 20 [The Court is in a stir. ROPER gets up and speaks to the reporter. JACK, throwing up his head, walks with a swagger to the corridor; BARTHWICK follows.]MRS. JONES. [Turning to him zenith a humble gesture.] Oh! sir![BARTHWICK hesitates, then yielding to hi
- 19 JONES. [After a long pause, suddenly.] I declines to say.MAGISTRATE. But if you had all that money, what made you take this box?JONES. I took it out of spite.MAGISTRATE. [Hissing, with protruded neck.] You took it out of spite? Well now, that's somet
- 18 SWEARING CLERK. The evidence you give to the court shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you G.o.d.Kiss the book.[The book is kissed.]ROPER. [Examining.] What is your name?JACK. [In a low voice.] John BARTHWICK, Junior. [
- 17 MAGISTRATE. Yes, but did you know that it was taken?MRS. JONES. No, your Wors.h.i.+p. And, of course, to what my husband says, your Wors.h.i.+p, I can't speak of my own knowledge. Of course, I know that he came home very late on the Monday night. It
- 16 Did you at the time of your missing the box find her in the room alone?MARLOW. Yes, Sir.CLERK. Did you afterwards communicate the loss to your employer, and did he send you to the police station?MARLOW. Yes, Sir.CLERK. [To MRS. JONES.] Have you anything t
- 15 MAGISTRATE. Yes, yes, I know; but I've no evidence that this man is not the proper guardian for his children.[He rises oval goes back to the fire.]RELIEVING OFFICER. The mother, your Wors.h.i.+p, is able to get access to them.MAGISTRATE. Yes, yes; th
- 14 [MARLOW comes in.]What's that noise of crying, Marlow? It sounds like a child.BARTHWICK. It is a child. I can see it against the railings.MARLOW. [Opening the window, and looking out quietly.] It's Mrs.Jones's little boy, ma'am; he cam
- 13 MRS. BARTHWICK. Jack!JACK. Well, Mother, I--I don't know what you do want.MRS. BARTHWICK. We want you to speak the truth and say you never let this low man into the house.BARTHWICK. Of course if you think that you really gave this man whisky in that
- 12 MRS. BARTHWICK. I don't understand. What on earth is all the fuss about? [Bending over JACK, and softly.] Jack now, tell me dear!Don't be afraid. What is it? Come!JACK. Oh, don't Mother!MRS. BARTHWICK. But don't what, dear?JACK. It was
- 11 BARTHWICK. [Suppressing jumps.] But in view of my son's saying there's nothing in this--this fable--will it be necessary to proceed against the man under the circ.u.mstances?SNOW. We shall have to charge him with the a.s.sault, sir. It would be
- 10 BARTHWICK. What was William about? He ought to have been waiting.JACK. [Raising his wine-gla.s.s to his nose.] Is this the '63, Dad?[BARTHWICK, holding his wine-gla.s.s to his eye, lowers it and pa.s.ses it before his nose.]MRS. BARTHWICK. I hate peo
- 9 SNOW. Is this your husband?MRS. JONES. Yes, sir, this is my husband, sir.SNOW. Do you wish to say anything before I take her?[JONES remains silent, with his head bend down.]Well then, Missis. I 'll just trouble you to come along with me quietly. MRS.
- 8 JONES. [With his eyes fixed on his boots.] Bit of a surprise for yer, ain't it?MRS. SEDDON. Thank you, and I'm sure I'm very much obliged. [She does indeed appear surprised.] I 'll bring you the change.JONES. [Mockingly.] Don't me
- 7 MRS. JONES. No, Sir, I don't say that, sir. I think there's a great deal of good in him; though he does treat me very bad sometimes. And of course I don't like to leave him, but I think I ought to, because really I hardly know how to stay w
- 6 BARTHWICK. Then I suppose he's earning nothing.MRS. JONES. No, sir, he's not earning anything just now, sir.BARTHWICK. And how many children have you?MRS. JONES. Three children; but of course they don't eat very much sir. [A little silence.
- 5 BARTHWICK. What's that? The cigarette-box! Is anything else missing?MARLOW. No, sir; I 've been through the plate.BARTHWICK. Was the house all right this morning? None of the windows open?MARLOW. No, sir. [Quietly to JACK.] You left your latch-k
- 4 And how long have you enjoyed his acquaintances.h.i.+p?UNKNOWN. Only since--only since Good Friday.BARTHWICK. I am at a loss--I repeat I am at a---- [He glances at this unknown lady, who stands with eyes cast down, twisting her hands And suddenly Jack app
- 3 BARTHWICK. What d' you want Mr. John for?MARLOW. [With hesitation.] I thought I should find him here, sir.BARTHWICK. [Suspiciously.] Yes, but what do you want him for?MARLOW. [Offhandedly.] There's a lady called--asked to speak to him for a minu
- 2 The curtain rises again at once.SCENE III BARTHWICK and MRS. BARTHWICK are seated at the breakfast table.He is a man between fifty and sixty; quietly important, with a bald forehead, and pince-nez, and the "Times" in his hand. She is a lady of n
- 1 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