Three Plays by Granville-Barker - LightNovelsOnl.com
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ANN. You'll do very wrong to be made a fool of.
ABUD. I'm safe, Miss; I've no eye for a pretty face.
DIMMUCK _arrives asthmatically at the top of the steps_.
DIMMUCK. Where's Mr. George? Here's a messenger come post.
ANN. Find him, Abud.
ABUD. [_To_ DIMMUCK.] From Dolly?
DIMMUCK. Speak respectful.
ABUD. Is it from his wife?
DIMMUCK. Go find him.
ANN. [_As_ ABUD _is immovable_.] Dimmuck . . . tell me about Mrs.
George.
DIMMUCK. She's doing well, Miss.
ABUD. [_Shouting joyfully now._] Mr. George! Mr. George!
ANN. A boy or a girl, Dimmuck?
DIMMUCK. Yes, Miss.
ABUD. Mr. George! Mr. George!
DIMMUCK. Ecod . . is he somewhere else?
DIMMUCK, _somewhat excited himself, returns to the house_.
ANN. George!
ABUD. Mr. George! Mr. George!
GEORGE _comes slowly along the terrace, in his hand an open book, which some people might suppose he was reading. He speaks with studied calm._
GEORGE. You are very excited, my good man.
ABUD. She's brought you a child, sir.
ANN. Your child!
GEORGE. Certainly.
ABUD. Thank G.o.d, Sir!
GEORGE. I will if I please.
ANN. And she's doing well.
ABUD. There's a messenger come post.
GEORGE. To be sure . . it might have been bad news.
_And slowly he crosses the garden towards the house._
ABUD. [_Suddenly, beyond all patience._] Run . . d.a.m.n you!
GEORGE _makes one supreme effort to maintain his dignity, but fails utterly. He gasps out . . ._
GEORGE. Yes, I will. [_And runs off as hard as he can._]
ABUD. [_In an ecstasy._] This is good. Oh, Dolly and G.o.d . . this is good!
ANN. [_Round eyed._] I wonder that you can be pleased.
ABUD. [_Apologising . . without apology._] It's life.
ANN. [_Struck._] Yes, it is.
_And she goes towards the house, thinking this over._
THE THIRD ACT
_It is near to sunset. The garden is shadier than before._
ABUD _is still working_. CARNABY LEETE _comes from the house followed by_ DR. REMNANT. _He wears his right arm in a sling. His face is flushed, his speech rapid._
CARNABY. Parson, you didn't drink enough wine . . . damme, the wine was good.
DR. REMNANT. I am very grateful for an excellent dinner.
CARNABY. A good dinner, sir, is the crown to a good day's work.
DR. REMNANT. It may also be a comfort in affliction. Our philosophy does ill, Mr. Leete, when it despises the more simple means of contentment.
CARNABY. And which will be the better lover of a woman, a hungry or a well-fed man?
DR. REMNANT. A good meal digests love with it; for what is love but a food to live by . . but a hungry love will ofttimes devour its owner.
CARNABY. Admirable! Give me a man in love to deal with. Vous l'avez vu?
