ACT III.

Time of Representation, thirty-five minutes.

PROPERTIES USED.Neck wrap.Basket (containing) sweets, jelly and scarf.Timespaper.Telegram and telegram form.

PROPERTIES USED.

ACT III.

The garden ofMr. Mollentrave'shouse in Swanage. A low fence runs at back, with a thick hedge; behind is the sea, to which a winding path leads, down the rock. There are alleys running to right and left.Miss Treableis seated on the treeL. C.withDexterstanding before her. A week has elapsed since the last Act.

Dexter.(C.) Yes, Miss Treable, he is a great man—a very great man! His powers of insight are most extraordinary! I trust you do not resent his—as it were—stripping off the pigment and exposing the unvarnished canvas?

Miss Tre.(is sittingR.tree trunk, haughtily) I have no doubt that what Mr. Mollentrave says may be true ofsomewomen—but certainly not ofME!

Dexter.(bowing) You are naturally an exception. His remarks must be taken as applying generally to the sex. (downL. C.)

Miss Tre.Regarded fromthatpoint of view—

Dexter.(upC.) Ah, Miss Treable, in my own humble life I have derived the greatest benefit from Mr. Mollentrave's teaching! And like all geniuses—he is so modest! One of his most brilliant aphorisms was—I say it with pride—inspired by me.

Miss Tre.(indifferent) Indeed?

Dexter.(R. C.resting onL.tree trunk) I assure you. You must know that my wife has a large circle of relations. I will confess to youthat I somewhat resented their constant interference in our affairs. I mentioned the matter to Mr. Mollentrave. Without a moment's hesitation that remarkable man dictated the line: "Marital happiness begins when the wife's relations—leave off!"

Miss Tre.(sarcastic) Profound. Very.

Dexter.(sit onL.trunk) He has permitted me to compile a little volume of extracts, "The Mollentrave Birthday Book"—one coruscation for every day of the year. A good idea, is it not? (rising)

Miss Tre.(rising) Admirable! But I doubt whether many women will buy the book. (downR.)

Dexter.(moving off) If all those who consider themselves exceptions purchase it, Miss Treable, I shall be perfectly satisfied. (goes upC.)

(He goes through the gate.Sir Josephcomes stealthily along looking worried and haggardR. 3 E.)

Miss Tre.(R. C.brightly) Good morning, Sir Joseph.

Sir J.(C.) Good morning. I had hoped to find Mr. Mollentrave here. Do you happen to know—

Miss Tre.Would you wish me to tell him?

Sir J.I should be much obliged.

(Miss Treable exitsR. 3 E.)

(Sir Josephthrows himself on the grassL.and plucks savagely at it, muttering to himself. After a momentMargaretcomes running from the houseR. 3 E.,looks round, and gives a glad cry as she seesSir J.The cry becomes reproachful when she finds he is lying on the grass. She carries a small basket in her hand.)

Marg.Oh, Joseph, dear Joseph, how could you! Lying on the grass! (puts basket downR. C.and helpsSir J.to rise.)

Sir J.(L.) (getting up. Miserably) H'm I—

Marg.(L. C.) Wicked man! With your rheumatism! And no muffler! I found it in the hall! Oh, naughty, naughty! (she produces it from the basket) Here it is, sir! Put it on at once! (puts muffler round him) (taking him toR. C.) (he sitsR.trunk of tree) And it's twelve o'clock! I've brought your essence—here—and a spoon. (she produces them from the basket and feeds him) What would you do without me?

Sir J.Impossible to conceive!

Marg.(she sits on his L.) Take it, sir! (he laps it up piteously) To think of you all these years, having to look after yourself, and hide, because he wouldn't let his little girl see how ill he was! Oh, poor, poor! (she feeds him a second time and wipes his mouth with the muffler) But she'll take care of him now! Only wasn't it wicked of you to slip off like that? You had only dictated for an hour and a half!

Sir J.I thought you were tired!

Marg.(with enthusiasm) Tired! I could go on forever! It's immensely interesting—fascinating. Oh, how wonderful you are!

Sir J.(clearing his throat) H'm—I—

Marg.Constitutional Law, one would think would be a dry subject. To me it's a fairy tale.

Sir J.Er—

Marg.Perhaps becauseyouare speaking! You! Nouns and adjectives cease to be parts of speech—they become parts of—you!

Sir J.(with a great effort) I have frequentlyhad occasion to remark to you, Margaret, that I have a great distaste for sentimentality. I have explained to you—the month of probation—

Marg.One week has expired. Has it been a week? Can the days have flown so quickly?

Sir J.They have evidently contrived to. Although—

Marg.(rise, upC.) See how the sun is shining—how radiant the water is—and the sky! The dancing sunlight! Oh, what does it say to you, the sunlight! (downR. C.toSir J.)

Sir J.(impatiently) It says to me that it's very hot—and that we're talking nonsense.

Marg.Oh, let us, for once! I've been so good!—Joseph, you coughed! You must take a lozenge. (she produces a box from the basket) You must! Mr. Mollentrave says that you have the beginnings of asthma.

(She opens the box, takes out a lozenge, and forces it between his lips. He swallows it, pathetically.)

Miss Treable and I are practising first aid, in case you should fall down—

Sir J.(savagely) And why in the name of goodness should I fall down?

Marg.Mr. Mollentrave told me that your limbs are rather unsteady—

Sir J.(clenching his fists) Ah, Mollentrave, Mollentrave!!

Marg.(kneeling on hisL.She puts his arm on her shoulders, fondly) But have no fear, dear one! You shall lean on me—I shall be your crutch, your support! Oh, the thought of us two in our cottage—just you and I! I dream of it!

Sir J.(growling, taking arm away) No dances—no theatres—not even a visitor—

Marg.Shall I want any of these—when I have—you! You, who have given up all—for my sake—for me!

Sir J.(fidgeting) H'm—but still—I fancy you'll find it dull—

Margaret.I? Never! You don't know me yet—not altogether, I mean. Oh, if you would let me speak to you—about myself—

Sir J.(rise and crossC.,throwing lozenge away—fretfully) That theme is barred—by consent. Don't you think you had better go back to the house? Unless you would like to bathe?

Margaret.(rise, firmly) No—you do not bathe—I shall not either. No pleasure in whichyoucannot join, can henceforth be a pleasure to me!

Sir J.(turning up stage—groaning) Come—we'll go back to Law! (he rises)

Margaret.Yes, yes—let us! But stay—I have a word to say to you—

Sir J.More words?

Margaret.Not of myself this time—nor of you—but of—Everard!

Sir J.(with a gleam of hope) Everard!

Margaret.(reproachfully) Oh, Joseph, my own Joseph, what a suspicion! Could you imagine! Oh!

Sir J.(groaning again) He is more of your age—I thought—I told you I should not blame you—

Margaret.Never dare to hint at such a thing again! I regard him—it is my duty to regard him—with the serene, but affectionate eyes, of an—aunt, (sitR. C.)

Sir J.(C.) Aunt!

Margaret.And—I confess—it grieves me—to see him—so much taken up with—Lady Claude.

Sir J.(eagerly) Ah, you have noticed—

Margaret.Day after day he is with her—with her all the time. She—ah, Joseph, you maynot have observed it—but women have quick eyes! Lady Claude was a friend of yours once, I know—but she is a designing woman!

Sir J.(angrily) I say! Look here!

Margaret.Oh, I mean nothing unkind. Women of that age—she isat leastthirty-five—naturally crave to be—admired. And it is perfectly plain to me that she—is drawing Everard on.

Sir J.(grimly) Really!

Margaret.She flirts with him outrageously! She won't let him out of her sight! I've been looking forward to finding him a wife—you and I together—some girl who would make him happy.... But Lady Claude!

Sir J.(cunningly) Everard certainly seems to admire her—

Margaret.Is it not incomprehensible! She's so old.

Sir J.H'm, if it's the disproportion of age that shocks you, think of us! I—fifty—and you nineteen!

Margaret.(rise, and up to him) My love shall twine round you so softly that we shall divide my youth—shall share it. And, in the days to come, we shall ask—which one is old—Joseph—or Margaret?

Sir J.(sulkily) Conundrums of that kind will be useful, on winter evenings, with the wind howling down the chimney, and the rain coming through the roof—(turn awayL.)

Margaret.(getting onSir J.'sL.) There can be no wind when you are near me, and no rain can come through the roof of our love!

Sir J.(throwing up his hands in despair) Oh, no more at present, please!

Margaret.(laying a hand on his arm) You'll speak to Everard?

Sir J.Why on earth should I?

Margaret.Joseph! Shall we let the poor boy throw himself away on—

Sir J.(R. C.laughing hysterically) Ha, ha! Oh, that's very good! Throw himself away on—Lady Claude!

Margaret.(C.) (offended) You think it's impossible? But I tell you I've seen—

Sir J.My child, we've talked nonsense enough for one morning. Let's go. (takes her hand and is about to lead her awayR.Mollentravecomes in breezily upL. C.) Ah, there's Mollentrave. I must have a word with him. Run on to the house—I'll follow. (giving her the basket)

Margaret.(fondlyR.) Come soon, dear one—come soon. When my eyes do not rest on you they grow tired with waiting!

Sir J.(R. C.) Please go, there's a good girl!

(Margaretdeparts regretfullyR. 3 E.Mollentravehas been coming from the other side. He wears his usual air of supreme satisfaction)

Mollen.(upL. C.) You want me, Balsted? All going well?

Sir J.(savagelyR. C.takes muffler off) Oh, wonderfully well. The way we're progressing is extraordinary—very!

Mollen.(his head on one side) The trained observer would almost detect a suspicion of—satire.

Sir J.Satire! Heaven forbid! It's true that the girl grows fonder and fonder—

Mollen.She has only tasted the jam so far—but the powder's working!

Sir J.She Josephs me from morning till night! She'll be calling me Joey soon. (downR. C.)

Mollen.(C.) No, no, Balsted! I shouldnotencourage her in the use of the diminutive!

Sir J.(savagely) Gurrh! Look here, Mollentrave—

Mollen.Impatient person! I said a month, did I not? So far but a week has passed—(MollentravesitsL. C.)

Sir J.(sitR. C.) Another week will drive me crazy. I dictate law to her—the dullest stuff I can find—I tell you she likes it, she never wants me to stop!

Mollen.You will forgive me, my dear Balsted—but have we been quite—senile—enough?

Sir J.Senile! Have I been senile? Haven't I simulated aches and pains, and congenital insanity, till I simply detest myself? Man, she loves me the more for it!

Mollen.(airily) Merely the first stage, Balsted! Peeling!

Sir J.I can't go on—I tell you I can't! The fact is, Mollentrave, that you've been hopelessly wrong.

Mollen.(emphatically) Events are following exactly the path that I had marked out; they are, with unerring precision, pursuing to a hairs-breadth the line I had indicated in my mind.

Sir J.(sarcastic) Indeed! Then perhaps you'll explain—

Mollen.My dear Balsted, believe that I make not the slightest reflection upon your intelligence when I remark that a general's plans are rarely comprehensible to his subalterns.

Sir J.(pettishly) This is not a case—

Mollen.(rise and goC.) Pardon me, but it is. If I may borrow an analogy from your legal jargon, I am the leader here, and you the junior. Is that not so?

Sir J.I have made up my mind. I shall tell her the truth.

Mollen.Do—and they'll drag up her body on Swanage beach to-morrow.

Sir J.Absurd!

Mollen.Let that sentimental girl realize that she has been fooled—she'll take her life. That's certain. And as her hair's long she'll choose the sea. (awayL.and upL. C.)

Sir J.Unfortunately I've lost my faith in you, Mollentrave.

Mollen.(shrugging his shoulders) That, of course, is a pity.

Sir J.Am I not justified? See your great scheme about Everard! She isn't jealous at all.

Mollen.Has she spoken about him?

Sir J.Yes—she wants to find him a wife.

Mollen.And not a word about Rosamund?

Sir J.She thinks Lady Claude flirts with him, and doesn't seem to like it. But, beyond that—

Mollen.(triumphantly) Beyond that! And you complain! Balsted, that's love! The real girl creeping up, through the cotton wool! My dear fellow! Couldn't be better! It couldn't indeed!

Sir J.I don't know—she didn't speak like that at all. And the boy has been odd—he avoids me—he doesn't address one word to Margaret—

Mollen.(with emphasis) The boy follows the rule! He nurses his passion. Rosamund consoles him—she always talks about Margaret! What more do you want? And the girl thinks they flirt! He watches her hungrily—oh, I've observed it!—he waits for his hour. You'll see.

Sir J.(with a gleam of hope) You really think that? You really think that?

Mollen.(sits onJoseph'sL.) I give you my word I never believed matterscouldbe so far advanced.

Sir J.Then perhaps I had better go on?

Mollen.(rise.Sir J.rises) Would you turn back, with the harbour lights in sight? Look here, I'll knock off a fortnight! I ask forone week more—just one week! And before that's out you'll have them both on their knees to you.

(Lady Claudecomes inR. 3 E.and crossesL. C.)

Rosamund, Rosamund! Balsted has been complaining—losing heart! Tell us about Everard! He's always talking of Margaret?

Lady C.(upC.sadly) Always, always! For hours at a time.

Mollen.(upR. C.turning triumphantly toSir J.) Balsted!

Lady C.(plaintively) She's a very sweet girl, and I'm fond of her—but—the subject's beginning to pall!

(Margaretoff cries"Joseph")

Mollen.She's calling you, Balsted.

Sir J.(downR.sulkily) Let her call.

(Margaretoff louder"Joseph! Joseph!")

Mollen.You must go to her, Balsted! Play the game. One week more—

Sir J.I'd rather spend it in gaol, picking oakum. (Margaretoff, "Joseph!Joseph!!") Oh, Mollentrave, if it were not for your daughter, how I'd wish that I never had met you!

(He goes—miserably—R. 3 E.)

Mollen.(coming downR.shaking his head) And that man, Rosamund, is one of our most eminent lawyers!

Lady C.(downR. C.) Papa, I must tell you—it's strange—though Everard and I talk of nothing but Margaret every day, from two till seven—

Mollen.Well?

Lady C.(pathetically) Think of it! From two till seven—every day!

Mollen.Science must have its martyrs! Tell yourself that you're watching human love wriggle—under the microscope!

Lady C.Though he recounts, with minutest detail, every word she has spoken to him since they first met—what she said, what he said, how she looked, what she wore, the gestures she made—still, and for all that, I have a feeling at times, a kind of idea—

Mollen.(waving his arm) My child, you know my opinion of feminine intuition! In my book I class it under the head of popular fallacies. (with a change of voice, and sudden energy) Rosamund, I imagine the moment to be almost ripe for my grand coup! (takesLady Claude'shands and sits herR. C.on hisL.)

Lady C.What will you do?

Mollen.(sittingR.) I shall now proceed to work on the clay. I will provoke Everard to frenzy.

Lady C.How?

Mollen.He knows of course of the month of probation—he builds on that. To-day he shall learn that Balsted proposes, at the earliest possible moment, to lead Margaret to the altar!

Lady C.(doubtfully) You will tell him that?

Mollen.I will. And the result? A scene between the two young people before which the most passionate episodes of Romeo and Juliet pale into insignificance! For I shall also tell Margaret thatyouhave fallen desperately in love with Everard!

Lady C.(protesting) Papa! You will never say that!

Mollen.Discreetly—by nods and jerks—oh, you may trust me! And there ensues—in chemical parlance—a liberation of two gases—that meet—and explode!

Lady C.(rise, upC.) Oh, I hope that they'llexplode soon! See, there he is—under the trees! He is waiting.

Mollen.(rise and upR.) Let him come—I will leave you. Prepare him, Rosamund—pave the way—lay down the stones—then I shall come—the steam roller! I have every confidence in you, my child.

(He skips off nimblyR. 3 E.—after an instantEverardcomes inL. 3 E.)

Lady C.(C.) Ah, Everard—my father has just left me—we were talking of Margaret.

Everard.(C.on herL.) (indifferently) Ah?

Lady C.The sweet girl! How beautiful she looks to-day!

Everard.She has a certain prettiness—

Lady C.Oh, Everard, her eyes! I don't think I ever have seen such eyes! One moment so tender—another so deep and glowing—

Everard.As your father says, Lady Claude, those qualities are common to the optic organs of all mammals. And—let me ask you—whywill you always speak about Margaret?

Lady C.Because I admire her so much! She has youth—ah, youth! (sitR. C.) And besides, dear Everard, it seems to me that Margaret has been a favourite topic—with us both!

Everard.(sitR. C.on herL.) To-day at least I decline to talk of her—but of you—only of you.

Lady C.There is nothing to say of me, dear Everard. I—was. Among you young people I seem to move like a—tradition. Margaret says the things I used to say—she dreams my dead dreams. And I am fond of her—because I see in her—my old self.

Everard.(eagerly) That self has not suffered—time only has mellowed it—wisdom has crowned it—

Lady C.(cheerfully) You must not waste those pretty speeches on me! And tell me, why this affected indifference? Do I not know how passionately you adore her?

Everard.(rising) Lady Claude, I will confess to you, frankly and honestly, therewasa time when I believed I loved Margaret—

Lady C.(staring) When you believed—!

Everard.As your father observes—quoting Tolstoy, I think—I was attracted by a well-fitting jersey and a pair of Paris shoes.

Lady C.Everard!

Everard.But it was, I need scarcely say, the merest infatuation—

Lady C.What!!!

Everard.Could it have been other—since now I am conscious—how wholeheartedly I love—you!

Lady C.(wildly) Me! You love me!

Everard.You. My feeling for Margaret was immature sex-attraction. At your feet (kneeling on herL.) I lay the profound and reasoned devotion—of a man. Rosamund, I love you. I ask you to marry me. Be my wife!

Lady C.(aghast and helpless, rise and crossL.) You can't mean this? (He tries to take her hand, she rises hurriedly and eludes him.Sir J.comes fromR. 3 E.) (L. C.) There is your uncle. Leave us, leave us!

Everard.(C.) Why? I will tell him—

Lady C.No, no! Go to my father! Let him know! Please!

Everard.Since you wish it. (He goes upR.,passingSir J.haughtily) I shall return for my answer. (he goes)

Lady C.(L. C.) He has proposed!

Sir J.(R. C.) What!!!

Lady C.Imagine it! He has fallen in love—with me!

Sir J.(slowly) Everard has fallen—in love—with you?

Lady C.Yes! Imagine it! A catastrophe!

Sir J.(dully, downR. C.and sitting) Very awkward. Very.

Lady C.(C.) How could one conceive it! I've been sympathetic—that's all! Talked about Margaret! Oh, I assure you, I've done nothing but talk about Margaret!

Sir J.There's something odd about boys and girls nowadays. But, of course, it's all Mollentrave—(he clenches his fist)

Lady C.What must I do? Tell me—advise me!

Sir J.You haven't accepted him?

Lady C.(indignantly) Sir Joseph!

Sir J.You see, things are just a trifle topsy-turvy. My—bride—grows more and more devoted.

Lady C.I'm completely bewildered! The poor boy seemed terribly in earnest—

Sir J.So does the poor girl! I'd like to shake them both in a bag! Well,you'llhave a week of it now.

Lady C.How to refuse him without—

Sir J.You'd better accept him—why not? You'll find, we'll both have to marry them. Then, some day perhaps, they'll elope together—and Mollentrave on Women will rub his hands and cry "There!"

Lady C.(very distressed) What am I to say to Everard? Oh, what?

Sir J.Be senile! Boil your milk!

Lady C.(indignantly) Sir Joseph! Is this your sympathy? (sitL.)

Sir J.(meekly and deprecatingly, rise and toL. C.) My dear friend, I've had seven days of Margaret. I thought my brain was fairly strong—but it's giving. I tell you I'm growing helpless—turning to pulp—

Lady C.But advise me—advise me!

Sir J.I can't. You know—it sounds absurd—I did have some hopes of marrying you myself—I did indeed. (awayR.) Well, now Everard claims you—and I shall soon be led by Margaret to the altar, with Miss Treable propping me up on the other side. We can't do anything—that's how matters are!

Lady C.Do you thinkIwill marry Everard?

Sir J.(helplessly sitR. C.) I don't know—I don't think at all. Mollentrave does the thinking—Mollentrave!

(Mollentravebustles in, beaming,R. 3 E.)

Mollen.(C.) (looking wonderingly from one to the other) Dear me, why this air of depression?

Lady C.(both rise and up to knoll) Depression! Papa! Have you seen Everard?

Mollen.(C.) I have, this very moment.

Sir J.(excitedly) Well? Well?Lady C.

Mollen.(looking from one to the other) Rosamund! Balsted! You surely wouldn't have me believe that you are not pleased?

Sir J.(amazed) Pleased!

Mollen.(emphatically) Yes, sir, I say pleased—at this magnificent development of my scheme!

Lady C.When Everard wants to marry me!

Sir J.And has ceased to love Margaret!

Mollen.(more in sorrow than in anger) Amazing!You, Balsted, you—well—you don't surprise me. But Rosamund—my own child—no, I should not have believed it!

Sir J.Did he, or did he not, inform you that he had proposed to your daughter?

Mollen.He most undoubtedly did.

Sir J.And wasthatwhat you wanted?

Mollen.Can you ask? What else?

Lady C.(reproachfully) Papa! When you said—

Mollen.My dear child, I do not admit even you into my closest confidence. You have done your share, both of you—now leave me to do mine.

Sir J.Will you condescend to inform us—

Mollen.You will continue the treatment as before.

Sir J.(madly) I am to go on with Margaret—

Mollen.(calmly) You are.

Lady C.(helplessly) And—I?—

Mollen.Will persistently—sympathise—with Everard.

Lady C.But he has proposed! What am I to do?

Mollen.Be flattered—in case of need even affectionate.

Lady C.(horror stricken) Affectionate! (awayL.,and sitting.)

Mollen.Discreetly—remotely—let us say, in a spiritual and disembodied fashion. You may, if you wish it, hint at Lord Contareen—

Sir J.(looking up eagerly) Lord Contareen?

Mollen.Ah, didn't you know? He and my daughter—(Margaretcalls "Joseph" and comes in with the "Times" in her hand.) Pardon me—there's the girl. I'll send her away—I have to give you further instructions. Wait here—I shan't be a moment.

(He goes quickly toMargaretoffR. 3 E.,and walks her off, talking eagerly to her.)

Sir J.(across toL. C.,sitting) (excitedly.) What is this about Lord Contareen?

Lady C.A foolish creature, whom Papa wishes me to marry.

Sir J.(aghast) Marry! What, what! Marry—you!

Lady C.Yes. And he thinks—

Sir J.Rosamund! Is there a man in the world whom you can marry—but me!

Lady C.Sir Joseph! You said just now—

Sir J.(kneeling on herR.) Rosamund, I love you! I always have loved you! You know it!

Lady C.(embarrassed) I—I—

Sir J.During this diabolic week there has at least beenyou! You'll marry me, won't you?

Lady C.Oh, Sir Joseph, is this the time—

Sir J.It is, it is! To the devil with all the rest! We'll elope!

Lady C.Elope?

Sir J.Yes—and leave Mollentrave to settle matters! Rosamund, tell me!

Lady C.What can I tell you? What?

Sir J.That you care for me! Will you?

Lady C.But you are not free!

Sir J.(wildly) Not free, not free! But when I am—as I shall be, I swear it! then—?

Lady C.Then—oh, then I shall say "yes" many times!

Sir J.(rise and raising her) Rosamund—dearest!

(He rushes towards her—she stays him, with a gesture.)

Lady C.Hush! He's coming back!

(Sir Josephgets backR.)

(Mollentravebustles inR. 3 E.,holding the "Times" in his hand.)

Mollen.(C.) She was bringing you the"Times"—here it is—she assures me it has been warmed and all the microbes boiled out of it! Youareso fussy, Balsted! Here! (He hands him the paper.)

(Sir Josephtakes paper, goes upR. C.)

Lady C.(L. C.) Papa! Does Margaret know?

Mollen.About Everard? Oh yes. And of course she's indignant. Although she adores our friend Balsted, she resents the desertion of an ancient admirer.

Sir J.(coming downC.) I fail to see how this helps us.

Mollen.(R. C.) Balsted, Balsted, you surely affect this denseness! I've told Everard, by the way, that he has my full consent and approval.

Lady C.(L. C.) Papa!

Mollen.That the decision rests with my daughter—

Lady C.(cross toC.) Withme! What am I to say to him?

Sir J.(L. C.) (whispering to her) We'll elope!

Mollen.In the meantime Balsted will be good enough to overwhelm Margaret with his elderly devotion—

Sir J.I won't!

Mollen.You will! Where you were doddery before, you will now be paralytic! You will, for the next week, refuse to stir from the house, or let Margaret do as much as budge from your side!

Sir J.(ironic) Really?

Mollen.Yes. And Rosamund does more or less the same with Everard.

Lady C.Papa, I can't! I tell you I can't!

Mollen.You must!Itell you, you must! (Lady C.goes upC.)

(Margaretcalls "Joseph" and appears at the same place as before.BalstedisL.)

(DownL. C.) The girl again! Balsted, we will leave you with her. Read your paper—she mustn't think we've been plotting. Read it, I say—at present you're simply glaring!

Lady C.(upR. C.interceptingMargaret—speaking very gently) Margaret—my dear Margaret!

Margaret.(upR.coldly) I congratulate you, Lady Claude.

Lady C.You congratulate me! You believe—

Mollen.(upC.) (sternly) Rosamund, I want you! Come!

Back to Index Next