[He looks at her—and back at the picture.
[He looks at her—and back at the picture.
Colin(meaning it): It’s quite beautiful.
Gwen(with eagerness): Do you think so?... I do.
Colin: It’s not unlike yours ... you knew the painter?
Gwen(simply): I wanted to marry him ... only ... well, he was quite poor, so it was stopped. And then he was killed.
Colin: In the war?
Gwen: Yes.
Colin: I’m sorry.
Gwen: I’ve got over it. I didn’t think I should—but I have.
[They look at each other and smile.
[They look at each other and smile.
Colin: Why has your brother kept us apart all this time?
Gwen: Has he?
Colin: I know him so well; it seems absurd I know you so little.
Gwen: Well—here I am!
Colin: And I’ve got to rush away; I’m sorry——
Gwen: So am I.
Colin: I’m going to hear this new ballet: I wish you were coming.
Gwen: So do I.
Colin: I’m taking somebody. I’ve got the last two seats in the house.... Will you come to-morrow night?
Gwen: Yes.
Colin: Do you go to bed very early?
Gwen(laughing): Why?
Colin: If I come in after the ballet—to tell you whether I’ve got tickets—will you have disappeared?
Gwen: No.
[Johnreturns with the music score.
[Johnreturns with the music score.
Colin: Thanks ... I must be off.... (ToGwen) Then I won’t say good night.... John, I’m going to look in on my way back from the show.
John: Do ... bring Margaret ... what time does this thing begin?
[They disappear....Gwenis quiet in the room till her brother’s return.
[They disappear....Gwenis quiet in the room till her brother’s return.
John: If you’re going into the drawing-room, I wish you’d tell Frankie I want to see her.
Gwen: Is he married?
John: Colin?
Gwen: Yes.
John: No.
Gwen: Does he live by himself?
John: Er ... as a matter of fact I believe he does, at the moment.
Gwen(point-blank): What’s that mean, Jacko?
John(a little taken aback): Well—he’s made a lot of money; he’s got a beautiful flat and a lovely little cottage in the country; he knows lots of people; there’s a queer superficial cynicism about him—but if I was in trouble I’d sooner go to him than to anybody I know——
Gwen: Yes?... Go on.
John: He married when he was quite young; about twenty I believe and it failed; I think he divorced her; he’s never found anything permanent since.
[Rosieenters to clear the table.
[Rosieenters to clear the table.
In some ways I think he’s a very lonely person, but he’s not always alone.
Gwen(moving to the door): I’ll tell Frankie you want her.
John(as she is at the door): Not in the attic. Down here.
Gwen: Right.
[She goes.
[She goes.
John(toRosie,who is clearing away): You’ll show my friend straight up into the attic, Rosie, when she comes—won’t you?
Rosie: Yes, Mr. John.
John: Is that speaking-tube arrangement mended yet?
Rosie: Yes, Mr. John.
John: ... If I’m up there when Miss Frankie is going you might give me a whistle on it, will you? ... don’t wait for an answer ... just blow it three times and I’ll know what it means.
Rosie: Yes, Mr. John.
John: Thank you.
[Frankiecomes in.
[Frankiecomes in.
Frankie: Do you want me?
John: Yes ... don’t bother about the table now, Rosie, d’you mind——?
Rosie: No, Mr. John.
John: I’ll ring later.
Rosie: Thank you, sir.
[Rosiegoes out.
[Rosiegoes out.
John: Another row with my father to-night.
Frankie: Oh, John!...
John: He was in the right.
Frankie: What about?
John: I stayed away from the office.
Frankie: Why did you?
John: What would you say if I chucked it altogether?
Frankie: The business?
John: Yes.
Frankie: For good?
John: Yes.
Frankie: What would you do?
John: Oh, there’s a lot of writing I want to get done.
Frankie: What sort of writing?
John(wretched): Oh ... articles; and a book.
Frankie: To get it published?
John: I hope so.
Frankie: Would you get any money for it?
John: Not much.
Frankie: Then what would happen to us?
John: ... I don’t know the answer to that.
Frankie: John—what’s the matter? ... do you mean you want a longer holiday?
John: I want to start work.
Frankie: But youcan’ttalk about giving up the business ... after all it’s going to make our marriage possible, isn’t it——?
John: Are you looking forward to our marriage?
Frankie: I should think Iam!
John: Are youreally?
Frankie: John!... (She goes to him and stands quite close to him, playing with the lapel of his coat ... her voice is thrillingly low and eager.) I’ve been thinking such lots about the time when we’re married.
John: Have you?
Frankie: Yes. Listen!... If we don’t furnish those two top rooms at once, I think we’ll be able to have two servants; I’ve been going all through it with motherto-day—my dear, the prices of things are awful—but that’ll mean one to wait at dinner, and that’s ever so much nicer—and I’m going to give you such lovely little dinners—when you bring your friends home—and p’r’aps when you don’t sometimes!... Oh, and I’ve furnished your study to-day in my head—it’s going to be ever so comfy ... and you can write your book there in the evenings ... I won’t come near you if you don’t want me to ... you know, dear, we couldn’t have a smaller house than the little one at the corner, could we? ... and it’s really ever so cheap.
John: It’s a queer business, marriage, isn’t it?
Frankie: Yes.
John: We’ve got to be everything to each other for the rest of our lives.
Frankie: Dear!... I’m going to try to be——
John: ... Frankie!
Frankie: Yes, dear.
John: Do you remember once when I took you in my arms and kissed you?
Frankie: Yes.
John: Youdoremember that time?
Frankie(low): Yes. Very well.
John: If I did it now—would you tell me not to?
Frankie: ... I don’t know.
John: May I?
Frankie: I’d rather you didn’t.
John: Why?
Frankie: Kiss me, John, if you want to, but not like that.
John: Why?
Frankie: I’d rather you didn’t.
[They stand close, untouching and silent...Mr. Freemancomes in.
[They stand close, untouching and silent...Mr. Freemancomes in.
Mr. Freeman: Hullo! Sorry! Thought you were upstairs. Your father’s back; the car’s out there. But, look here, you stay for a bit if you like. John can walk home with you.
Frankie: I think I’d better go with Dad.
[The gate wails and screeches—Johnhurries to the window.
[The gate wails and screeches—Johnhurries to the window.
Mr. Freeman: Who’s that?
John: Colin came back.
Mr. Freeman: Who’s Colin?
John: The man who was here just now.
Mr. Freeman: What’s he come back for?
John: I don’t know.
[Mrs. Freemancomes in.
[Mrs. Freemancomes in.
Mr. Freeman(family curiosity): Where’s Gwen?
Mrs. Freeman: Gone out to the car with Mr. Sewell. Are you going to stay, Frankie?
Frankie: I think I’d better go back with Dad.... Good night, Mrs. Freeman.
Mrs. Freeman: Good night, dear. (A kiss.)
Frankie: Good night, Mr. Freeman—good night, John.
John: Good night, Frankie.
[Gwenenters.
[Gwenenters.
Gwen: What a topping car.
Frankie: We’ve only had it a week.
Gwen: Can you drive it?
Frankie: Rather.
[Johnmakes his escape.
[Johnmakes his escape.
Gwen: I like it heaps better than the old one.
Frankie: I should think so. Is Dad waiting?
Gwen: He’s gone.
Frankie: Gone?
Gwen: I thought you were going to stop.
Mr. Freeman: You’ll have to now.
Gwen: Who was that on the doorstep?
Mr. Freeman: That feller’s come back.
Gwen: It’s dark out there; I began talking; I thought it was you at first, Frankie.
Mr. Freeman: It was that feller.
Gwen: Oh no, it wasn’t.
Mr. Freeman: Eh? Then who was it?
[Gwenscents danger.
[Gwenscents danger.
Gwen: Oh, nobody.
Mr. Freeman: What d’you mean—nobody?
Gwen: Nobody we know.
Mr. Freeman: D’you know that feller?
Gwen: Yes.
Mr. Freeman: It wasn’t him?
Gwen: Er ... no.
Mr. Freeman: Then why the deuce did he say it was? You thought it was Frankie. Was it a man or a woman?
Gwen: Oh, father, it wasn’t anybody we know.
Mr. Freeman(under his breath to his wife): Take ’em into the drawing-room.
Mrs. Freeman: Let’s go into the drawing-room, Frankie—it’s so much nicer there.
[Frankieis ushered out.Gwenis following, but:
[Frankieis ushered out.Gwenis following, but:
Mr. Freeman: Gwen!
[Gwenstops.
[Gwenstops.
Shut the door!
[Gwendoes.
[Gwendoes.
Who let her in?
Gwen: Rosie!
Mr. Freeman: Send Rosie here.
Gwen: Oh, father!
Mr. Freeman: Send Rosie to me.
Gwen: Oh, my goodness.
Mr. Freeman: Will you please not say “Oh, my goodness” to me.... Go and tell Rosie I want her.
[Gwengoes out....Mr. Freemanpulls the scented letter from his pocket, smells it, and with anexclamation of disgust flings it on the table....Rosiecomes in.
[Gwengoes out....Mr. Freemanpulls the scented letter from his pocket, smells it, and with anexclamation of disgust flings it on the table....Rosiecomes in.
Did you show anybody up to Mr. John’s attic just now?
[Rosieis silent.
[Rosieis silent.
Did you?
Rosie: Yes, sir.
Mr. Freeman: Was it a man or a woman?
Rosie(loyally): It was a friend of Mr. John’s.
Mr. Freeman: Was it a man or a woman?
Rosie(sticking to it): I don’t know ’oo it was.
Mr. Freeman: She’s up there now? ... is she? ... what’s the matter with you, girl? ... is she?
Rosie: I don’t know, sir.
Mr. Freeman: Is this thing mended?
Rosie: I don’t know, sir.
[Mr. Freemangets up and blows in the speaking-tube like an amateur trombonist or an irritated typhoon—and listens ... evidently no answer ... another blow ... and another ... then another listen ... still no answer ... he hangs back the tube and flings from the room ... slamming the door after him ... he returns to pick up the offending letter from the table and bear it with him from the room....Rosieremains, sniffing pathetically ... she creeps from the room.
[Mr. Freemangets up and blows in the speaking-tube like an amateur trombonist or an irritated typhoon—and listens ... evidently no answer ... another blow ... and another ... then another listen ... still no answer ... he hangs back the tube and flings from the room ... slamming the door after him ... he returns to pick up the offending letter from the table and bear it with him from the room....Rosieremains, sniffing pathetically ... she creeps from the room.
Curtain
End of Act I