Complete Plays of John Galsworthy Part 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 the matter with you? Aren't you rather queer, considering that I don't bite, and was rather a pal!

BILL. [Stolidly] I'm sorry.

Then seeing that his mother has came in from the billiard-room, he sits down at the writing-table.

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. Mabel, dear, do take my cue. Won't you play too, Bill, and try and stop Ronny, he's too terrible?

BILL. Thanks. I've got these letters.

MABEL taking the cue pa.s.ses back into the billiard-room, whence comes out the sound of talk and laughter.

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. [Going over and standing behind her son's chair]

Anything wrong, darling?

BILL. Nothing, thanks. [Suddenly] I say, I wish you hadn't asked that girl here.

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. Mabel! Why? She's wanted for rehearsals. I thought you got on so well with her last Christmas.

BILL. [With a sort of sullen exasperation.] A year ago.

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. The girls like her, so does your father; personally I must say I think she's rather nice and Irish.

BILL. She's all right, I daresay.

He looks round as if to show his mother that he wishes to be left alone. But LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE, having seen that he is about to look at her, is not looking at him.

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. I'm afraid your father's been talking to you, Bill.

BILL. He has.

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. Debts? Do try and make allowances. [With a faint smile] Of course he is a little----

BILL. He is.

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. I wish I could----

BILL. Oh, Lord! Don't you get mixed up in it!

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. It seems almost a pity that you told him.

BILL. He wrote and asked me point blank what I owed.

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. Oh! [Forcing herself to speak in a casual voice]

I happen to have a little money, Bill--I think it would be simpler if----

BILL. Now look here, mother, you've tried that before. I can't help spending money, I never shall be able, unless I go to the Colonies, or something of the kind.

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. Don't talk like that, dear!

BILL. I would, for two straws!

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. It's only because your father thinks such a lot of the place, and the name, and your career. The Ches.h.i.+res are all like that. They've been here so long; they're all--root.

BILL. Deuced funny business my career will be, I expect!

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. [Fluttering, but restraining herself lest he should see] But, Bill, why must you spend more than your allowance?

BILL. Why--anything? I didn't make myself.

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. I'm afraid we did that. It was inconsiderate, perhaps.

BILL. Yes, you'd better have left me out.

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. But why are you so--Only a little fuss about money!

BILL. Ye-es.

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. You're not keeping anything from me, are you?

BILL. [Facing her] No. [He then turns very deliberately to the writing things, and takes up a pen] I must write these letters, please.

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. Bill, if there's any real trouble, you will tell me, won't you?

BILL. There's nothing whatever.

He suddenly gets up and walks about. LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE, too, moves over to the fireplace, and after an uneasy look at him, turns to the fire. Then, as if trying to switch of his mood, she changes the subject abruptly.

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. Isn't it a pity about young Dunning? I'm so sorry for Rose Taylor.

There is a silence. Stealthily under the staircase FREDA has entered, and seeing only BILL, advances to speak to him.

BILL. [Suddenly] Oh! well,--you can't help these things in the country.

As he speaks, FREDA stops dead, perceiving that he is not alone; BILL, too, catching sight of her, starts.