The Servant in the House Part 5

Then at last, yesterday morning, he was reading the newspaper, and there was a long piece about the Bishop of Benares. Uncle read it aloud to us. Suddenly, in the middle, he broke off and said: _Look at the power this chap seems to have at the back of him! I wish to G.o.d I had some of it_!

He had scarcely said it, when there was a rat-tat at the door: it was the postman; and what do you think? IT WAS A LETTER FROM THE BISHOP OF BENARES?

MANSON [antic.i.p.ating the critics]. What a coincidence!

MARY. Isn't that wonderful? _Isn't_ it just like a fairy-tale?

Wait a bit. There's more yet . . . Here's the letter: uncle gave it me for my autographs . . .

[She fishes it out from her pocket. MANSON reads it aloud, slowly and clearly.]

MANSON. "_I shall be with you during to-morrow morning. If any one will help me, I will restore your church. Your brother, Joshua_."

MARY [pointing]. And there, do you see, underneath, in brackets: _The Bishop of Benares_.

MANSON. Dear me, dear me, just those few words!

MARY. Wasn't it like an answer to prayer? Auntie saw that at once!

And the odd part about it is, that Uncle William did have a brother Joshua who went away and got lost in India years and years ago!

And to think that he was who he was all the time! To think of him never writing until yesterday! To think that before the day is out he will be sitting down here, perhaps in this very place, just like . . .

[She breaks off suddenly, gazing at him; for his eyes have taken a strange fire.]

MANSON. Just like I am now . . .

MARY [falteringly]. Yes . . .

MANSON. Talking to you . . .

MARY. Oh! . . . [She rises, afraid.]

MANSON [softly], Mary . . .

MARY [in a whisper]. Who are you? . . .

MANSON. I am . . .

[He is interrupted by the great bell of the church, which tolls the Sanctus. After the third stroke, he continues.]

I am the servant in this house. I have my work to do. Would you like to help me?

MARY. What shall I do?

MANSON. Help to spin she fairy-tale. Will you?

MARY. I will.

MANSON. Then keep the secret--Remember! And wish hard.

MARY. Do you believe in wis.h.i.+ng?

MANSON. Everything comes true, if you wish hard enough.

MARY. What shall I wish for?

MANSON. What have you needed most? What have you not had? Think it out.

[Enter AUNTIE in a negligee morning gown. She has a preoccupied air. She carries her husband's coat over her arm.]

AUNTIE. Oh, I heard you had arrived. I hope they gave you something to eat when you came in.

MANSON. Thank you, ma'am: it will do later.

AUNTIE. Mary . . . Dearest . . .

MARY. Oh, I beg your pardon, auntie dear, I . . .

AUNTIE. Dreaming again! [Putting her arm round her.] Come, I want you to put your uncle's coat by the fire. He will be cold, coming out of that draughty church.

MARY [hugging her]. You darling! I believe you think of n.o.body but uncle in the world!

AUNTIE. And you, sweetheart: you come next--a very near next!

Now, run along.

[MARY takes the coat to the fire.]

[Surveying the table]. That's very nice, Manson, very nice indeed!

Perhaps, just a little further this way. . . . [Removes flowers.]

My husband is so fond of them. Ye-es; and I _wanted_ things _particularly_ nice this morning . . .

MARY [at the fire, looking up]. I thought you said you--you didn't expect him till twelve-thirty! . . .

AUNTIE [absorbed]. Whom?

MARY [chuckling]. The--the Bishop of Benares.

AUNTIE. The--the . . . Oh, it's your _uncle_ I am . . . [To Manson]. By-the-bye, has the postman been yet?

MANSON [at the window]. I can see him coming up the lane. He's stopped at the next house.

AUNTIE. Oh, then, Mary: will you very much mind if you don't have breakfast with us this morning? I want to have a private talk with your uncle.

MARY. Oh, auntie, dear! . . .

AUNTIE. Don't think of yourself, dear-- Remember, there are other people in the world besides you. Go down into the village, and have breakfast with poor old Grannie Durden. Take her some nice new-laid eggs and a pat of b.u.t.ter-- Poor soul, it would be a charity!

MARY. Oh, auntie, she's as deaf as a post!