The Whittakers' house is typical of wealthy upper-middle-class England. The furniture is good and the chintz obvious, but somehow right for the atmosphere. There are three French windows down the right-hand wall. A flight of stairs up L., with the lobby leading to the front door. Down L. double doors open into the dining-room. A big bureau where Mrs. Whittaker does her accounts, etc., occupies a space between two of the windows. There is a comfortable sofa set in the center, with a table behind it, on which are books and papers and flowers of some sort. A statuette of Venus de Milo on small pedestal L.
When curtain rises, it is a morning in early April. The hall looks quite gay with spring flowers, but rain can be seen beating against the windows.
Mrs. Whittaker, attired in a tweed skirt, shirt- blouse, and a purple knitted sports-coat, is seated at her bureau. She is the type of woman who has the reputation of having been "quite lovely" as a girl. The stern repression of any sex emotions all her life has brought her to middle age with a faulty digestion
which doesn't so much sour her temper as spread it. She views the world with the jaundiced eyes of a woman who subconsciously realizes she has missed something, which means in point of fact that she has missed everything.
Marion is seated on the sofa, reading her letters. She is largely made and pasty, with big lymphatic eyes. In fifteen years'' time she will have the reputa- tion of having been "quite lovely as a girl." Her clothes are slightly mannish.
Colonel Whittaker is reading "The Times." He is a gray-haired man of about fifty --- his expres- sion is generally resigned.
Mrs. Whittaker I've written a strong letter to Mrs. Phillips.
Marion What have you said?
Mrs. Whittaker
Listen. [She reads.] "Dear Mrs. Phillips --- I feel it my duty to write to you with regard to the ad- visability of sending the unfortunate Rose Jenkins to London. As you know, she was in my service for a year, and I was quite convinced when I dis- charged her that a girl of her character could
ultimately come to no good. I was therefore ex- tremely surprised when I heard that you had en- gaged her. As you have appealed to me for advice in the matter, I suggest that you should get rid of her at once, as her presence in the village might quite conceivably corrupt the morals of the other girls. I will endeavor to use my influence with Mrs. Faddle, who, as you know, is a prominent member of the Y. W. C. A., and perhaps later on a respect- able berth of some sort may be obtained for her. I sadly fear, however, that our efforts on her behalf will be useless, as recent unpleasant events prove that the wretched girl is entirely devoid of any moral responsibility.
Sincerely yours,
Mabel Whittaker."
Marion
I must go and see Rose Jenkins and have a talk to her.
Mrs. Whittaker I'm afraid you wouldn't do any good.
Marion
You never know. A straight-from-the-shoulder chat might make her see things in a better light.
Colonel Why not leave the poor girl alone?
Marion
Because, father, if there's any chance of helping some one to see the truth, I consider it shirking to disregard the opportunity.
Mrs. Whittaker
It's no use arguing with your father, Marion --- he doesn't understand.
Colonel No, I don't. What is the truth?
Mrs. Whittaker
The truth is, Jim --- that Rose Jenkins, by her immoral behavior, has caused unpleasantness in the village, and therefore must suffer accordingly.
Colonel It's her own village --- she was born here.
Mrs. Whittaker That's not the point,
Colonel
Yes, it is --- it's for her parents to decide what's to be done with her.
Marion
Mother's right, you know, father. It's better for her to be sent to London.
Colonel I'm glad you think so.
Mrs. Whittaker
I wish you wouldn't be so tiresome, Jim dear. I'm sure I've enough worries and responsibilities with- out
Colonel
I fail to see that the Rose Jenkins business is any affair of yours --- she isn't in your service any more.
Mrs. Whittaker I think we won't discuss it any further.
Colonel Very well, dear.
Mrs. Whittaker Do you think that letter's all right, Marion?
Marion Perfectly. You've put it very clearly.
Mrs. Whittaker
Mrs. Phillips is so hopelessly lacking in stamina. [She puts letter in envelope and sticks it down.]
Colonel I'm going down to see Jackson for a minute.
Mrs. Whittaker
You'd better tell him what we decided about that bed in front of the sundial.
Colonel
All right. I suppose Hilda took the dogs with her to the post office, didn't she?
Mrs. Whittaker
I expect so --- you'll probably meet her. [Colonel Whittaker goes outJ
Marion Poor old father.
Mrs. Whittaker He's so fearfully annoying about things.
Marion Edgar's exactly the same. Men never will see.
Mrs. Whittaker When is Edgar coming back?
Marion
I don't know --- I had a long letter from him this morning. It will mean another four or five months out there, I'm afraid.
Mrs. Whittaker Do you think he's really behaving himself?
Marion
I had a straight talk with him the day before he sailed --- I think I made him realize things a bit better.
Mrs. Whittaker
Who would have imagined he'd turn out like that ?
Marion
Oh, Edgar's all right --- it's his upbringing. We'll always be pals --- he's not really a marrying man, you know. I think I realized that all along, and now
0
I've found other things in life to occupy my mind, thank God !
Mrs. Whittaker
It couldn't have been John's upbringing al- together --- could it?
Marion John's different --- he's exactly like father.
Mrs. Whittaker Yes, I'm afraid he is.
Marion He was always weak, you know.
Mrs. Whittaker I've tried to shut my eyes to it.
M
ARION
It's no use doing that, mother --- everything must be faced.
Mrs. Whittaker
I lie awake at nights, wondering what's going to happen eventually.
Marion You mustn't worry.
Mrs. Whittaker
Worry! It's on my mind always --- naturally I've got over the first shock, to a large extent.
Marion She may not be so bad, after all.
Mrs. Whittaker [Bitterly.]
It's the greatest catastrophe that ever happened --- your father's affairs were nothing to this --- nothing.
Marion
Have you heard from John lately?
Mrs. Whittaker Not since that postcard two weeks ago.
Marion He's bound to bring her home soon.
Mrs. Whittaker
He's taken good care to explain nothing about her in his letters. If he hadn't been apprehensive
of what we should think of her, he would have
brought
months.
brought her home at once, instead of waiting three
Marion He did say she was ill.
Mrs. Whittaker ! Yes, I expect she was.
Marion
I'm glad I shall be here, anyhow.
Mrs. Whittaker
So am I. I wouldn't have faced it alone --- and Jim's no help : he never has been, especially over any- thing of this sort.
Marion Is Sarah coming to-day?
Mrs. Whittaker
Yes : she's bringing a man over to lunch --- they've got a houseful of people.
Marion I suppose she was broken-hearted when she heard?
Mrs. Whittaker
She was splendid ; she wrote me the sweetest letter --- saying that John's happiness was the thing to be considered before anything else, and that she was sure it would all turn out wonderfully.
Marion
That was to comfort you.
Mrs. Whittaker Yes. [Enter Hilda. She possesses all the vivacity of a deficient sense of humor. She is nineteen, and completely commonplace. ]
Hilda
Here's a wire, mother --- they gave it to me at the post office.
Mrs. Whittaker
[Startled.] A wire?
Hilda
[Giving it to her.~
They were going to send the boy with it, but I said, "Oh no, don't do that, because I'm just going straight through the village and round." [Mrs. Whittaker reads it and closes her eyes.]
,
Marion What it is? What's the matter? . . . John?
Mrs. Whittaker [Nodding.] Yes. [She gives it to her.]
Hilda
Let me see --- let me see. [She cranes over Marion's shoulder.] To-day --- this morning --- they're arriving this morning!
Marion
[Handing the wire hack.] How typical of him.
Mrs. Whittaker
[Bowing her head.] This is terrible.
Marion
When was it handed in?
Hilda
[Snatching the wire from Mrs. Whittaker.] Ten-five. They must have sent it just as they were starting.
Mrs. Whittaker Ring the bell, Hilda.
Hilda
[Jumping up and doing so.] It's terrifically exciting.
Marion
Why on earth didn't he let you know before? He must be mad! Nothing's ready, or anything.
Mrs. Whittaker
I've long ago given up expecting any considera- tion at Johnnie's hands.
Marion
Are you going to stick to your original plan about the schoolroom?
Mrs. Whittaker Yes. --- Don't drum your heels, Hilda.
Hilda
I'm thrilled! [Enter Furber.]
Mrs. Whittaker
Furber, Mr. John is arriving with his wife almost immediately. Will you see that fires are lit in the schoolroom and dressing-room?
Furber Yes, ma'am.
Mrs. Whittaker If by any chance they're late, we'll wait lunch.
Furber
Very good ma'am. [He goes out.]
Marion
Sarah! What about Sarah?
Mrs. Whittaker What shall we do? Put her off?
Marion She's bound to meet her sooner or later
Mrs. Whittaker Yes, but we don't know yet --- what she's like.
Marion
Sarah doesn't matter --- it might be a good thing for her to be here --- in one way.
Mrs. Whittaker Go and find your father, Hilda.
Hilda Where is he?
Mrs. Whittaker
With Jackson, I think. Also tell Jackson to send in some flowers at once.
Hilda
All right --- lovely! I'll arrange them. [She rushes off girlishly.]
Mrs. Whittaker
[Putting out her hand.]
Marion --- I shall need your help --- badly.
Marion
[Patting her.] Cheer up, mother.
Mrs. Whittaker
I feel so unequal to it all to-day --- I didn't sleep a wink last night, and I woke with a racking headache.
Marion Shall I get you some aspirin?
Mrs. Whittaker
No; it wouldn't do me any good --- the blow's fallen, you see --- the blow's fallen.
Marion
Don't mother !
i
Mrs. Whittaker
I feel as though I were going mad. John --- my John --- married to this --- this --- woman! It's un- thinkable.
Marion She may be a good sort.
Mrs. Whittaker
It's no good bolstering ourselves up --- I know in
my heart
[SJie cries a little.]
Marion
[Embracing her dutifully.]
It will all come right in the end, mother, if only you have enough faith.
Mrs. Whittaker
Faith ! All my life I've had to battle and struggle against this sort of thing. First your father --- and now John --- my only son. It's breaking my heart.
Marion
We must just put our trust in Divine Providence, dear. I'll have a straight talk to John. If she really is --- well, quite hopeless --- something must be done.
Mrs. Whittaker
Nothing can be done --- I tell you I know --- she's got him, and she'll stick to him.
Marion
If she's the sort of woman we imagine, she's prob- ably realized her mistake already.
Mrs. Whittaker
Why should she have married him? Except for what she can get out of him --- money and position.
0
He's been made a fool of, just as your father was made a fool of --- hundreds of times. We know she's older than John --- I don't suppose there was any love, as far as she was concerned; she's just twisted him around her little finger.
Marion
It's no use upsetting yourself now --- you must pull yourself together and face it bravely.
Mrs. Whittaker
I thought he would at least have had the decency to give me fair warning.
Marion
I expect they came over from France yesterday. [Enter Hilda and Colonel Whittaker.]
Hilda I've told father the news.
Colonel I suppose they're motoring down.
Marion Yes.
Hilda
It was luck me going to the post office like that, wasn't it? I nearly as anything didn't go out at all this morning --- what with the rain and everything.
Colonel Are their rooms ready?
Mrs. Whittaker I've told Furber to have fires lighted.
Hilda
It's too exciting for words --- wondering what she'll be like.
Mrs. Whittaker
[Bitterly.]
I wish I could share your feelings.
Hilda
And it's so romantic --- the old schoolroom being turned into a boudoir for John's wife.
Mrs. Whittaker Sitting-room, not boudoir.
Hilda
Sitting-room, then. Do you think she'll be dark or fair?
Mrs. Whittaker I don't know.
Marion Do be quiet, Hilda.
Hilda I think fair and larky !
Mrs. Whittaker I see no reason to suppose anything of the sort.
Hilda
But guessing at people is such fun --- Jackie Cory- ton and I do it lots --- she's awfully good at it. What do you think she'll be like, Marion?
Marion Stop asking absurd questions.
Hilda I'm dying to see. I wonder if she drinks.
Mrs. Whittaker
[Sharply.] Hilda!
Hilda Well, you never know --- living abroad like that.
Marion
Can't you see mother's upset and doesn't want to be worried?
Colonel
I fail to see the object of working yourself up into a state before you've set eyes on her.
Mrs. Whittaker
You wouldn't see, Jim, because you don't care --- you never have cared. As long as you're comfortable you don't mind if your son goes to the dogs.
Colonel
He had to marry somebody --- she's probably a very interesting woman.
Mrs. Whittaker I've no doubt you'll find her so.
M
Hilda She may be frightfully sweet.
Mrs. Whittaker
When you've reached my age, Hilda, you'll prob- ably realize that the sort of women who infest French watering-places are generally far from being "frightfully sweet."
Hilda
Cannes isn't exactly a French watering-place --- I mean it's better than that --- I mean everyone goes there.
Colonel
Everything's changing nowadays, anyhow.
Mrs. Whittaker
I fail to see that that makes the slightest differ- ence.
Marion
Father means that social barriers are not quite so strongly marked now, and perhaps, after all
Mrs. Whittaker I know quite well what your father means.
Hilda
But everybody's accepted so much more --- I mean nobody minds so much about people --- I mean
Mrs. Whittaker
You don't know what you mean --- you don't know anything about it.
Hilda
But, mother
Mrs. Whittaker
Your attitude towards the whole affair is ridicu- lous, Hilda, and I'm surprised at you. [She sniffs.]
Hilda
Oh, mother, don't cry --- it will only make your eyes
all red
[Furber enters, with a tray on which there are some
vases, a jug of ivater and some flowers. ~
Furber Jackson sent these in just after breakfast, ma'am.
Hilda These will be enough, mother. I'll arrange them.
Mrs. Whittaker Tell Jackson not to pick any more.
Furber
Very good, ma'am.
[He goes out.]
[Hilda pounces on, the 'flowers with girlish en- thusiasm.]
Hilda
Aren't they lovely ? --- I expect she's used to orchids and things. These are so fresh --- they'll be a gor- geous surprise.
Marion
We ought to warn Sarah --- it might be a shock for her.
Mrs. Whittaker
Yes --- you'd better telephone.
Marion
I'll just say that we should like her to come, but if she feels that she'd rather not, we quite understand.
Mrs. Whittaker Don't splash that water all over the table, Hilda.
Marion What's the number?
Mrs. Whittaker
0.
Marion [At telephone.]
Hullo --- 0, please.
Hilda
[ Conversationally. ]
I saw Mrs. Phillips coming out of Smith's.
Mrs. Whittaker
[Tidying up the papers on bureau.] Did you?
Hilda
She went over to talk to Mrs. Jenkins. Rose was peeling potatoes in the porch.
Marion
Hullo! --- is that you, Sarah? It's Marion. Listen, old girl ; prepare yourself for a shock. John's com- ing home with Larita, or whatever her name is, this
morning. --- Oh, I thought it would be rather. . . . I'm glad you feel like that, anyhow. We wanted to know if you'd come over to lunch just the same. . . . Yes, of course, bring him. . . . All right. Good-by, old thing. [She hangs up receiver.] That's that.
Mrs. Whittaker Have you seen my glasses anywhere?
Marion Aren't they on the desk?
Mrs. Whittaker They must have slipped down behind
Hilda Did Sarah seem upset?
Marion She laughed.
Mrs. Whittaker
[Shocked.] Laughed !
Marion
I think she's pretending --- even to herself --- that she doesn't mind.
Mrs. Whittaker
If only everything had been different --- it might have been Sarah he was bringing home.
Hilda It wouldn't have been half so exciting.
Marion
I wish to Heaven it were. She's a damned good sort, that girl.
Hilda
What's the man's name who's coming over with her?
Marion
Charles Burleigh.
Hilda
I'm dying for lunch --- it's going to be too thrilling for words.
Marion [Finding glasses.] Here are your blinkers, mother.
0
Mrs. Whittaker
[Forcing a wan smile at Marion's ebullient phraseology. ]
Thank you, Marion.
Colonel
I wonder how John's looking.
Mrs. Whittaker [Jumping.]
What a fright you gave me, Jim. I'd forgotten you were here.
Colonel
The return of the Prodigal is always such a mo- mentous occasion, isn't it?
Mrs. Whittaker
I wish you wouldn't talk like that --- it's not amusing.
Colonel
I'm sorry. I thought perhaps a little light irony might alleviate the prevailing gloom.
Mrs. Whittaker
If you think constant reminders of your callous- ness over the whole affair
Colonel
I'm not callous, Mabel; I'm just waiting with a more or less open mind.
[Bitingly.] Open mind!
Mrs. Whittaker
Hilda
There --- those look sweet, don't they? I'll take them up.
Mrs. Whittaker
Take the tray into the kitchen first.
Hilda
All right. [She rushes off with the tray.]
Marion What's the time?
Colonel A quarter past twelve --- if I may be so bold.
Marion They might be here at any minute now.
Mrs. Whittaker
I'm going upstairs to look at the schoolroom. Tell Hilda to bring that other vase --- I'll take these. [She goes upstairs.]
Colonel
[Lighting his pipe.]
I'm glad your mother's getting cross. I prefer irritability to hysteria.
Marion
I don't think you're being very decent to mother,
father.
Colonel
You know, Marion, you're the only thoroughly Christian woman I've ever known who has retained her school-girl phraseology. [Re-enter Hilda, breathlessly.]
Hilda Where's mother?
Marion
She's gone up to the schoolroom with the flowers. Will you take that other vase up?
Hilda
All right. Don't you feel terrifically excited, father ?
Colonel
Terrifically. [Hilda runs joyously upstairs with the vase.~
Marion Hilda's irrepressible.
Colonel How is Edgar?
Marion
He's all right. Why do you ask --- suddenly like that?
Colonel
I have such a friendly feeling for him since you broke off your engagement.
Marion
Do you imagine I don't see when you're sarcastic and bitter, father? It's been growing lately. You're always saying unkind things.
Colonel Ami?
Marion You must be very unhappy.
Colonel Perhaps that accounts for it.
Marion Then you are?
Colonel
Do you want to have a straight talk to me, Marion ?
Marion
I suppose you despise me for trying to help other people ?
Colonel
You and your mother are always trying to help lame dogs over stiles --- even if they're not lame and don't want to go.
Marion
You don't appreciate mother.
Colonel I appreciate you both enormously.
Marion Mother's played fair all her life, anyhow.
Colonel And I haven't. I quite see that.
Marion I'm glad you admit it.
Colonel
I'm surprised that you're glad --- it generally an- noys people to be agreed with.
Marion Don't you ever think of other things, father?
Colonel What sort of other things?
Marion You know quite well what I mean.
Colonel
Don't try to save my soul, Marion. I can defend myself.
Marion
I don't mind your taunts a bit.
Colonel Good!
Marion But mother does.
Colonel
My dear girl, your mother stood by me through my various lapses from grace with splendid forti- tude.
Marion You realize that?
Colonel I realize the fact but distrust the motive.
Marion
What motives could she possibly have had other than loyalty and affection?
Colonel I don't believe you know.
Marion I certainly don't.
Colonel Well, I won't disillusion you.
Marion Father
Colonel [Politely.] Yes?
Marion
She needs your help and support now --- badly.
Colonel Why?
Marion You can seriously stand there and ask why?
Colonel
She has built up in her mind a black-hearted mon- ster of a woman who has enslaved her babe, and she
expects me to combine in a superhuman effort to oust her.
Marion
Nothing of the sort, father.
Colonel
As I said before, I'm waiting with an open mind --- and whatever John's wife is or has been, I shall do my utmost to make her happy and comfortable here. [Re-enter Mrs. Whittaker and Hilda.]
Hilda
The car's coming up the drive --- I saw it from the landing window.
Marion
Now for it!
Mrs. Whittaker
[Appealingly.] Jim.
Colonel [Amiably.] Yes, dear?
Mrs. Whittaker
Nothing --- it doesn't matter.
Hilda Oh, I wonder what she'll be like --- I wonder
Colonel We shall soon see. [They wait in silence. Then John bursts in. He is young, good-looking, with great charm; his eagerness is perhaps a shade overdone.
John
Mother ! [He kisses her.]
Mrs. Whittaker But, John, where
John
She's still in the car --- powdering her nose. She said she wanted me to get the first joys of reunion over. Father ! \He shakes hands with the Colonel.]
Colonel I'm glad you're back, John.
John
I do so hope you'll like her. [He kisses Marion and Hilda.]
0
Hilda
I know I shall.
John
I feel terrified. It will be so wonderful if you d( like her, and so awful if you don't.
Mrs. Whittaker It's a little late to think of that now.
John
[His face falling.'} Mother ! [Larita comes in. She is tall, exquisitely made up and very beautiful --- above everything, she it perfectly calm. Her clothes, because of theii simplicity, are obviously violently expensive; sht wears a perfect rope of pearls and a small clost traveling-hat.
Mrs. Whittaker
How-do-you-do.
Larita
[Taking both her hands.]
How-do-you-do seems so hopelessly inadequate, doesn't it, at a moment like this? But perhaps it's good to use it as a refuge for our real feelings.
Mrs. Whittaker
[Coldly.]
Did you have a nice crossing yesterday?
Larita
[Sensing her attitude and smiling emptily.] Perfectly horrible.
Mrs. Whittaker
I'm so sorry. This is my eldest daughter, Marion, --- and Hilda. No doubt you've heard John speak of them.
Larita
[Shaking hands with Marion.]
But of course I have --- hundreds of times. [She kisses Hilda.] You're like Johnnie, you know. [The family wince at the diminutive.]
Mrs. Whittaker And this is my husband.
Larita
[Shaking hands with the Colonel.] You looked dazed --- I suppose I'm very unlike what you expected --- or perhaps not?
Colonel I'm delighted to welcome you home.
Larita [Gratefully.] Oh, thank you.
Hilda [Excitedly.] You're not a bit like what I expected.
Larita
I'm very much older, probably. [She looks at Mrs. Whittaker.] I'm awfully sorry about that.
John
Don't be silly, Lari.
Larita
There have been a good many happy marriages
even though
John
It doesn't matter how many there have or haven't been, as long as ours is.
Larita That's right, Johnnie darling.
Mrs. Whittaker
You must be tired after your journey. Perhaps 'ou'd like to go upstairs.
Hilda
[Eagerly.]
We've turned the old schoolroom into a boudoir for you.
Larita
How divine! It will be full of memories of Johnnie as a grubby little boy.
Colonel
I'm sure you'd rather smoke one cigarette and get to know us all a little better first. [He offers her his case.]
Larita
[Smiling.]
You're right --- I should. Do you mind if I smoke one of my own? I have a special kind. Try one. [She produces a beautiful case.]
Colonel
[Taking one.] Thanks.
Larita
[Looking round.]
Would anyone else like one?
Mrs. Whittaker
No, thank you.
Larita
[Sitting down.]
You know, it's such a relief being here at last. I've been wondering so frightfully what it was going
to be like
[The Colonel lights her cigarette.]
Mrs. Whittaker I'm so sorry it's such bad weather.
Larita
The house looked fascinating from outside --- I'm longing to go all over it.
John I'll take you after lunch.
Larita I want Mrs. Whittaker to show it to me.
John
Oh, Lari darling, not Mrs. Whittaker. It's mother now.
Larita Not quite yet, Johnnie --- I don't think.
Marion Did you get down without any mishaps?
Larita Yes, it was a perfect run.
Hilda Have you ever been in England before?
Larita
Oh yes, several times. I used to come here a lot with my first husband.
Mrs. Whittaker Your first husband?
Larita Yes.
Mrs. Whittaker
[Stiffening.]
I never realized you had been married before. John told us so little.
Larita That was awfully tiresome of you, Johnnie.
John He was a perfect brute to her, mother.
Mrs. Whittaker
How dreadful ! It must have been almost a relief when he died.
Larita He didn't die --- he divorced me.
\H or r or -struck. ] Divorced you !
Marion
Larita
Yes, I ran away. I was very young and silly --- I should have waited, shouldn't I? and borne it stoi- callv. It would have been braver.
John I don't see that at all. He was an absolute devil.
Hilda
I think it's the most thrilling thing I've ever heard !
Larita It does sound picturesque now.
Mrs. Whittaker I suppose you went back to your parents?
Larita
No --- I couldn't go as far as that. They were both dead.
Colonel [Kindly.] It's awfully nice of you to tell us this.
Larita
Johnnie ought to have explained it all, really --- it would have cleared the way.
John You can't write things like that in letters.
Mrs. Whittaker No, I suppose not.
Larita
[To Mrs. Whittaker.]
You must have been very anxious and surprised and worried. We should have come home at once, only I stupidly got ill --- pleurisy, you know. I've had it before --- perfectly infuriating.
Marion Beastly thing, pleurisy.
Larita
But Johnnie was absolutely wonderful to me, and here we are at last. Can your butler speak French?
Mrs. Whittaker I beg your pardon ?
Larita
I say, can your butler speak French? You see,
my maid Do go and rescue Louise, Johnnie;
she's probably having a bad time.
John
All right. Take Lari up, mother. [He goes off.]
Hilda No, let me --- do let me.
Larita I should love you to.
Mrs. Whittaker I hope you'll find everything quite comfortable.
Larita
I'm sure I shall. Come along, Hilda. [She takes her hand.]
Hilda
I've put some flowers up there, but the rooms aren't very warm yet, I'm afraid. You see, the fires have only just been lighted.
Mrs. Whittaker I think perhaps I'd better come.
0
Larita
Xo, please don't trouble. Hilda will look after me perfectly all right --- won't you Hilda?
Hilda [Eagerly.]
Rather. Do let me, mother.
Mrs. Whittaker Very well. Lunch will be ready quite soon.
Larita
[As she goes upstairs with Hilda.]
Lovely. I'm ravenous. I was too excited to eat any breakfast. [They go off. There is silence for a moment.]
Marion She seems a good sort --- I like her.
Mrs. Whittaker Do you, Marion?
Marion Don't you?
Mrs. Whittaker She's exactly what I expected --- in every detail. [She turns away.]
Colonel Surely not in every detail? She wasn't drunk
Mrs. Whittaker
Jim, please!
Marion
Father --- how can you say things like that?
Colonel Larita's an extraordinarily pretty name.
Mrs. Whittaker
Excellent for musical comedy. [She turns her back and goes over to the window.] [John enters, and sees that Larita has gone.]
John
[Eagerly.] Well?
Colonel I congratulate you, John.
John
[Shaking his hand violently.]
Oh, father, thank you --- I --- am glad!
Marion I hope you managed the French maid all right?
John
Oh yes. I'm used to her. Mother
[He goes to her.]
Mrs. Whittaker
[Turning and kissing him without warmth.] Well, John, I hope you'll be very happy.
John I am, mother --- frightfully.
Mrs. Whittaker She's very beautiful.
John Do you think so, honestly?
Mrs. Whittaker Yes, of course.
John
And you've no idea what a darling she is. All the time she was ill she was splendid --- so brave and everything.
Marion
Is she a Catholic?
John
[Nonplused.]
I say --- I'm afraid I don't know. You see, we weren't married in church.
Marion
Oh!
John
[Pulling himself together.]
What a fool I am ! She's a Catholic, of course ; I remember now.
Mrs. Whittaker
Sarah's coming over to lunch.
John
Is she? How ripping. I've been longing to see her again. I want her to meet Lari, too.
Mrs. Whittaker
The Hursts have been entertaining a lot this winter. Sarah's been very much in demand. They gave a most successful dance in London.
John
Good old Sarah !
Mrs. Whittaker
If you've got any aspirin in your room, Marion dear, I should like some. My headache's rather bad.
Marion All right. Will you come up, or shall I fetch it?
Mrs. Whittaker I'll come up.
John
I'm so sorry, mother. I suppose I ought to have let you know before that we were coming.
Mrs. Whittaker It doesn't matter.
John I did so want it to be a surprise.
Mrs. Whittaker
I hope you'll see that your --- Larita has everything she wants, John.
John Rather! Thanks, mother, --- of course I will.
Mrs. Whittaker
That's right. [She goes upstairs with Marion.]
John I suppose mother's upset, isn't she?
Colonel A little, I think.
John You think she'll get over it, though, don't you ?
Colonel I expect so. Don't worry.
John
It must have been an awful shock for her --- for you both.
Colonel
My dear boy, this sort of thing's always a shock --- it's unavoidable.
John You like Lari, though, don't you, father?
Colonel She seems charming.
John
Oh, she is --- she's more than that --- she's won- derful.
Colonel She's older than I thought.
John
Yes, but that doesn't matter really, does it? --- I mean if people really care for one another.
Colonel I don't know. It might --- later on.
John
[Haltingly.]
You mean --- children?
Colonel Not altogether.
John I don't suppose we shall have any children.
Colonel No --- I don't suppose you will.
John But Marion's married, and Hilda will be soon.
Colonel [Gently.]
That's not quite the same thing, is it?
John Are you cut up about it?
Colonel
What's the use of being cut up, John? When a thing's done, you've got to stand by it.
John
Father --- I do love her terribly; she's my life's happiness.
Colonel
That's all right, then. Run up and look after her --- she's probably feeling a little shattered.
John
All right. Thanks, father.
[He goes upstairs, two at a time.]
[The Colonel sighs, takes "The Times" and goes off into the library.]
[Furber enters, followed by Sarah Hurst and Charles Burleigh. Sarah is boyish and modern and attractive. Charles Burleigh is a pleasant- looking man somewhere between thirty and forty.]
Sarah Where's everybody, Furber?
Furber
I don't know, miss. Mr. and Mrs. John have just arrived. They're probably all upstairs. I'll tell them you're here.
Sarah No, don't do that --- we'll wait.
Furber Very good, miss.
Sarah How's your neuritis, Furber?
FURBER
It's been rather bad, miss.
Sarah
I meant to bring you over that stuff, but I forgot. I'll send it to-night.
Furber
Thank you very much, miss. [He goes out.]
Charles
I suppose this is a slightly momentous day in the lives of the Whittakers.
Sarah Very momentous.
Charles Is your heart wrung with emotion?
Sarah [Lightly.] Don't be a beast, Charles.
Charles I think it's spirited of you to come.
0
Sarah
I want to see her.
Charles
I feel secretly embarrassed --- as though I oughtn't to be here at all.
Sarah
Nonsense --- you're moral backing for me.
Charles Thank you, Sarah, --- it's an attractive role.
Sarah
I wasn't really officially engaged to John --- it was just a sort of understood thing.
Charles I see.
Sarah
And I've had a nice three months to get over being upset about it.
Charles And you have?
Sarah Entirely.
Charles Well, that's a comfort, isn't it?
Sarah A great comfort.
Charles
Shall we be discovered intimately looking over the Toiler together ?
Sarah No --- that would be overdoing it.
Charles Perhaps it would.
Sarah I'm extremely hungry.
Charles That's a healthy sign.
Sarah
Whatever she's like, you must be awfully nice, and pay a lot of attention to her.
Charles Certainly.
Sarah I think I'm going to get the giggles.
Charles For Heaven's sake, don't.
Sarah It is funny, you know.
Charles
[Gloomily.] Excruciatingly.
Sarah
You'll realize just how funny it is when you see Mrs. Whittaker.
Charles I shall try to control myself.
Sarah And Marion. --- Oh, dear Marion!
Charles Shut up, Sarah --- you're unnerving me.
Sarah
I can't help it. [She giggles hopelessly.]
Charles
Pull yourself together. Some one's coming. [Hilda rushes downstairs.]
Hilda Sarah !
Sarah Hullo!
Hilda
[Breathlessly.]
Oh, Sarah, she's too beautiful for words!
Sarah No, really.
Hilda And the most heavenly clothes.
Sarah This is Mr. Burleigh--- Hilda Whittaker.
Hilda
[Shaking ha fids.]
How-do-you-do. We're all fearfully excited, you know --- John's new wife's just arrived.
Charles
Yes : Sarah told me.
Hilda
She's got a scream of a French maid --- I nearly died!
Sarah How's Mrs. Whittaker?
Hilda
She's got a headache. John's talking to her in her room. I've got to dash down to the garage to give a message to the chauffeur --- he's a new man. Come with me.
[She proceeds to drag her hand.]
Sarah I can't leave poor Charles all alone.
Hilda
[Persistently.]
You must --- it's only for a minute. I've got such lots to tell you.
Sarah
All right. Do you mind, Charles?
Charles
Very much.
Hilda
She shan't be long --- honestly. I haven't seen Sarah for ages, and I shan't get another opportunity of talking to her.
Sarah
[Laughing.]
Charles is such a timid man, it'll do him good. Come on.
Charles Here, I say --- Sarah
Sarah
We shan't be very long ! [She goes off with Hilda.]
Charles [Alone.]
Oh, God! [He wanders about the hall, then finally sits down
on the sofa with the "Tatler."] [Larita comes downstairs, having taken off her hat
and generally reinstated herself.] [Charles rises to his feet.]
Larita Oh, how-do-you-do.
Charles
[Shaking hands.] How-do-you-do.
Larita Are you lunching here?
Charles
Yes ; I came over with Sarah Hurst. I'm staying with them --- a few miles away.
Larita I've heard Johnnie speak of them.
Charles You've only just arrived, haven't you?
Larita
Yes, this morning. We came over from Paris yesterday. [There is a slight pause.]
Charles
It's always rather an anti-climax, isn't it? --- arriving anywhere.
Larita
Why? Do I look bored?
Charles Not at all.
Larita
I know what you mean, though; one feels sort of dead.
Charles
It's only temporary.
Larita Oh yes --- I hope so.
Charles Do you know if anyone else is lunching ?
Larita
Only you and Miss Hurst, I believe --- outside of the family.
Charles Good!
Larita Why do you say "Good" so emphatically?
Charles
It must be bad enough for you to have to meet a bunch of brand-new relations --- let alone total strangers. I feel quite an interloper.
Larita
Please don't. I don't mind meeting new people a bit --- on the contrary, it's rather a comfort, in a way --- it eases things a little.
Charles
[Offering case.] Will you smoke?
Larita
I'll smoke one of my own, if you don't mind. I get a bad throat if I change. I smoke far too much. [She takes a cigarette out of her case.]
Charles
[Lighting hers and his own.] That's an enchanting case.
Larita It is a darling.
Charles Cartier?
Larita
No ; Lacloche. I've had it for years.
Charles Were you in Paris long?
Larita
Only a week. I had to get some new clothes and fortify myself.
Charles Naturally.
0
Larita Where is everybody?
Charles I don't know.
Larita
They're discussing their first impressions of me, I expect. It must be horrid for them.
Charles I don't see why.
Larita [Smiling.] You do --- perfectly well.
Charles
I suppose it's always rather a shock for people when their sons marry.
Larita Do you know Johnnie?
Charles No.
Larita He's an angel.
Charles
I don't know any of them --- I'm more of a stranger than you.
Larita
I'm so glad. It gives us a sort of bond in com- mon, doesn't it?
Charles Yes.
Larita Tell me about Sarah Hurst.
Charles How shall I begin ?
Larita
Don't look apprehensive. I know about her and Johnnie --- when they were young, and everything.
Charles She's a charming girl --- unaffected.
Larita Thank God for that.
Charles Not very emotional --- and quite a sense of humor.
Larita I'm looking forward to seeing her.
Charles Are you?
Larita No.
Charles
[Laughmg outright.] I quite understand.
Larita I know you do. Is she pretty?
Charles Not exactly. More attractive than pretty.
Larita Dark or fair?
Charles
Fairish. She's rather like a young edition of a very old friend of mine. She lives in Paris. I won- der if you've met her.
Larita Who?
Charles Cecile de Vriaac.
Larita [Delighted.] Cecile! Do you know Cecile?
Charles I've known her for years.
Larita How extraordinary ! What's your name ?
Charles Charles Burleigh.
Larita
Of course! She has shown me snapshots of you. I knew I recognized your face, somehow. She is
such fun, isn't she?
Charles I'm devoted to her.
Larita And Freddy !
Charles Oh, Freddy! [They both laugh.]
Larita That's all over now.
Charles No?--- Is it?
Larita
Yes --- last August, in Venice --- or rather the Lido, to be accurate.
Charles
I don't wonder. That beach would kill any passion.
Larita You know Zushie Wincott, of course?
Charles Rather ! What's become of her ?
Larita
I tremble to think --- judging by the way she was behaving in Cannes at Christmas.
Charles With George, I suppose?
Larita No, not with George --- at George.
Charles Poor old Zushie ! She's rather a dear, really.
Larita
She's so utterly uncontrolled --- always making scenes. I loathe scenes.
Charles You first met John at Cannes, didn't you?
Larita
Yes. He'd been Banco-ing recklessly and losing everything. I was well up on the day, so I lent him some plaques, and it changed his luck.
Charles In more ways than one.
Larita I wonder.
Charles I'm sure of it.
Larita
It's sweet of you to say so. I'm dreadfully fond of him you know.
Charles I can see that.
Larita Can you? How?
Charles By the way you talk of him.
Larita
He's awfully young and --- well, almost ingenuous sometimes. I think that must have been what at- tracted me to him at first --- it was refreshing.
[Nodding.] Yes.
Charles
Larita
And then we kept on meeting, you know. Cannes is a small place --- and I was so tired of everybody.
Charles People run dreadfully in grooves.
Larita
Always the same faces --- and the same expressions and the same motives.
Charles Motives ?
Larita
You know what I mean.
Charles Yes.
Larita
It's amusing and fun for a little while, and then one begins to realize that perhaps --- after all --- it's a trifle cheap.
Charles
It's certainly astonishing how quickly one becomes disillusioned over everything.
Larita Everything ?
Charles Well, practically everything.
Larita [ With a sigh. ] Yes, that's true.
Charles
Are you going to live here indefinitely?
Larita [Slowly.] I don't know. Through the summer, anyhow.
Charles I hope you'll be very happy.
Larita
Thank you. [She looks out of the window.] I wish it wasn't raining.
Charles
There's a ridiculous picture of Harry Leftwich in the T after, walking along the terrace at Monte Carlo with that dark woman who went to share a studio with Maud Callish in the Rue Bonaparte.
Larita Oh, Suzanne --- do let me see --- Suzanne Fellini
[She comes over to the sofa, and they both bend over the "Tatler."]
Charles [Finding it.] There.
Larita
Yes, that's Suzanne --- doesn't she look fierce ? It's so absurd when people are photographed with their legs sticking straight out in front of them like that.
Charles [Laughing.] Poor dears!
Larita
Oh, do look at her hat.
[They both laugh a good deal.]
[Mrs. Whittaker comes downstairs, followed by John and Marion. Mrs. Whittaker's face freezes slightly. Charles gets up.]
0
Mrs. Whittaker How-do-you-do. You are Mr. Burleigh?
Charles
[Calmly.]
Yes; your youngest daughter came and spirited Sarah away. I don't know where they've gone.
John
[Going to Larita.]
I couldn't think where you were, Larita.
Larita I thought everyone was down here.
Mrs. Whittaker
[To Larita.]
I suppose you and Mr. Burleigh have introduced yourselves ?
Larita
Oh yes ; we've discovered lots of mutual friends.
Mrs. Whittaker
How nice. [To Charles.] This is my eldest daughter.
Charles
[Shaking hands.] How-do-you-do.
Mrs. Whittaker And my son.
John How are you? [He also shakes hands.] [Hilda and Sarah re-enter.]
Sarah
[Kissing Mrs. Whittaker.]
Hilda dragged me off to see a perfectly strange chauffeur. Have you all met Charles?
Charles Yes, you're too late --- it's all over.
Sarah Hallo, John --- I'm terribly pleased to see you.
John
[Taking her hand.]
Sarah, I want you to meet my wife, Larita. I do hope you'll be friends.
Larita
[Shaking hands.] I hope so, too.
Sarah
Of course we shall. You're utterly different from what I imagined.
Larita
[Smiling.] Am I really?
Sarah [Laughing.] Yes --- I pictured you fair and fluffy.
Larita How absurd ! [Furber enters.]
Furber
Lunch is served.
Mrs. Whittaker Let's all go in, then. Tell the Colonel, Furber.
Furber Yes, ma'am. [The Colonel enters.]
Hilda
Come on, father; lunch is ready.
[Sarah takes Larita's arm and valks into the din- ing-room with her. Larita throws a look over her shoulder at Charles, who smiles. Everyone goes in talking. Furber waits, and then follows them, closing the folding doors after him.]
Curtain
Scene: Three months have passed since Act I. It is a warm summer day --- warm for England, any- how --- which means that unless you hurl yourself about on tennis-courts or indulge in some sort of strenuous exercise all the time, you get extremely cold. The sun-awning has been let down over the veranda.
Larita is lying on the sofa, reading "Sodom and Gomorrah," by Marcel Proust. Outside in the garden tennis noises can be heard, occasional shouts and laughter. Larita throws her cigarette-end out on to the veranda, but it goes on the carpet, so she has to get up and throw it again, which she does with a slight display of temper. She lights herself an- other and lies down again; then discovers that Marcel Proust has eluded her and is reclining care- lessly on the bureau. With an expression of re- signed fury she gets up again and fetches it. When she is once more ensconced on the sofa
Mrs. Whittaker enters.
Mrs. Whittaker Why don't you go and watch the tennis, Larita ?
Larita
The excitement's so intense, my nerves won't stand it.
Mrs. Whittaker
[At window,]
I wish you wouldn't throw cigarette-ends on to the veranda ; it looks so untidy. [She picks it up and throws it into the garden.]
Larita I'm sorry.
Mrs. Whittaker Fancy lying indoors on a lovely day like this.
Larita It's very chilly outside.
Mrs. Whittaker Not in the sun.
Larita I get a headache if I sit in the sun.
Mrs. Whittaker I wonder you don't play tennis with the others.
Larita I'm so awfully bad that it annoys everybody.
Mrs. Whittaker You'd soon improve if you practiced.
Larita
j I don't know that the end would altogether justify the means.
Mrs. Whittaker
Have you seen Marion?
Larita Not since lunch.
Mrs. Whittaker I wonder where she is.
Larita Upstairs, I think.
Mrs. Whittaker She had a letter from Edgar this morning.
Larita Did she?
0
Mrs. Whittaker He's coming home.
Larita How lovely.
Mrs. Whittaker
[Shooting a suspicious glance at her.] You've never met him?
Larita
Never. I meant it was lovely for Marion that he was coming home --- not for me.
Mrs. Whittaker Where's Jim?
Larita He went out, I think.
Mrs. Whittaker
How irritating! I wanted to talk to him par- ticularly.
Larita Perhaps he didn't know.
Mrs. Whittaker I think we shall have to get rid of Jackson.
Larita What a pity ! He seems such a nice man.
Mrs. Whittaker He's been neglecting the garden disgracefully.
Larita It must be awfully difficult to be a gardener.
Mrs. Whittaker I'm worried to death about to-night.
Larita I'm so sorry. Why?
Mrs. Whittaker If it's wet we can't have the buffet on the veranda.
Larita Perhaps it will be fine.
Mrs. Whittaker
Only half the things I ordered have arrived from Fortnum's.
Larita Can I do anything?
Mrs. Whittaker
Xo, thank you, Larita. I'm quite used to all responsibilities of this sort falling on to my shoulders. The children are always utterly inconsiderate. Thank Heaven, I have a talent for organization. [She goes out with a martyred expression.] [Larita, with a sigh, once more plunges into her
booh.] [Enter Marion, down stairs.]
Marion
Hallo! old thing. Why aren't you watching the tennis ?
Larita I'm afraid of discouraging them.
Marion Have you seen mother?
Larita Yes, she's just gone into the garden.
Marion I think she's getting a bit fussed about to-night.
Larita She has a talent for organization.
Marion
Tilings are certain to turn out all right, if you don't worry about 'em.
Larita That must be a very comforting philosophy.
Marion
You seem a bit snappy, old girl. Has anything upset you ?
Larita
[Putting down her book.]
I'm sorry --- I didn't mean to be snappy. What shall we talk about?
Marion
I'm afraid I haven't time to talk now --- too many things to see to. You know, only half the stuff's arrived from Fortnum's.
Larita Why not telephone them?
Marion I have.
Larita Are they sending the rest down?
Marion Yes.
Larita Well, that's all right, then, isn't it?
Marion Have you seen father?
Larita He went out, I think.
Marion
Typical of him to shelve everything on to mother and me.
Larita Perhaps he'll come back soon bristling with ideas.
Marion
I think mother's wrong about having the buffet on the veranda --- it's sure to rain. [She goes out.] [Larita lies back and closes her eyes. She is about
to read again when John rushes in from the
garden, very hot. ]
John
Hullo! Why don't you come and watch the tennis ?
Larita
There seems to be a conspiracy among everybody to lead me on to that very exposed tennis-court.
John
Well, you needn't come if you don't want to. [He begins to go upstairs.]
Larita Where are you going?
John
To get Sarah's sweater --- she left it in the school- room before lunch.
Larita You might bring down my fur coat.
John Fur coat? What on earth for? '
Larita I'm cold.
John I don't wonder --- lying about indoors all day.
Larita
Don't be intolerant, darling. [John goes off.] [Larita bites her lip and looks extremely unhappy.
After a moment John returns, with Sarah's
sweater over one arm and Larita's coat over the
other.
John
Here you are. [He gives it to her.]
Larita
Thank you, Johnnie. [She puts it on.]
John You wouldn't be cold if you took some exercise.
Larita Come for a walk with me.
John
[Irritably.]
How can I ? We're in the middle of a set. [John goes out.]
[Calling.] Johnnie !
[Reappearing.] What is it?
Larita
John
Larita
[Hopelessly.]
Nothing. It doesn't matter. [John goes out.] [Larita sits on the sofa, her fur coat round her and
her chin cupped in her hands; her eyes fill with
tears, so she takes a handkerchief from her bag
and blows her nose.] [Colonel Whittaker enters. He regards her
thoughtfully for a moment.]
Colonel Hullo! What's the matter?
Larita
[Jumping.]
Oh --- I never heard you.
Colonel You seem plunged in gloom.
Larita
[Lightly.]
It's only a mood.
Colonel Cheer up.
Larita
You won't ask me why I'm not watching the tennis, will you?
Colonel
No, my dear. Nor will I inquire why you are wearing your fur coat --- the reasons are obvious : you are bored and cold.
Larita Exactly.
Colonel
Shall we play bezique?
Larita [Shuddering.] No, thank you.
Colonel Do. It's such a thrilling game.
Larita I don't remember how
Colonel
Neither do I --- that will give it an added piquancy. [He goes to the bottom drawer of the bureau and produces a bezique set.]
00
Larita
[Laughing.]
You really are absurd.
Colonel
Stay where you are, and I'll bring up this dear little table. [He does so.]
Larita It is sweet, isn't it?
Colonel
[Sitting down opposite her.]
I forget how to deal. It's either nine or thirteen.
Larita I believe it's eleven.
Colonel
[Dealing her two cards and himself two.] Turn them up.
Larita
[Turning them up.] Card.
0
Colonel
[Turning his up.] Nine.
Larita
I'm more used to this sort of bezique. [He deals out four more cards.] [Turning up eight.]
Eight.
Colonel.
[Passing her the pack.] There now.
Larita [Dealing.] I feel my nostrils quivering like a war-horse.
Colonel Card, please.
Larita
[Turning up her cards.]
Useless.
Colonel Are you preparing to have a run ?
0
Larita
Certainly. [She deals again.]
Colonel
[Turning up.] Eight.
Larita
[Also turning up.] I'm so sorry --- nine !
Colonel
Devil.
Larita
[Dealing again.] Faites vos jeux.
Colonel
[Turning up.] Carte.
Larita Nine!
Colonel Lucky at cards, unlucky
0
Larita
Don't say that to me --- it's a malicious treason. [She deals again.]
Colonel Carte.
Larita
[Giving him one and herself one.] Now then.
Colonel
Damn!
Larita Nine!
Colonel There's something underhand about this.
Larita
I shall have you turned out of the Casino if you accuse me of cheating.
Colonel One more go, please.
0
Larita
[Dealing.] There !
Eight.
Colonel
Larita
[Laughing.]
My poor friend! Nine.
Colonel
[Hurling the pack on to the floor.] Disgusting.
Larita
Don't be a cad ! [They both go down on to the floor and proceed to pick up the cards.]
Colonel
I should like to get a shoe and a couple of seedy croupiers, and start a gambling-hell in this village.
Larita
It would be grand. [Mrs. Whittaker enters.]
0
Mrs. Whittaker What on earth are you doing?
Colonel
Gambling.
Larita
I'm afraid the Colonel forgot he was an English gentleman, and lost his temper.
Mrs. Whittaker Have you been down to the village, Jim?
Colonel Yes.
Mrs. Whittaker
Well, all I can say is, you might have told me you were going --- you could have seen Harry about fixing the Japanese lanterns.
Colonel I did see Harry.
Mrs. Whittaker What did he say?
0
Colonel He's coming up at half-past five.
Mrs. Whittaker
Well, I think you might have let me know. [Going. She goes upstairs.]
Colonel It is such fun giving a dance.
Larita You must control your excitement.
Colonel
There, that's all, I think. [He rises.]
Larita
There's an angry Queen of Hearts secreting her- self under the sofa. [She retrieves it and rises.] I feel better now, thank you.
Colonel Splendid.
Larita
Who's coming to-night?
0
Colonel
The county. You'll see dresses that will make your mouth water.
Larita
I must be careful --- it will be my social debut.
Colonel What will you wear?
Larita Something non-committal and austere.
Colonel Not black?
Larita No --- that would clash with the Dowager's.
Colonel White?
Larita Too ingenue.
Colonel There's always lavender.
0
Larita Yes --- much more appropriate.
Colonel Your friend Charles Burleigh's coming.
Larita Yes, I know --- I'm awfully glad. He's a nice man.
Colonel I tremble for you sometimes.
Larita Why?
Colonel This life must be so deadly for you.
Larita Don't say that.
Colonel It is though --- isn't it?
Larita Now and then --- perhaps.
0
Colonel Do you regret everything?
Larita What's the good? I must get used to it.
Colonel
I try my best, with bezique and small-talk, to make things brighter for you.
Larita I know you do. You've been a darling all along.
Colonel
Do you think you'd be happier if you and John settled down in London?
Larita
I don't know. I feel frightened of making any definite plans. Everything depends on John.
Colonel I'll talk to him.
Larita
No, please don't; let him decide on his own what- ever he wants to do.
0
Colonel He must see you're being bored stiff.
Larita I'm not --- all the time. I just get moods-
Colo
NEL
[Patting her hand.] I understand.
Larita
I wouldn't mind how bored and out of place I was
-if only
Colonel
[Gently.]
If only what?
Larita If only John were with me a little more.
Colonel He's inconsiderate --- but he doesn't mean to be.
Larita He's getting a bit sick of me, I'm afraid.
Colonel What nonsense!
Larita
I ought to be so much more adaptable --- but it's difficult. I've tried terribly hard during the three months I've been here, but I've only succeeded in making everyone more or less used to me. I've estab- lished a sort of truce, that's all.
Colonel
That in itself is an achievement. We're an insular, hidebound set.
Larita Nobody really likes me --- except you.
Colonel
Sarah does.
Larita
Yes, I'd forgotten Sarah. It's queer of her, isn't it?
Colonel
She places a high value on intelligence where no one else recognizes it.
Larita
Marion is persistently pleasant because she feels she owes it to her religious views.
Colonel Marion --- though I says it as shouldn't --- is a fool.
Larita
I've got an unworthy passion for popularity --- it hurts my vanity not to be an unqualified success.
Colonel Rubbish ! --- it's nothing to do with your vanity.
Larita
Please --- I want it to be my vanity that's hurt, and nothing else.
Colonel
You mustn't expect results too soon, you know. Three months is a very short time.
Larita
[Suddenly, with vehemence.]
Oh, what's the use of going on about it? --- throw- ing dust and trying to obscure the truth. You know and I know --- it's all a rotten failure !
[She goes upstairs.]
[The Colonel shrugs his shoulders and lights a
cigarette.] [Marion comes in from the garden.]
Marion
I think if we had the lanterns just along the veranda and across to the cedar it would be all right, don't you?
Colonel
Quite. There aren't enough to go further, any- how.
Marion
Mother thought there ought to be a few round the summer-house.
Colonel
Fairy lamps would be much better there, and there are more of them.
Marion
I wish you'd tell her what you think. [She sees Larita's book and picks it up.] Hullo! what's this? Sodom and Gomorrah. Why does Lari read such silly muck ? [She flings it down again.]
*
Colonel [ Gently. ]
Don't be sweeping, Marion. Marcel Proust hap- pens to be one of the few really brilliant novelists in the world.
Marion
Pity he chooses such piffling subjects, then.
Colonel Have you ever read him?
Marion
No --- but all French writers are the same --- sex --- sex --- sex. People think too much of all that sort of tosh nowadays, anyhow. After all, there are other things in life.
Colonel
You mean higher things, don't you, Marion? --- much higher?
Marion
I certainly do --- and I'm not afraid to admit it.
Colonel
You mustn't be truculent just because you've affiliated yourself with the Almighty.
[He goes into the library.]
[Marion snorts crossly, and Mrs. Whittaker comes downstairs.]
Mrs. Whittaker [Obviously.] Oh, there you are, Marion.
Marion Father's intolerable.
Mrs. Whittaker What's the matter?
Marion He never loses an opportunity of jeering at me. Mrs. Whittaker
He's an exceedingly selfish man --- he knows per- fectly well how rushed and worried I am, and he never attempts to help. I found him in here, on the floor, with Larita.
Marion
On the floor?
Mrs. Whittaker Yes; they'd been playing cards, and dropped them, or something.
Marion
I wish Larita wouldn't slack about indoors all day. It isn't healthy.
Mrs. Whittaker
[Seeing "Sodom and Gomorrah"] Whose is that book?
Marion Hers, of course.
Mrs. Whittaker
Well, please take it up to her room. I don't like that kind of literature left in the hall --- especially when there are young people about.
Marion
You'd think she'd make some effort to adapt her- self to our ways, wouldn't you? instead of
Mrs. Whittaker
Please don't let's discuss her, Marion; you know it upsets me --- and Heaven knows I've got enough on my mind to-day.
Marion
I should like to give her a little advice about things.
Mrs. Whittaker
Do, dear ; but wait until after to-night --- we don't want a scene.
Marion
I don't think she'd cut up rough if I was tactful. You see, she doesn't quite understand
Mrs. Whittaker How can you expect her to?
Marion
And father's always encouraging her, and saying ridiculous things, and making her laugh.
Mrs. Whittaker
Your father has a certain horrible streak in him that nothing will eradicate --- no one's more aware of that than I. It's caused me years of suffering.
Marion I know, mother.
Mrs. Whittaker Birds of a feather
Marion
[Alarmed.]
But I think Larita's all right --- really, mother, don't you ? I mean
Mrs. Whittaker
My dear Marion, I flatter myself I'm a woman of the world. We have no proof of the sort of life Larita has led, and we don't want any proof --- she is John's wife, and as long as he cares for her nothing
can be done
Marion
What do you mean by "nothing can be done?"
Mrs. Whittaker
This was never anything but a mad infatuation --- and mad infatuations don't last.
Marion But, mother, he's married to her.
Mrs. Whittaker There is such a thing as divorce.
Marion I don't approve of divorce, and I never have.
Mrs. Whittaker
Neither do I --- but in a case like this it's rather different.
Marion
I think she's fond of him, you know.
Mrs. Whittaker
Time will show. [Hilda comes in from the garden; she is flushed and hot.]
Hilda
Philip and I won the set. Is there any lemonade, or an} thing?
Mrs. Whittaker
You'd better go into the pantry and get some. Furber's very busy.
Hilda Where's Larita?
Mrs. Whittaker I don't know.
0
Hilda
She was making sheep's eyes at Philip all through lunch.
Mrs. Whittaker You mustn't say things like that, Hilda.
Hilda Well, she was. I nearly died of shame.
Marion You'd better go and fetch the lemonade.
Hilda You'd think she'd know how to behave at her age.
Mrs. Whittaker Hilda, that will do.
Hilda
I'm fed up with her. Look how she went on with Harry Emsworth. She'd better be careful, I can
tell you
[Enter John, Sarah and Philip Bordon --- he is a
callow, lanky youth.]
John Where's the drink?
Hilda I'm just going to fetch it.
Sarah
[Sinking down.] I'm dead.
Philip It's jolly hot.
John Why didn't you play, Marion ?
Marion Too busy. Anyhow, you were four.
Sarah Give me a cigarette, John.
John
I've only got stinkers.
Sarah
I'll take one of Lari's ; she won't mind. [Takes one from Lari's case on the sofa.] [John lights it.]
Mrs. Whittaker
I wonder if two extra girls will be enough, with Furber and Ellen.
Marion I should think so.
Mrs. Whittaker
We can get Mrs. Pollock's married daughter, you know. They're only just down the road.
Marion
It won't be necessary. [Re-enter Hilda, with tray of drinks.]
Hilda Furber had it all ready.
John Put it on the veranda, Hilda.
Philip Let me help. [He and Hilda retire on to the veranda with the drinks. ]
Mrs. Whittaker
Come into the library, Marion, and help me with the dinner list.
Marion Father's in there.
Mrs. Whittaker
We'll go up to my room, then. If Harris comes, don't let him go before I've seen him, John.
John
All right, mother.
Mrs. Whittaker
[As she and Marion go upstairs.] We shall have to put Lady Gibbons next to your father.
Marion He hates her.
M
Mrs. Whittaker
It can't be helped. [They go off.]
Sarah
Bring me some lemonade in here, John --- it's so nice and cool.
John
[Going out on to veranda.] I wish you were dining too.
Sarah
I've got to be at home and help mother with our party. I ought to be there now, really.
John
[Off-]
Wouldn't you rather have ginger beer?
Sarah
No --- lemonade, please.
John
Right. [After a moment he returns with lemonade for Sarah and ginger beer for himself.]
Sarah [Taking it.] Thanks.
John
Pretty hot player, Philip.
Sarah He nearly killed me.
John Keep a lot of dances for me to-night, won't you?
Sarah Of course.
John It ought to be fun, if it keeps fine.
Sarah Where's Lari, I wonder?
John Reading somewhere, I expect.
Sarah She looked divine at lunch.
John
It's funny you liking her. I was afraid you wouldn't.
Sarah Why?
John Oh, I don't know --- she's so utterly different.
Sarah I expect that's the reason.
John I wish she wouldn't slack indoors so much.
Sarah I don't see that it matters, if she wants to.
John
It's all very well in the winter, but in this sort of weather
Sarah
You mustn't be grumpy just because people don't ■^ like doing exactly the same things as you.
John I'm not grumpy.
Sarah Yes, you are --- a little.
John It's annoying, though.
Sarah Don't let it be.
John You're such a sport, always ready for anything.
Sarah
But I haven't got Lari's beauty or charm or intelligence.
John Here, I say!
Sarah I mean that.
John She is clever, isn't she?
Sarah Yes, and being clever she's a little bored.
John She wouldn't be if only she entered into things.
Sarah
Perhaps she can't enter into things. You must remember this sort of life is entirely new to her.
John Yes, I know, but
Sarah
You're all right, because you're on your own ground. I think you ought to give a bit more.
John How do you mean ?
Sarah
Do what she wants now and then, instead of only what you want.
John
But I do. I took her for miles in the car yester- day --- she said she needed air.
Sarah That's right.
John So you see
Sarah Don't make excuses ; you know what I mean.
John I don't.
Sarah
Well, I can't explain ; it's something you must find out for yourself.
John
I do think it's most frightfully decent of you to stand up for her.
Sarah
That wasn't my object.
John
I say, you have changed lately ; you never used to go on like this.
Sarah Like what?
0
John Well, all serious and preachy.
Sarah
[Laughing.]
I'm sorry you think I'm preachy; you see, I'm growing up, and you're not.
John Oh yes, I am.
Sarah Well, not in the way you should, then.
John You've got ever so much nicer-looking.
Sarah Thank you.
John Are you going to marry, too?
Sarah Certainly.
John
[Anxiously.] Who? Charlie?
Sarah Good Heavens, no ! He's much too old.
John
Oh!
Sarah
[Repentantly.]
I'm awfully sorry. I didn't mean that exactly.
John It's all right.
Sarah
He's not my type at all ; if I loved him, I wouldn't care how old he was.
John I can't imagine you married.
Sarah What a pity ! I have a vivid mental picture of it.
John
Is there anybody you are in love with?
Sarah Not at the moment, but I'm keeping my eyes open.
John
it t( hadn't the courage
I've often meant to ask you something, but I
Sarah Well, don't then.
John I must.
Sarah Give me a cigarette first.
John
Stinker ?
Sarah Yes ; anything.
John
[Giving her one.] Here.
Sakah Thanks. Go ahead.
John
Did you think I behaved like a cad, marrying Lari like that, without letting you know?
Sarah Of course not.
John Are you sure?
Sarah Quite. I understood perfectly.
John It's been on my mind rather.
Sarah
You took your opportunity and married for love, John, and I respect you for it. If we'd married, it would have been for friendship and convenience.
John Would it?
Sarah
[Firmly.]
Yes --- we knew one another far too well.
John Do you think that's a disadvantage?
Sarah In married life, certainly.
John I don't.
Sarah
It would have been so dull and ordinary --- no ex- citement at all.
John
I don't want excitement.
Sarah
I do. I want thrills and glamour and passionate love-letters --- all the trappings.
John I could have written you love-letters.
Sarah Well, why didn't you?
John I don't know. I
Sarah
[ Triumphantly. ]
The fact that you didn't proves that you couldn't --- you didn't feel that way about me, ever.
John It was a different sort of feeling.
Sarah
Don't be a hypocrite, John, and try and deceive yourself.
John
I did love you, all the same.
Sarah [Rising.] How touching.
John I do still.
Sarah
Shut up, John !
John
You see, I'm beginning to realize I've made rather a mess of things. [He puts his face in his hands.]
Sarah
[Furiously.]
Shut up, I tell you, or I'll never speak to you again. That's behaving like a cad, if you like --- an utter cad !
[Miserably.] Sarah
John
Sarah
You ought to be ashamed of yourself! Haven't you got any sense of decency? Let me tell you one thing --- you're not fit to wipe Lari's boots. [Larita appears at the top of the stairs in time to catch the last sentence.]
Larita
[Lightly; coming down.]
Hallo!--- what are you two squabbling about?
Sarah
John's infuriating --- he always gets bad-tempered when he loses a set.
Larita
I ought to have watched, after all, to keep him in order.
Sarah
I stole a cigarette out of your rich and rare case, Lari.
Larita
That was revolting of you. I don't think I can forgive it. [Hilda and Philip come in from veranda.]
Hilda Aren't you going to play any more, John?
John
[Eagerly.] Yes, rather.
Sarah
I should stay and talk to Lari if I were you, John --- you've neglected her shamefully.
Philip I'll stay with Mrs. John.
Larita
You're all very kind and considerate --- I really only want some one to hold my knitting. [She makes a gesture of winding wool.]
Hilda I want Philip to play.
Larita
I'll come and glare at you all with eyes starting out of my head like prawns.
Sarah
No, don't. There's nothing so hideously dull as watching people play games you're not particularly interested in. Come on, Hilda --- you and I will play Philip. He can beat us easily.
Hilda
[Satisfied.] All right.
Sarah Come along.
&
Larita
[Lightly.]
Thanks, Sarah darling. [She blows a kiss to her.] [Sarah, Hilda, and Philip go off.]
John
[Noticing Larita is still wearing her coat,] Are you still cold?
Larita
No, not really. I'll take this off if it annoys you. [She does so.]
John I don't mind.
Larita
What shall we do? Go for a nice drive in the motor ?
John Would you like to?
Larita No, dear --- don't look so scared; I should hate it.
0
John
I'm sorry if you think I've been neglecting you lately, Lari.
Larita
Sarah put that into your head ; I didn't.
John But have I?
Larita No. I think I've been neglecting you.
John I'm afraid I've been thoughtless and beastly.
Larita [Smiling.] Dear Johnnie. [ She pats his hand. ]
John
I say, you have got some strong scent on.
Larita
It's very good, though, isn't it? [She leans forward so that he can smell it better.]
John
[ With forced enthusiasm. ] Lovely.
Larita
Why are you looking so depressed?
John I'm not depressed.
Larita
I hope you haven't been overtiring yourself --- at tennis?
John Of course I haven't.
Larita
[Seriously.]
Kiss me, Johnnie.
John
All right. [He does so.]
Larita
I think I'd better put on my fur coat again.
John What's the matter with you to-day, Lari?
Larita Don't you know?
John No.
Larita We're married.
John What do you mean?
Larita That's what's the matter with both of us.
John There's nothing the matter with me.
Larita Isn't there?
John I feel a bit tired, that's all.
Larita Yes, I believe you do.
John
I think you were right --- I have been rather strenuous to-day.
Larita Poor darling !
John
And we've got this awful dance to-night.
Larita Aren't you looking forward to it?
John
Not particularly.
Larita Let's run away secretly to Deauville.
John How can we?
Larita [Smiling.] It's all right. I didn't mean it; that was a joke.
John
Oh, I see.
Larita
You mustn't be dull. [She laughs.]
John
Oh, do stop twitting me !
Larita Twitting! What a ridiculous expression.
John You're always in some mood or another.
Larita Surely that's quite natural?
John
I suppose it's my fault, really, for leaving you alone so much. But still, I do think
Larita
If you're going to be magnanimous, do it grace- fully.
John There you are, you see. Whenever I try
Larita
[Sharply.]
You weren't trying hard enough.
John
Anyone would think I'd been deliberately planning to annoy you.
Larita Deliberately or not --- you've succeeded.
John I don't see what I've done.
Larita
You play tennis eternally --- tennis --- tennis --- tennis! Such a pretty game.
John
It's healthier than sitting indoors, anyway.
Larita
I believe it develops the muscles to an alarming extent.
John You don't want me to be flabby, do you?
Larita Mentally or physically?
John Lari, look here, I
Larita I'm getting flabby mentally --- and I can't bear it.
John Well, it's not my fault.
Larita Yes, it is.
John How?
Larita Come away --- come abroad again.
John We can't --- you know we can't --- possibly.
Larita Why?
John It's unfair of you to ask me.
Larita Yes, it is --- I suppose.
John After all, this is my life, and it always will be.
Larita
Will it?
Of course.
And mine?
John
Larita
Naturally,
John
Larita How secure that sounds.
John
Secure?
Larita
Yes. Words are such silly things. When you said "Naturally" like that it sounded like everything I want in the world ; but I know in my heart it meant nothing.
John I don't understand.
Larita That's why it meant nothing.
John
Are you really dissatisfied?
Larita Yes.
John You're not happy here at all?
Larita No.
John Why?
Larita Beeause you've stopped loving me.
John
[Startled.] Lari!
Larita It's true.
John But you're wrong --- I haven't stopped loving you.
Larita
[Lightly.] Liar!
John
Look here, you're hysterical and upset because I've been neglecting you.
Larita No, dear, it isn't that.
0
John I've never heard anything so ridiculous in my life.
Larita Neither have I.
John Why, we've only been married six months.
Larita It might be six years.
John It looks more as though you'd stopped loving me.
Larita Oh, John, don't be silly.
John
[Hotly.]
I'm not silly ! You're always irritable and snappy these days --- you never used to be.
Larita I'm sorry.
John
If you were a bit more interested in everything here and didn't retire into your shell so much, you'd be far happier.
Larita
Does your mother want me to be interested? John
Of course she does.
Larita
Then why does she snub me and discourage me whenever I make the slightest effort?
John She doesn't mean to. You're too sensitive.
Larita
Sensitive ! [She laughs.]
John
Yes, you think everybody's against you.
Larita So they are --- except your father and Sarah.
John Marion's been sweet to you, and Hilda
Larita
Hilda evinced a high-school passion for me when I first arrived --- which has since reacted into black hatred.
John Rot!
Larita It isn't rot. Marion is gratuitously patronizing.
John She's nothing of the sort.
Larita Her religious views forbid her to hate me openly.
John It's beastly of you to say things like that.
Larita I'm losing my temper at last --- it's a good sign.
John I'm glad you think so.
Larita
I've repressed it for so long, and repression's bad. Look at Marion.
John
I don't know what you mean.
Larita
No --- you wouldn't.
John
But I suppose it's something unpleasant.
Larita Quite right --- it is.
John
Well, will you please remember that Marion is my sister.
Larita
I shouldn't think of her at all if she weren't.
John You're behaving like a child.
Larita I can't tell you what a wonderful relief it is.
John It's damned inconsiderate.
Larita Yes --- my turn now!
John Look here, Lari
Larita
Don't try and stop me. Let me go on and on --- or I shall burst.
John Don't talk so loudly.
Larita
Why not? No one would be in the least surprised to find me rolling about on the floor, soaked in drugs and hiccoughing. They almost expect it of me. Surely a little shouting won't matter --- it will gratify their conception of my character.
John I've never seen you like this before.
Larita No, it doesn't happen often.
John Thank God for that!
Larita
Splendid! Repartee helps. I like you to play up. This is our first row, you know.
John
[Sullenly.]
I hope it will be our last.
Larita It may be --- quite possibly.
Jo
HN
As fai? as I can see, you're just thoroughly bad- tempered because I haven't been dancing attendance on you all the time.
Larita
If you can only see as far as that, you're ex- traordinarily short-sighted.
John All the same, I'm right.
Larita How I wish you were !
John
If things have been upsetting you for so long, why on earth didn't you tell me before?
Larita
I was hoping against hope that you'd see for yourself.
John
[Turning away irritably.]
Oh, what's the use of arguing and bickering like this? It doesn't lead anywhere.
Larita
You never know --- it might lead to the end of everything.
John
Do you want it to?
Larita
Do you?
John No, I don't. All I want is peace and quiet.
Larita
You're far too young to make a remark like that seriously.
John I can't help my age.
Larita You said just now that you loved me still.
John I certainly don't when you go on like this.
Larita I wanted to see how much it would stand.
John
Wasn't that rather silly?
Larita
No, it wasn't silly. Three months ago you'd never have spoken to me as you have to-day. Whatever I'd done. I've been watching your passion for me die. I didn't mind that so much; it was inevitable. Then I waited very anxiously to see if there were any real love and affection behind it --- and I've seen the little there was slowly crushed out of you by the uplifting atmosphere of your home and family. Whatever I do now doesn't matter any more --- it's too late.
John Look here, Lari
Larita
I've shown myself to you quarrelsome and cheap and ugly for the first time --- and it hasn't hurt you ; it's only irritated you. You're miles away from me already.
John
You're utterly unreasonable --- you imagine things.
Larita Do I?
John
I realize that I'm to blame for leaving you alone so much --- and, honestly, I'm sorry.
Larita Do you really believe that that accounts for it all?
John Yes.
Larita Well, let's pretend it's true --- for a little longer.
John There's no need to pretend.
Larita Give me my handkerchief, will you? --- it's in my
[Finding it.] Here you are.
John
Larita
Thanks. [She dabs her eyes and blows her nose.] I hope I'm not going to have a cold.
0
John
I'll see that you don't get miserable and upset any more.
Larita
[Half smiling.] Will you, Johnnie?
John Yes --- and I'll talk to mother.
Larita No, don't do that.
John I will. I don't think she's been quite fair.
Larita
Please don't say a word --- promise me you won't. It wouldn't do the slightest good. She's your mother, and I do see her point, you know.
John
As a matter of fact, I should rather like to go abroad again in September --- Venice or somewhere.
Larita
It would be lovely. [She laughs.]
John
[Suspiciously.]
Why are you laughing?
Larita Because I feel happier.
John Or Algiers --- I've never been to Algiers.
Larita
If we went to Algiers, we could stay with the Lessings.
John
I don't know them.
Larita
They're darlings. She's an American. She used to design people's houses. We had great fun in New York.
John
I never knew you'd been to New York.
Larita I must have told you --- I was there for ages.
John You didn't. Was it before you married?
Larita No; after.
John I thought you lived in Paris all the time.
Larita Not all the time.
John Why did you go?
Larita
Oh, I don't know --- the tall buildings and the cham- pagne air --- so fascinating.
John Did you go alone?
Larita Yes --- but the boat was crowded.
John Why didn't you tell me?
Larita
I thought I had. It doesn't matter though, does it?
John What did you do there?
Larita Really, Johnnie --- nothing particular.
John
You never told me much, you know --- about any- thing.
Larita
I'll write my memoirs one day; then all will be disclosed.
John Is Francis alive now?
Larita Oh yes; he's kicking about somewhere.
John You never hear from him?
Larita
Of course not. I don't consider it chic to receive chatty letters from ex-husbands.
John I only wondered.
Larita
Well, you needn't have.
John
Mother's always trying to pump me about your early life.
Larita
And what do you say ?
John
Nothing. I feel rather a fool.
Larita Never mind, dear.
John
It's natural that she should be curious, I suppose.
Larita Oh, quite.
John And that I should be, too.
Larita I never realized you were.
John You are my wife, after all.
Larita Yes, isn't it lovely?
John Do you regret anything?
Larita Hundreds of things.
John But seriously
Larita
The home atmosphere is certainly having its effect on you.
John How do you mean?
Larita You never cross-questioned me before.
John I'm not cross-questioning you.
Larita Yes, you are --- a little.
John I'm sorry. I won't any more.
Larita It betrays a certain lack of trust.
John
Lari, how can you !
Larita
You see, when we married, we married because we loved one another --- no explanations were necessary on either side.
John They're not necessary now, only
Larita
Only you're feeling a little uncomfortable --- is that it?
j
John
No, not exactly.
Larita It's all a question of values.
John Values ?
Larita
Yes, the scales are awfully erratic. When we met and fell in love, nothing else mattered as long as we were together. But when the first fine careless rap- ture wears off, other things begin to obtrude them- selves --- one has to readjust oneself to see clearly. What had happened to either of us in the past didn't count a bit at first --- why should it? --- everything was new and exciting. Now it's not new and exciting any more ; we've grown used to one another, so to alleviate the monotony we start prying about behind the
scenes --- trying to find out things about each other that haven't any real bearing on the case at all. It's inevitable with such a hideously intimate relation- ship as marriage.
John I don't want to find out anything.
Larita
You may not want to, but you'll persevere until you do. It's human nature.
John I'd hoped there was nothing to find.
Larita There's always something --- somewhere.
John Don't let's say any more about it.
Larita Very well. [She takes out her powder-puff and powders her nose.]
John I trust you absolutely.
Larita
Whatever happens in the future, dear, I want you to remember one thing --- I've never deceived you and I've never lied to you. There are many things that I've purposely left unexplained, because they don't concern you in the least and don't apply in any sense to our life together.
John
Darling ! [He kisses her very sweetly, and she smoothes his hair. ]
Larita
You've rubbed all the powder off my nose.
John
I don't care a bit.
Larita
Go and play some more tennis --- you've been in the house far too long ; it isn't healthy.
John
Don't be a beast.
Larita
Away with you --- I'm going to rest before tea.
0
John I'll come and rest too.
Larita
No, you won't. We should go on talking and talk- ing and talking until our heads fell off.
John
Oh, all right. [He kisses his hand lightly and goes into the
garden. ] [Larita is about to go upstairs xvhen Marion comes
down.}
Marion Hallo! old girl.
Larita Hallo!
Marion Are you going upstairs?
Larita I was. I thought of lying down a little.
Marion You're always lying down.
Larita
Yes, isn't it strange? I expect there's something organically wrong with me.
Marion [Anxiously.] I hope there isn't.
Larita
[Beginning to go.]
Well, I'll see you later on
Marion
[Touching her arm.]
Don't go. I've been wanting to talk to you.
Larita
To me? Why --- what about? --- anything impor- tant ?
Marion No; just everything.
Larita That ought to take several years.
Marion
[Laughing forcedly.] I didn't mean it literally.
Larita Oh, I see.
Marion Have you got a cigarette on you?
Larita Yes, certainly. Here. [She hands her case.]
Marion
[Taking one.] Thanks.
Larita
[Amiably.]
Why aren't }^ou watching the tennis ?
Marion
[Insensible of irony.]
I've been too busy all the afternoon.
Larita How are all the preparations for to-night going?
Marion All right. You're sitting next to Mr. Furley.
Larita Splendid. Is he nice?
Marion
He's a damned good sort --- rather High Church, you know ; almost ritualistic.
Larita He won't be ritualistic at dinner, will he?
Marion And you've got Sir George on the other side of
I you -
Larita Sir George who ?
Marion
Sir George Bentley. He's awfully well up in dead languages and things.
Larita I do hope I shall be a comfort to him.
Marion Very interesting man, George Bentley.
Larita How many are dining altogether?
Marion
Only twelve --- we haven't really room for more comfortably.
Larita I hope it will all be an enormous success.
Marion
You won't be offended if I ask you something --- just between ourselves?
Larita That depends, Marion. What is it?
Marion Speaking as a pal, you know.
Larita [ Vaguely. ] Oh yes --- well?
Marion Don't encourage father too much.
Larita
In what way --- encourage him? I don't under- stand.
Marion
Well, you know --- you and he are always getting up arguments together.
Larita Why shouldn't we?
Marion It annoys mother so when he tries to be funny.
Larita
I've never noticed him trying to be funny --- he's a very intelligent man.
Marion
Sometimes when you're discussing certain sub- jects, he says things which are not quite
Larita
You say "certain subjects" in rather a sinister way, Marion. What subjects do you mean par- ticularly ?
Marion
Well, sex and things like that. You were talking about the Ericson divorce ^case the other day at lunch, when Harry Emsworth was here
Larita It's an extraordinarily interesting case.
Marion
Yes, but one doesn't discuss things like that openly in front of strangers --- I mean to say, it doesn't matter a bit when we're by ourselves; no one could be more broad-minded than I am --- after all, what's the use of being in the world at all if you shut your eyes to things?
Larita
[ Crisply. ] Exactly.
Marion You're not angry, are you?
Larita Angry? --- no.
Marion
You see, I like you, Lari ; we get on well together. I grant you we see things from different points of view, but that's only natural.
Larita Yes --- oh yes.
Marion
I knew you'd be a sport about it and not mind. You see, my philosophy in life is frankness. Say what you've got to say, and have done.
Larita In other words --- moral courage.
Marion Yes, that's it.
Larita
Why didn't you attack the Colonel on these little breaches of etiquette ? He seems to be more to blame than I.
Marion A woman always understands better than a man.
Larita Surely that's a little sweeping.
Marion It's true, all the same. I knew you'd see.
Larita
You weren't by any chance afraid that he'd laugh at you?
Marion
Good Heavens, no ! I don't mind being laughed at.
Larita How extraordinary ! I hate it.
Marion
What does it matter? If you've got something to say, say it.
Larita
According to your code, the fact of having spoken like that about your father doesn't strike you as being disloyal in any way, does it?
Marion Not between pals like us.
Larita Of course, yes --- pals, I keep forgetting.
Marion I believe you are angry.
Larita I'm not --- but I'm very, very interested.
Marion
Look here, Lari, it's like this. Father's been a bit of a dog in his day. Mother's had a pretty bad time with him, and she's stood by him through thick and thin.
Larita How splendid !
Marion
Some men are like that --- no moral responsibility. Edgar, you know, was just the same.
Larita You say "was." Has he reformed?
0
Marion
I think I've made him see --- but it's been a tough struggle.
Larita What have you made him see?
Marion
I've made him see that nothing matters if you keep your life straight and decent.
Larita
There are so many varying opinions as to what is straight and decent.
Marion God admits of no varying opinions.
Larita
Your religion must be wonderfully comforting. It makes you so sure of yourself.
Marion
If you're going to take up that tone, we won't discuss it.
Larita
No --- we'd better not.
Marion [Gently.]
You mustn't jeer at religion, old girl. [She puts her hand on her arm.]
Larita
[Shaking her off.]
I don't jeer at religion --- but I jeer at hypocrisy.
Marion Vm not a hypocrite --- if that's what you mean.
Larita [Quietly.]
I'm afraid you are, Marion --- and a disloyal one, too, which makes it all the more nauseating.
Marion
How dare you speak to me like that ! [Enter Philip Bordon from the garden.]
Philip [To Larita.] Hallo ! --- I wondered if you were still here.
Larita
You must be exhausted. You've been at it steadily all the afternoon.
Philip
John and Sarah are playing a single now, and Hilda's sitting on the steps, scoring. [Marion, livid with rage, takes a writing-block off
the bureau and marches into the library. ]
[Looks after her in some surprise.]
What's up?
Larita
We've been arguing about the dinner guests --- it's all very difficult.
Philip
I wish I was dining.
Larita
But you're coming directly afterwards, aren't you?
Philip
Rather ! About ten of us.
Larita Good Heavens !
Philip Will you keep a dance for me?
Larita Certainly.
Philip What number?
Larita I don't know.
Philip Three?
Larita Perhaps you won't be here in time.
Philip
Say five, then, and six.
Larita
[Laughing.]
Not two running! We should be bored stiff with each other.
Philip
Five and seven, then?
Larita All right.
Philip You won't forget?
Larita Of course not.
Philip I'm sure you dance wonderfully.
Larita Why?
Philip Because of the way you move.
Larita Oh, thank you very much.
Philip
I mean it.
Larita
Well, it's very sweet of you. [She sits on sofa.]
Philip May I sit next to you?
Larita
Certainly, if you like. [She makes room for him.]
Philip
[Sitting down.]
I'm afraid I'm awfully hot and sticky.
Larita
[Laughing out loud.]
I don't mind as long as you keep your end.
Philip Don't laugh at me.
Larita I'm sorry --- but you are rather funny.
Philip
[Gloomy.] Everyone says that.
Larita
Never mind. Be frank --- speak straight from the shoulder --- say what you have to say, and have done.
Philip
[Surprised,]
I beg your pardon?
Larita It's all right --- I was only quoting.
Philip
Oh, I see.
Larita
You must forgive me if I'm a little distrait --- I've had a rather trying afternoon.
Philip
Everybody fussing round, I suppose, over the dance ?
Larita Yes --- more or less.
Philip People take things so damned seriously.
Larita
You don't think it's a good plan to take things seriously ?
Philip Oh, sometimes, of course, but
Larita I'm inclined to agree with you.
Philip Life's too short to worry over things.
Larita It is miserably short, isn't it?
Philip Rather !
Larita
I sometimes wonder why we're here at all --- it seems such a waste of time.
Philip You're laughing again.
Larita
Not altogether.
Philip
No one ever thought old John would marry any- one like you.
Larita
Do you know that remark positively made me jump.
Philip
You're so different and so alive. He's a lucky devil.
Larita
You must be careful with your compliments. If you go peppering them about like that they'll ]ose value.
Philip They're not compliments --- they're true.
Larita Do t ou always go on like this ?
Philip Of course not. I wouldn't dare. /
Larita
Forgive me for asking --- but do you lead a straight and decent life?
[Alarmed.] What!
Philip
Larita
It's so important. Whenever you feel yourself slipping, think of me.
Philip I don't quite understand.
Larita
On second thoughts, it would be better if you thought of Marion.
Philip I'd rather think of you.
Larita
Good! I must leave you now --- I've been trying to get to my room for the last hour. [She rises.]
0
Philip
[Catching her hand.] Please don't go yet. [Hilda bounces in in time to see Larita with- drawing her hand from Philip's grasp.]
Larita
I must, really.
Hilda
\ Furiously.]
Oh!
Philip
[Rising.] Hallo! Have
they
finished ?
Hilda
I wondered where you were --- I might have known. [She shoots a malignant glance at Larita.]
Larita
[Frowning.] Hilda!
Hilda
I hope I'm not intruding.
Larita
[Irritably.] This is too much !
Hilda
Yes, it is !
Larita
If you adopt that rather rude tone to me, Hilda, I'm afraid I shall have to poach on Marion's pre- serves and have a straight talk to you.
Philip Look here, Hilda
Hilda
Don't speak to me ! [Furber enters with various tea-things. Mrs. Whittaker comes downstairs.]
Mrs. Whittaker
Has anyone seen my little blue notebook? I can't think where I left it. [Furber finds it on the bureau.]
Furber Is this the one, ma'am?
Mrs. Whittaker
Yes --- thank you, Furber. It's really too annoy- ing, Harris has never come --- you'd better send down after tea.
Furrer
Very good, ma'am. [Sarah and John come in.]
John
[To Larita.]
Did you get your rest, darling?
Larita No --- but it doesn't matter.
Sarah
Mrs. Whittaker, Philip and I must really go now. I've left mother all alone with herds of strange people.
Mrs. Whittaker Won't you have some tea first? It's all ready.
Sarah No, honestly ! --- I daren't. She'll be cross as it is.
Mrs. Whittaker Very well. Be in good time to-night.
Sarah
I don't intend to miss one dance. Come along, Philip.
Philip
[Shaking hands with Mrs. Whittaker.] Good-by, and thanks awfully.
Mrs. Whittaker
Until to-night.
Philip
Rather! [He goes to Larita.] I say
[He looks at Hilda, who glowers at him.}
Larita
Good-by for the moment --- you must make me laugh some more to-night.
Philip
Remember --- five and seven.
Larita I won't forget.
Sarah Come on, Philip! See you later Lari.
Larita
Yes. Good-by. [Sarah and Philip go off. Eurber brings in the teapot. ]
John
I'm going up to have a bath --- I don't want any tea.
Mrs. Whittaker
Oh, John --- just one cup.
John
No, mother. I've had tons of ginger beer during the afternoon. Come up after, Lari.
Larita
All right, dear. [John bounds off upstairs.] [Marion and the Colonel come in from the library.
Marion is fuming. ]
Colonel
If you don't like my opinions, you shouldn't ask for them.
Marion
I'm not used to having that sort of thing said to me.
Mrs. Whittaker
[ With a look towards Furber. ] Marion, please !
Marion
[Flopping down.] Father's impossible! [Furber goes out.]
Mrs. Whittaker
I do wish you'd control your temper in front of the servants, Marion.
Hilda
Other people besides Marion ought to control themselves.
Mrs. Whittaker What do you mean, Hilda?
Hilda Ask Lari --- she knows what I mean.
Mrs. Whittaker Come and sit down and have your tea.
Hilda Disgusting, I call it !
Marion What's disgusting?
Hilda
Ask Lari.
Larita
[Quietly.]
Hadn't you better explain yourself, Hilda, instead of referring everyone to me?
Hilda I pity John --- that's all.
Colonel
[Angrily.]
Have you gone mad, Hilda?
Mrs. Whittaker What on earth's the matter?
Hilda
I came in suddenly, and found Lari canoodling on the sofa with Philip.
Mrs. Whittaker
Don't use such expressions, Hilda --- I'm surprised at you. Come and sit down, Larita.
Larita I think I'll go to my room, if you don't mind.
Hilda
She's frightened because she knows I've found her out. [Larita stifles an exclamation of rage.]
Colonel Stop, Hilda ! I forbid you to say another word.
Hilda
[Hysterically.]
I won't stop --- I know something you none of you know, only I wasn't going to say anything about it --- until after the dance. [She goes, in dead silence, to the bookcase, takes down a book, and takes a news- paper cutting out of it; she gives it to Mrs. Whit- taker.] Look at that, mother. I got it from Sir
George when I went there on Tuesday --- he keeps all the back numbers of The Times, in files. I cut it out when he was in the garden.
Mrs. Whittaker
[Reading cutting.]
Marion --- Jim
[She puts out her hand.]
[Marion approaches and reads the cutting too. The
Colonel turns away.]
Larita I should like some bread-and-butter, please.
Colonel
Here you are, my dear. [He hands it to her.]
Hilda And I'm glad I did --- glad.
Colonel
[Ignoring her.]
Do you want any jam with it?
Larita No, thanks ; I always drop it all over myself.
Hilda
[Shrilly.]
It's no use pretending to be so calm. You know the game's up now, don't you?
Larita
[Serenely.]
Specially strawberry --- the runny kind.
Mrs. Whittaker
Hilda, be quiet. [She sits back and closes her eyes.]
Marion We'd better have this out and face it, hadn't we?
Larita By all means. What happened?
Marion
[Handing her cutting.]
I suppose you don't deny that that's you?
Larita
[Glancing at it and handing it back.] I've always hated that photograph.
00
Marion You'd better read it, father.
Colonel
Certainly not. I haven't the faintest desire to see it.
Larita
[Taking it and handing it to him.]
Please do --- all my friends know about this. I ought to have told you before, really, but it didn't seem necessary.
Colonel
Really, I'd rather not.
Larita
Please --- it's necessary now. [There is silence while the Colonel reads the cutting. Larita drinks a little tea.]
Colonel
Well, what of it? [He tears up the cutting.]
Hilda Father!
0
Larita
That was unkind. Hilda went to such a lot of trouble to get it.
Mrs. Whittaker This is appalling !
Colonel Why? Larita's past is no affair of ours.
Mrs. Whittaker
You seem to forget --- she's married to our son ---
our son
[She breaks down.]
Marion
[Putting her arm round her,] Mother, don't give way.
Colonel I must apologize for this unpleasant scene, Lari.
Larita It had to occur, sooner or later.
0
Mrs. Whittaker
[Raising her head; to Larita, bitterly.] I hope you're satisfied.
Larita
I'm not at all satisfied. I think --- with the excep- tion of the Colonel --- that you're all behaving ridiculously.
Marion
It's easy to adopt a light tone --- when you've brought degradation on to us.
Colonel Don't be a fool, Marion.
Marion
I'm not surprised at your attitude, father. Larita's your sort, isn't she?
Larita
That's one of the nicest things that have ever been said to me.
Mrs. Whittaker Don't talk like that, Marion --- it's useless.
0
Marion
[Firmly.]
The question is --- what's to be done ? [ To Larita. ]
Does John know about this?
Larita
Mind your own business. [Furber enters.]
Furber
[Announcing.] Mr. Harris. [Mrs. Whittaker gives a gasp of horror, and Harris enters. He is a thick-set, affable little man.]
Harris
[Brightly.]
Sorry I couldn't come up before, Mrs. Whittaker, but we've 'ad a busy day down at the White 'Art, what with one thing and another. [There is silence for a moment, then Marion
speaks.]
Marion
[With an effort.]
My mother's not feeling very well, Harris; per- haps you'd call a little later.
0
Harris
[ Sympathetically . ]
Oh, I am sorry to 'ear that --- but time's getting on, you know --- I've got to get back inside of 'arf an hour. If you'd just tell me where you want the fairy lights put, I could run 'em up right away.
Marion
[Helplessly.]
I don't really think-
Larita
[Rising.]
I can show you from here ---
Harris
Oh, thanks very much --- if it isn't troubling you
Larita
Not at all. Look --- [she moves to the window] we want chains --- between those four big trees --- and some on the arch leading to the rose garden.
Harris
[Jotting it down.]
Mixed colors, or shall I make it a scheme?
0
Larita Mixed colors would be better, I think.
Harris
Right you are.
Larita
And if you could arrange some round the summer- house [To Colonel]. Just a few, don't you
think?
Colonel Oh yes, certainly ; it will brighten it up.
Harris
[Still jotting.]
Rose h'arch --- summer-'ouse. --- What about the Chinese lanterns?
Larita
Furber can manage those, I think. We've got them all here.
Harris
Righto, then, that's that. I'll get 'em up in no time. It ought to look very pretty and gay.
M
Larita I'm sure it will.
Harris Can I go out this way?
Larita Oh yes, by all means.
Harris
Thanks very much. Sorry to have troubled you. Hope you'll be feeling better by to-night, Mrs. Whittaker. Good afternoon. [To Hilda.] Good afternoon, miss.
Hilda
[Jumping.] Oh --- good afternoon. [He goes importantly out on to the veranda and out
into the garden.] [Larita sits down again and goes on with her tea.] [Mrs. Whittaker has been busy regaining her self- control; her face is slightly suffused with rage.]
Mrs. Whittaker
[With forced calm.]
Larita, will you oblige me by going to your room, please? We will discuss this later.
0
Larita Certainly not. I haven't finished my tea.
Mrs. Whittaker
Doubtless you imagine that you are carrying off this --- this abominable situation with a high hand, but your callousness only goes to prove that your senses must be blunted to all decent feelings.
Larita
[Quietly.]
Nothing I have ever done warrants your speak- ing like that.
Mrs. Whittaker You have married my son !
Larita I married John because I loved him.
Marion Under false pretenses.
Larita There were no false pretenses.
0
Mrs. Whittaker
Do you think he'd have married you if he'd known ?
Larita
I expect so.
Marion
Then why didn't you tell him?
Larita
Because I didn't consider it necessary. We took one another on trust. What happened before I met him concerns no one but myself. I've never let John down in any way --- I love him.
Mrs. Whittaker
You married John because you wished to break away from your disgraceful life and gain a position to which you were not entitled.
Larita
It's natural that you should think that, but it's not true.
Colonel
Larita, please go upstairs, and let me deal with this.
0
Larita
No --- honestly, I'd rather stay. I understand Mrs. Whittaker's attitude perfectly, and I sympathize with it. It's horrible for her --- but I don't want her to labor under any misapprehension.
Marion
In the face of everything, I'm afraid there's very little room for misapprehension.
Larita
Your life is built up on misapprehensions, Marion. You don't understand or know anything --- you blunder about like a lost sheep.
Marion Abuse won't help you.
Larita That's not abuse --- it's frankness.
Mrs. Whittaker
This is beside the point.
Larita
Not altogether --- it's an attitude of mind which you all share.
0
Colonel
Instead of jumping to the worst conclusions at once, wouldn't it be better to give Larita a little time to explain? We may be doing her an injustice.
Larita
That's kind of you. I haven't the faintest inten- tion of making excuses or trying to conceal anything --- that newspaper cutting was perfectly accurate --- as far as it went. I was concerned in that peculiarly unpleasant case. I changed my name afterward for obvious reasons. The papers rather overreached themselves in publishing the number of my lovers --- only two of the list really loved me.
Mrs. Whittaker You were responsible for a man killing himself.
Larita
Certainly not. It was his weakness and cowardice that were responsible for that --- not I.
Mrs. Whittaker It's incredible --- dreadful --- I can hardly believe it.
Larita I felt like that at the time, but it's a long while ago.
Marion Fifteen years ! John was a child.
Larita Thank you. I quite realize that.
Mrs. Whittaker And how have you lived since this --- this --- scandal?
Larita Extremely well.
Mrs. Whittaker Your flippancy is unpardonable.
Larita
So was your question. I've only explained so far because, as you're John's mother, I felt I owed it to you; but if you persist in this censorious attitude I shall say no more.
Mrs. Whittaker
Do you realize what you've done?
Larita
Perfectly, and I regret nothing. The only thing that counts in this instance is my relationship with
John. Nothing that has occurred in the past affects that in the least.
Mrs. Whittaker
Your marrying him was an outrage.
Larita Why ? I've told you before, I love him.
Mrs. Whittaker
You prove your love by soiling his name irrepar- ably.
Larita
Nonsense.
Colonel
Do you think it's quite fair, Mabel, to set ourselves up in judgment on Larita? We know none of the circumstances which led to these bygone incidents.
Mrs. Whittaker
You've failed me too often before, Jim, so I'm not surprised that you fail me now.
Larita
The Colonel's not failing you --- it's just as bad for him as for you. You don't suppose he likes the idea
of his only son being tied up to me, after these --- revelations? But somehow or other, in the face of overwhelming opposition, he's managed to arrive at a truer sense of values than you could any of you ever understand. He's not allowed himself to be cluttered up with hypocritical moral codes and false sentiments --- he sees things as they are, and tries to make the best of them. He's tried to make the best of me ever since I've been here.
Marion That hasn't astonished us in the least.
Larita
No doubt, with your pure and unsullied concep- tion of human nature, you can only find one meaning for the Colonel's kindness to me?
Marion
I didn't say that.
Larita
You think it, though, don't you? Only this after- noon you asked me not to encourage him.
Mrs. Whittaker Marion !
Larita
You disguised your unpleasant lascivious curiosity under a cloak of hearty friendship --- you were pump- ing me to discover some confirmation of your pretty suspicions. One thing my life has taught me, and that is a knowledge of feminine psychology. I've met your type before.
Marion
How dare you ! How dare you !
Mrs. Whittaker
[Rising.]
This is insupportable.
Larita [Sharply.] Yes, it is. --- Sit down.
Mrs. Whittaker
[Impotently.]
I--- I
[She sits down.]
Larita
I want you to understand one thing --- I deny nothing. I have a perfect right to say what I like and live how I choose --- whether I've married John
or whether I haven't, my life is my own, and I don't intend to be browbeaten.
Marion I hope God will forgive you.
Larita
Don't you rather overrate the Almighty's interest in the situation?
Mrs. Whittaker
In the face of your brazen attitude, there's nothing more to be said.
Larita
You're wrong. There's a good deal more to be said. According to you, I ensnared John in my toils in order to break away from my old life and better my position. If that were the case, what do you mean by deliberately trying to crush down my efforts to reform myself ? How do you reconcile that with your stereotyped views of virtue and charity? But you needn't worry; I didn't marry John to reform myself. I don't consider my position in this house a step up, socially or spiritually. On the con- trary, it's been probably the most demoralizing ex- perience that's ever happened to me.
Mrs. Whittaker You're a wicked, wicked woman.
Larita
That remark was utterly fatuous and completely mechanical. You didn't even think before you said it --- your brain is so muddled up with false values that you're incapable of grasping anything in the least real. Why am I a wicked woman?
Mrs. Whittaker
You betrayed my son's honor by taking advantage of his youth and mad infatuation for you. He'd never have married you if he'd known.
Larita
I suppose you wouldn't consider it betraying his honor if he'd had an affair with me and not married me?
Mrs. Whittaker
It would certainly have been much more appro- priate.
Larita
Unfortunately, I don't consider John worthy of me in either capacity --- I realized a long time ago
that our marriage was a mistake, but not from your point of view --- from my own.
Marion It's easy to talk like that now.
Larita
It isn't easy --- it's heartbreaking. I love John more than I can ever say, but it's not blind love --- unfortunately --- I can see through him. He's charm- ing and weak and inadequate, and he's brought me down to the dust.
Mrs. Whittaker
How dare you say such vile things! How dare you!
Larita
It's true. You can't appreciate my feelings about it. I don't expect you to.
Marion I should think not.
Larita
Your treatment of all this shows a regrettable lack of discrimination. You seem to be floundering
under the delusion that I'm a professional cocotte. You're quite, quite wrong --- I've never had an affair with a man I wasn't fond of. The only time I ever sold myself was in the eyes of God to my first hus- band --- my mother arranged it. I was really too young to know what I was doing. You approve of that sort of bargaining, don't you? --- it's within the law.
Marion
[ Contemptuously. ] Huh!
Larita
Why do you make that peculiar noise, Marion? Does it indicate approval, contempt, or merely asthma ?
Marion Do you think this is the moment to be facetious?
Larita You're an unbelievable prig.
Marion
I hope you don't imagine that your insults could ever have any effect on me?
Larita
If you only knew it, I'm at your mercy completely, but you're too silly to take advantage of it --- you choose the wrong tactics.
Marion
We're certainly not experienced in dealing with women of your sort, if that's what you mean.
Larita
It is what I mean --- entirely. I'm completely out- side the bounds of your understanding --- in every way. And yet I know you, Marion, through and through --- far better than you know yourself. You're a pitiful figure, and there are thousands like you --- victims of convention and upbringing. All your life you've ground down perfectly natural sex im- pulses, until your mind has become a morass of in- hibitions --- your repression has run into the usual channel of religious hysteria. You've placed phys- ical purity too high and mental purity not high enough, And you'll be a miserable woman until the end of your days unless you readjust the balance.
Marion
[Rising impetuously.] You're revolting --- horrible !
0
Larita
You need love and affection terribly --- you'd go to any lengths to obtain it except the right ones. You swear and smoke and assume an air of spurious heartiness because you're not sure of your own religion and are afraid of being thought a prude. You try to establish a feeling of comradeship by sanctimonious heart-to-heart talks. All your ideals are confused and muddled --- you don't know what to ask of life, and you'll die never having achieved any- thing but physical virtue. And God knows I pity you. [Marion, with as much dignity as she can command,
walks into the library without a, word, and slams
the door.]
Mrs. Whittaker You're achieving nothing by all this.
Larita How do you know?
Mrs. Whittaker
Because you're a moral degenerate --- lost to all sense of right and wrong.
Larita
I respect you for one thing, anyhow --- you are sure of yourself.
Mrs. Whittaker I don't want your respect.
Larita
You're the only one here with the slightest grip. You've risen up like a phoenix from the ashes of your pride. It's quite, quite excellent --- and infinitely pathetic.
Mrs. Whittaker
I don't wish to speak to you any more --- until to- morrow. I shall be very grateful if you will remain upstairs this evening --- I will make suitable excuses for your absence.
Larita
You mean you're frightened that I should make a scene ?
Mrs. Whittaker
That is neither here nor there --- I certainly don't desire an open scandal.
Larita
You've run to cover again. I was afraid you would.
Mrs. Whittaker
This has been painful beyond belief.
Colonel You're right --- it has.
Mrs. Whittaker I don't feel capable of bearing any more.
Larita
You intend to confine me to my room like a naughty child?
Mrs. Whittaker
The simile is hardly appropriate, but I hope you will have the decency to remain there. [She goes upstairs in silence.]
Colonel
Lari
Larita
Please go away --- I don't want anyone to speak to me at all for a little. I must think --- think
[She is trembling hopelessly and making a tremen- dous effort to control her nerves.]
Colonel.
Very well. [He goes out into the garden.] [Hilda, who has been standing aghast throughout
the entire scene, suddenly bursts into floods of
tears and rushes at Larita.]
Hilda
[Hysterically.]
Lari --- Lari --- forgive me! I didn't mean it --- I
didn't mean it
Larita
[Pushing her gently away.]
Don't be a little toad, Hilda. Try to have the
courage of your convictions.
[Hilda rushes out into the garden, weeping hys- terically. ]
[Larita bites her lip; then, still trembling violently, she lights a cigarette and takes "Sodom and Gomorrah" ' off the bureau. She settles her- self on the sofa, obviously exerting every ounce of control, and opens the book methodically; she at- tempts to read, but her eyes can't focus the page; she is acutely conscious of an imperfect statuette
M
of the Venus de Milo which is smirking at her from a pedestal by the dining-room doors. Suddenly, with all her force, she hurls the booh at it, knock- ing it to the floor and smashing it.
Larita I've always hated that damned thing !
Curtain Falls
[ When it rises once, she has buried her face in the sofa cushion, and her shoulders are heaving, whether with laughter or tears it is difficult to say ]
Scene: The same. When the curtain rises the dance is in full swing. The actual dancing takes place in the dining-room, because the floor is better. The hall and library are the sitting-out places; the buffet is on the lower end of the veranda, just out of sight of the audience. The festoons of Japanese lanterns and fairy lights look --- as Mr. Harris prophesied --- very pretty and gay.
There is a group of Young People clustered round the buffet; their light-hearted conversation can be heard intermittently. Several people are littered about the hall. Miss Nina Vansittart, attired in a strikingly original rose-taffeta frock, with a ribbon of the same shade encircling her hair the wrong way --- giving more the impression of a telephone apparatus than a head ornament --- is seated on the sofa, basking enthusiastically in the illuminating conversation of the Hon. Hugh Pet- worth, healthy young man, whose unfortunate shape can be luckily accounted for by his athletic prowess. He has had the forethought to wear white gloves which have wrinkled up slightly, displaying belozv his cuffs a mercifully brief expanse of blood- red wrists.
%%
Hugh It was a frightful rag.
Nina
I wish I'd been there.
Hugh
If you'd seen old Freddie fall off the roof of the taxi
Nina
[Delightedly.]
I should have died --- I know I should !
Hugh
And you should have seen the way old Minky Taylor lammed into the commissionaire chap outside the Piccadilly
Nina
[With whole-hearted sincerity.] Oh, lovely ! [A cherubic hoy --- Bobby Coleman by name --- ap- proaches them.]
Bobby I say, Nina --- this is us.
%%
Nina What number is it ?
Bobby Nine.
Nina
[Rising.]
I'll leave my bag here. Keep your eye on it, Hughie.
Hugh I'm supposed to be dancing this with Lucy.
Nina
Never mind ; it will be all right there. [Hugh rises automatically, and subsides again as Bobby and Nina go into the dancing-room. Two Young People walk across and out on to the veranda.
st Young Person Jolly good tune, that.
nd Young Person Lovely.
0
st Young Person The garden looks awfully pretty, doesn't it?
nd Young Person
Yes, awfully pretty. [They go off.] [Hilda comes out of the library. She is wearing
such a pretty blue dress, with stockings to match.]
Hilda
[To Hugh.]
Why aren't you dancing?
Hugh
I'm supposed to be --- with Lucy. Have you seen her anywhere?
Hilda
Yes, she's in the library. I'm looking for Philip Bordon. Have you seen him anywhere?
Hugh No. I'll go and get Lucy. Will you dance later?
Hilda Missing two.
Hugh
Righto. [He goes off.] [Hilda goes towards the veranda and meets Philip
entering. ]
Hilda Oh, there you are. This is ours.
Philip Oh--- is it?
Hilda Yes --- nine. You said so this afternoon.
Philip Where's Larita? --- Mrs. John ?
Hilda
She's upstairs with a bad head --- she's not coming dovvn at all.
Philip
I say --- what a shame ! [Despondently.]
Hilda
[With meaning.] Yes, isn't it?
Philip
[Resigned.]
Come on. [They go into the dancing-room. The music stops,
and everyone can be heard clapping. Then it
goes on again.] [Hugh comes out of the library with Lucy, a pretty
girl with badly-bobbed hair; her dress is awfully
pretty --- yellorv, with shoes and stockings to match.
They go into the dancing-room. They meet
Sarah and Charles coming out, and exchange a
few meaningless words. Sarah flops down on the
sofa. ]
Charles Do you want an ice or anything?
Sarah
No, thanks.
Charles
[Sitting down.]
That dining-room's far too small and hot to dance in. Why didn't they have the band here?
Sarah The floor's better in there.
Charles I hadn't noticed it.
Sarah I'm worried, Charles --- about Larita.
Charles
Yes --- I know.
Sarah
I tried to slip up and see her when we arrived, but Marion stopped me ; she said she'd asked particularly to be left alone.
Charles
I'm extremely disappointed --- I wanted to see her too.
Sarah
Something's happened --- I'm sure of it.
Charles What could have ?
Sarah I don't know exactly, but I've got a feeling.
Charles What shall we do about it ?
Sarah
Nothing, yet --- but I mean to see her somehow, before we go.
Charles John seems quite happy.
Sarah
Mrs. Whittaker doesn't, though, and I haven't seen the Colonel.
Charles They're a tiresome family.
Sarah Very.
Charles Have you danced with John?
Sarah Yes --- just after we got here.
Charles Did he say anything?
Sarah
Only that she'd got a racking headache and was in bed.
Charles
You'd have been able to tell from his manner if anything was wrong.
Sarah
He's either being cleverer than I thought him, or he just doesn't know.
Charles
, rigl You were here?
She seemed all right this afternoon, didn't she?-
Sarah Yes --- more or less.
Charles How do you mean --- more or less?
Sarah I'm furious with John.
Charles Why?
Sarah He's making her utterly wretched.
Charles That was inevitable.
Sarah I don't see why.
Charles She's all wrong here --- right out of the picture.
Sarah
I know, Charles ; but he oughtn't to let her down --- it's filthily mean of him.
Charles He can't help it --- he doesn't see anything.
Sarah
But he should see. If she's unhappy here, he must take her away.
Charles That wouldn't do any good --- ultimately.
Sarah
It was all a fiasco, from the first. I knew that directly I saw her. But still, he ought to play up and stand by her.
Charles
I can't imagine anyone of her intelligence being silly enough to marry him.
Sarah
She adores him.
Charles
Yes, but --- she might have known it would end badly.
Sarah It hasn't ended badly yet.
Charles It will.
Sarah Don't be so certain.
Charles You're just as certain.
Sarah
Oh, Charles, I wish she'd been a cheap, loud-voiced cat --- it would have been funny then.
Charles
Would it?
Sarah
Well, less difficult, anyhow. There would be some excuse for John.
Charles That's what's worrying you, is it?
Sarah
Of course. I used to be awfully fond of him, but he's shrunk over this beyond all recognition --- gone tiny.
Charles An observant mind is painful sometimes, isn't it?
Sarah Damnably.
Charles Would you like to marry me, Sarah?
Sarah Don't make me laugh, Charles --- just now.
Charles I believe I mean it.
Sarah
You're a darling --- but you don't. The intoxi- cating atmosphere of this revelry has gone to your head.
Charles Perhaps.
Sarah You're not in the least in love with me.
Charles I don't know.
Sarah
But it is frightfully sweet of you to ask me, and I do appreciate it.
Charles We might be awfully happy together.
0
Sarah
We probably should, but something would be wrong somewhere.
Charles I wonder.
Sarah You know perfectly well
Charles
I've been paying pretty marked attentions to you during the last six months --- surely that proves something ?
Sarah
It proves that you like being with me very much, and I like being with you.
Charles Well, then ?
Sarah
Marriage would soon kill all that --- without the vital spark to keep it going.
Ml
Charles
Dear, dear, dear. The way you modern young girls talk --- it's shocking, that's what it is!
Sarah
Never mind, Charles dear, you must move with the times.
Charles
I didn't know you thought so highly of the vital spark, anyhow.
Sarah
Of course I do. It's a fundamental instinct in everybody. Being modern only means twisting things into different shapes.
Charles [Rising.] The garden looks awfully pretty, doesn't it?
Sarah [Also rising.] Oh, yes, frightfully pretty.
Charles
[As they move away.]
All those colored lights and everything --- so attractive.
Sarah Terribly sweet!
Charles It's extraordinary how pretty a garden can look.
Sarah
Oh, shut up!
[They go off on to the veranda.]
[Furber crosses the hall, with a tray of clean glasses. The music stops, and desultory clapping can be heard. Several couples belch out of the dining- room, among them Marion with Henry Furley, an earnest young man with a pinched face and glasses. Marion, for some obscure reason, is in white, with a black Indian scarf speckled with gold, and gold shoes which hurt her a little. They walk across, talking. Marion is being painfully jolly and gay --- she slaps Philip Bordon heartily on the back in passing.]
Marion
We'll have you turned out if you twirl about like that, you know.
Philip
[With equal jocularity.] I shan't go quietly.
Marion
I bet you won't. [Several people laugh at this volley of wit, including the perpetrators of it.] [To Mr. Furley.] Damned good tune that.
Furley Yes, I enjoyed it.
Marion You lugged me round like a Trojan.
Furley
[Politely.] Not at all.
Marion
You know some tricky steps --- we'd do well on the stage.
[Laughing.] Yes, wouldn't we?
Furley
Marion
Be a good chap and get me a glass of something- I'm dry as a bone.
FuRLEY
Claret-cup ?
Marion
Yes, rather. That'll do. I'll wait here. [She sits down, up- stage, and fans herself with her
hand.] [Mr. Furley departs in search of claret-cup.] [Tivo Young People who have been sitting on the
stairs, rise.]
Girl You really are awful --- I don't believe a word of it.
Boy
It's true --- I swear it is.
[They both go into the dancing-room, where the music has restarted.]
[Mrs. Whittaker comes in, wearing a good many brooches on a mauve dress; she also has a diamente butterfly in her hair. She is accompanied by Mrs. Hurst, a tall, handsome woman in black.]
Mrs. Whittaker But you really mustn't --- it's quite early yet.
Mrs. Hurst
I'm just going to slip away without anybody noticing. Sarah can collect our party and come home when she wants to.
Mrs. Whittaker Of course, if you're really tired---
Mrs. Hurst
I'm so sorry your daughter-in-law is so seedy.
Mrs. Whittaker It is tiresome, isn't it? --- Poor Larita.
Mrs. Hurst
Tell her how disappointed I was not to have seen her, won't you?
Mrs. Whittaker
Certainly. [Mrs. Phillips, a pale white-haired woman, ap- proaches. ]
Mrs. Phillips
[Effusively.]
There you are, Mrs. Whittaker! It's all going off most successfully, isn't it?
Mrs. Whittaker
Yes ; I think the young people seem to be enjoying themselves.
Mrs. Phillips So fortunate that it kept fine.
Mrs. Whittaker I've been on absolute tenterhooks all day.
Mrs. Hurst
I was just saying what a pity poor Mrs. John is missing it all.
Mrs. Phillips
I know --- it's dreadful. What is wrong with her, exactly ?
Mrs. Whittaker
A blinding headache --- she has them, you know, quite often. I'm always trying to make her go to a specialist.
Mrs. Phillips
Poor dear ! It is a shame --- to-night of all nights. [John comes in with Mary Banfield, a dark girl with whom he has been dancing.]
Mrs. Whittaker
But still, it's much better, if you do feel ill, to stay quite quiet.
Mrs. Phillips
Oh, much, much! Do tell her how sorry I am,
won't you?
[Charles and Sarah wander in from the veranda. Marion has been rejoined by Mr. Furley, and is sipping her claret-cap. John and Mary Ban- field sit on the bottom step of the stairs and light cigarettes. ]
Mrs. Hurst
Sarah, dear, I'm just going to slip away. When you come home, you will remember to lock up and turn out all the lights, won't you?
Sarah
[Joining the little group with Charles.] All right, mother.
Mrs. Phillips The Chinese lanterns look so pretty, don't they?
Charles [Amiably.] Perfectly charming --- quite Venetian.
EASY VIRTUP:
Sarah
Mrs. Whittaker, I'm so sorry about Lari. Do you think I could run up and see her?
Mrs. Whittaker
[Hurriedly.]
No, dear, really --- she asked particularly to be left alone; you know what these headaches are
Sarah Yes, but
Mrs. Whittaker The only thing to do is just rest and keep quiet.
Sarah Poor darling!
Mrs. Whittaker
She may have dropped off to sleep by now. [At this moment Larita appears at the top of the stairs. Her dress is dead-white and cut extremely low; she is wearing three ropes of pearls, and an- other long string twined round her right wrist. Her face is as white as her dress and her lips vivid scarlet. Her left arm positively glitters with
M
diamond, ruby and emerald bracelets; her small tiara of rubies and diamonds matches her enor- mous earrings; she also displays a diamond anklet over her cobweb -fine flesh-colored stocking. She is carrying a tremendous scarlet ostrich-feather fan. There is a distinct gasp from everybody. Marion rises and drops her glass of claret-cup.]
Charles Marvelous --- marvelous.
Mrs. Phillips Well.
Larita
Get out of the way, Marion dear, or I shall tread on you.
Marion Larita --- I
Mrs. Whittaker My dear Larita, this is a surprise.
Larita Why?
0
Mrs. Whittaker We thought you weren't coming down.
Larita
I've been dressing and doing my face, it always takes me hours.
Mrs. Whittaker
We understand you had a bad headache.
Larita
Forgive me but that is quite untrue --- you didn't understand anything of the sort.
Marion
[Flustered.]
Larita --- I
Larita
If you have been building up a few neat social lies on my account, it is very unwise of you --- I don't live according to your social system.
Sarah
[Kissing her.]
You look perfectly lovely, Lari, and I'm fright- fully glad to see you.
Larita
I'm dying for something to eat --- I didn't feel in- clined for any dinner and now I'm starving --- Oh, get me a sandwich or something, Johnnie. There's a darling.
John
What's the matter --- I don't understand
Larita
And some champagne --- [There is a blank pause.] If there isn't any, plain water will do.
John
Oh, all right.
Larita
How divine the garden looks. Hello, Charles Bur- leigh, I hoped you were coming --- I haven't seen you for ages.
Mrs. Phillips
We were just sending you up messages of sym- pathy --- we understood you were prostrate.
Larita
So I was --- my maid has been massaging me --- perfect agony.
Mrs. Whittaker
Well, anyhow I'm sure I'm glad you're better now --- and changed your mind about coming down.
Larita
Why do you persist in this ridiculous fallacy of my being ill? This afternoon you had the imperti- nence to command me to remain in my room. That was quite unpardonable and you must take the con- sequences. I have nothing more to say to you. [John enters with sandwich.] Thank you, Johnnie.
Mrs. Whittaker
Marion, I'm sure the band ought to be given some- thing to eat and drink --- they've been playing for such a long time.
Marion
Righto, mother --- I'll see Furber about it. [She looks at Larita contemptuously.]
Larita
How charming you look, Marion --- and what a lovely scarf. I'm sure it came from India. [Marion, ignoring her, goes on to the veranda.]
Mrs. Hurst I really must be off now.
Mrs. Phillips I don't think I can tear myself away --- yet
Mrs. Hurst Good-by and thank you so much.
Mrs. Phillips
[Seating herself beside Larita.] I must stay a little longer.
Mrs. Whittaker
Please do --- It's so early. [She walks towards the door with Mrs. Hurst.]
Larita
[To Mrs. Phillips.]
How is your girl, Rose Jenkins, progressing in London, Mrs. Phillips? You seemed so worried about her when you came to tea last week.
Mrs. Phillips
I really don't know --- I'm afraid she's a hopelessly bad character.
Larita
I'm sure she'll get on in the profession you've sent her to.
Mrs. Phillips
[Stiffly.]
I sent her to no profession.
Larita
How stupid of me! I thought you had. [Mrs. Phillips, sensing underlying meaning, moves away. ]
John
Lari, why on earth are you dressed up like this ?
Larita
I just felt like it, Johnnie. I'm wearing all the jewelry I've got in the world --- it's a heavenly sensation. [She jingles her bracelets.]
John It looks ridiculous.
Larita Don't be an ass, John.
John But it does --- honestly.
Larita
[Brushing him with her fan.]
Run away and dance if you can't be pleasant to me.
John But look here, Lari
Larita
[With suppressed fury.]
Perhaps you don't realize that I'm serious?
John
Oh, all right --- if you're going on like that. [He slams off in a rage.]
Larita
John's lost grip of things terribly lately, hasn't he?
Sarah
Lari dear, what's happened?
Larita Lots and lots and lots of things.
Sarah Are you upset?
Larita
You don't suppose I should do this --- ordinarily --- do you? v
Sarah Tell me.
Larita
Not yet, Sarah --- later on. [Philip Bordon rushes up.]
Philip I am glad you're all right.
Larita Thank you.
Philip
You've cut both the dances you promised me by coming down late.
Larita I'm so sorry. Let's have this one.
Philip Rather!
Larita
[To Sarah.] Later on, dear.
Charles Next dance, please.
Larita Missing eight.
Charles No --- the next one.
Larita
All right. [She goes into the dancing-room with Philip.]
Charles You must say she's magnificent.
Sarah She's wretched.
Charles I've never seen such an entrance in my life.
Sarah [Smiling.] Poor Mrs. Whittaker.
Charles Serve her right.
Sarah I wonder what Lari's object is --- in all this.
Charles Swan song.
Sarah Charles --- what do you mean?
Charles Wait and see.
Sarah Come and dance, then.
Charles I feel pleasantly thrilled.
Sarah
Well, you ought to be ashamed of yourself. [They go into the dance-room. Nina Vansittart and Hugh Petworth are standing by the danc- mg-room door.]
Nina That's her in white.
Hugh
Phew!
Nina
I've never seen anything like it.
Hugh
Look at her pearls.
Nina
Downright vulgar, I call it.
Hugh
Come on in. [They go in.] [Mrs. Whittaker intercepts Marion coming from
the veranda, and draws her aside.] [Furber goes into the dance-room with drinks for
the hand.]
Mrs. Whittaker
This is outrageous ! How dare she !
Marion Nothing can be done.
0
Mrs. Whittaker
I'm so ashamed.
Marion
If I can get her alone I'll give her a piece of my mind.
Mrs. Whittaker
No, no ; ignore her --- don't say a word. We don't want a repetition of this afternoon.
Marion
We shall never hear the last of it. Did you see Mrs. Phillips' face?
Mrs. Whittaker
I'm sure I don't know what I've done to be so humiliated.
Marion
[Fearing a breakdown.'] Mother --- for Heaven's sake
[Hilda rushes in from the dance-room.]
Hilda
[Frantically.]
Mother --- Lari's come down! She's dancing!
Marion Yes, yes, we know.
Hilda I've been telling everybody she was ill.
Mrs. Whittaker Don't speak so loudly, Hilda.
Hilda She looks a sight. What are we to do?
Mrs. Whittaker
Nothing. Ignore her completely --- behave as if she wasn't there at all, and don't discuss her with anybody.
Hilda But everybody's talking about her.
Marion I don't wonder.
Hilda
It's too awful. [Furber approaches them.]
FlJRBER
The sit-down supper's ready in the tent now, ma'am.
Mrs. Whittaker Well, tell everybody. You'd better stop the band.
Marion
No, there won't be room if they all troop out. I'll go in and just tell some of them.
Mrs. Whittaker Yes, do.
Hilda I'll come too.
Mrs. Whittaker
Remember, Hilda --- don't be aware of anything unusual at all.
Hilda
All right. [Hilda and Marion go into the dance-room.] [Mrs. Whittaker passes her hand hopelessly across
her forehead.] [John comes in.]
John Mother --- I'm fearfully sorry about this.
Mrs. Whittaker Don't John --- don't.
John
But I don't understand --- it's so unlike Lari to make an exhibition of herself like this.
Mrs. Whittaker
[Bitterly.] Unlike her !
John Something's happened. What is it?
Mrs. Whittaker
Don't worry me now, John ; can't you see I'm at my wits' end?
John
I mean to find out. [Several people come in, among them Sarah and
Charles.] [Mrs. Whittaker goes out to the supper-tent.]
Sarah
[Lightly.]
Don't look so gloomy, John.
John Something's happened to Lari --- what is it?
Sarah She's dancing at the moment with Philip Bordon.
John
Why did she pretend to have a headache, and not come down to dinner or anything ?
Sarah She didn't feel like it, I suppose.
John I'm going to find out what's wrong.
Sarah
[Taking his arm.]
No, you're not; you're going to give me some supper. Come along, or there won't be any room.
John
But, Sarah
Sarah
Come along. [She drags him off, throwing a meaning look at
Charles over her shoulder. Charles nods, and
lights a cigarette. ] [Bobby Coleman walks across with a Girl.]
Bobby I think she looks jolly attractive.
Girl
Fancy all those bracelets, though !
[They go off.]
[Larita comes in with Philip, followed at a dis- creet distance by Hilda, scowling malignantly.]
Larita
No --- I couldn't eat a thing at the moment. If I'd known supper was so close I should never have had that sandwich. [She sits down on sofa.]
Philip Can I get you anything to drink?
Larita
No, thanks --- nothing. Go and have supper with poor little Hilda, and we'll dance again afterwards.
Philip
But, I say
Larita
Please ! I want to rest for a minute.
Philip Oh, very well. [Hilda marches out, with her head in the air. Philip follows despondently.]
Larita [To Charles.] Come and talk to me.
Charles I've been wanting to do that.
Larita How sweet of you. Where's Sarah?
Charles With John --- having supper.
Larita
Oh! [She opens her cigarette-case and offers him one.]
Charles
Thanks. [He lights hers and his own.]
Larita Such a good floor, don't you think?
Charles
Perfectly awful.
Larita
I wonder if your attention has been called to those fascinating Japanese lanterns?
Charles Several times.
Larita You must admit it's a fine night, anyhow.
Charles How you've changed.
Larita Changed?
Charles
Yes. Meeting you just now and then, as I've done, makes it easier to observe subtle differences.
Larita In what way have I changed?
Charles You're dimmer.
Larita
Dimmer!- --- with all these? [She jingles her bracelets.]
Charles Yes, even with those.
Larita
You wouldn't have thought me dim if you'd seen me this afternoon.
Charles Why, what happened?
Larita
Several things.
Charles
I don't want you to think I'm angling for your confidence, but I am interested.
Larita
I know that. It's interesting enough. Do you remember saying, the first day I met you, that one was disillusioned over everything?
Charles You've been disillusioned lately?
Larita Yes --- I didn't know I was capable of it.
Charles That's one of the greatest illusions of all.
Larita You've been awfully nice to me.
Charles Why not? We speak the same language.
0
Larita Yes --- I suppose we do.
Charles
And naturally one feels instinctively drawn --- par- ticularly in this atmosphere.
Larita
English country life. [She smiles.]
Charles
Yes, English country life.
Larita
I wonder if it's a handicap having our sort of minds ?
Charles In what way?
Larita Watching ourselves go by.
Charles No, it's a comfort in the end.
Larita
I'm face to face with myself all the time --- specially when I'm unhappy. It's not an edifying sensation.
Charles I'm sorry you're unhappy.
Larita
It can't be helped --- you can't cope adequately with your successes unless you realize your failures.
Charles It requires courage to do either.
Larita I've always had a definite ideal.
Charles
What is it?
Larita
One should be top-dog in one's own particular sphere.
Charles
It's so difficult to find out what is one's own par- ticular sphere.
Larita
I'm afraid that's always been depressingly obvious to me.
Charles You feel you've deviated from your course.
Larita Exactly --- and it's demoralized me.
Charles Why did you do it?
Larita Panic, I believe.
Charles What sort of panic?
Larita
A panic of restlessness and dissatisfaction with everything.
Charles
That's a black cloud which descends upon every- one at moments.
Larita Not everyone --- just people like us.
Charles
When you live emotionally you must expect the pendulum to swing both ways.
Larita
It had swung the wrong way with a vengeance when I met John. Marrying him was the most cowardly thing I ever did.
Charles
Why did you?
Larita
I loved him quite differently. I thought that any other relationship would be cheapening and squalid --- I can't imagine how I could have been such a fool.
Charles
Neither can I.
Larita
Love will always be the most dominant and absorb- ing subject in the world because it's so utterly in- explicable. Experience can teach you to handle it
superficially, but not to explain it. I can look round with a nice clear brain and see absolutely no reason why I should love John. He falls short of every ideal I've ever had --- he's not particularly talented or clever ; he doesn't know anything, really ; he can't talk about any of the things I consider it worth while to talk about; and, having been to a good school --- he's barely educated.
Charles Just a healthy young animal.
Larita
Yes.
Charles Perhaps that explains it.
Larita
If my love were entirely physical, it would ; but it isn't physical at all.
Charles That is a bad sign.
Larita The worst.
Charles What do you intend to do?
Larita I haven't decided yet.
Charles I think I know.
Larita Don't say that.
Charles
Very well; I'll tell you afterwards if I guessed right.
Larita Go, and send Sarah to me --- alone ; will you ?
Charles
[Rising.] All right.
Larita
[Putting out her hand.]
We shall meet again, perhaps, some day.
Charles
I was right.
Larita
[ Putting her finger to her lips.] Sshhh!
[Charles goes out.]
[People have passed backward and forward during this scene, talking and laughing. Now the hall is practically deserted. Hugh Petworth and Bobby Coleman appear on the veranda. Seeing Larita alone, they whisper and nudge each other. Finally Hugh comes in.
Hugh I say, Mrs. John, will you dance?
Larita No, thank you --- I'm rather tired.
Hugh It's a jolly good band.
Larita
Do you know, I don't believe I've ever met you before.
Hugh
Well, as a matter of fact, we haven't been intro- duced officially. My name's Hugh Petworth.
Larita
Really. How much would you have won from your little friend if I had agreed to dance with you?
Hugh
[Flummoxed.]
Here, I say, you know, --- I
Larita
You're far too young and nice-looking to be so impertinent. If I were you, I should run away and recover yourself.
[Blushing.]
I'm awfully sorry.
Hugh
Larita
Don't apologize --- it's quite all right. [Hugh Petworth bows awkwardly, and goes hur- riedly out to rejoin Bobby, who has disappeared. He cannons into Sarah, who is coming in.]
Hugh I beg your pardon.
Sarah Not at all. Hullo! Lari.
Larita
I want to talk to you, Sarah --- importantly. There isn't much time.
Sarah
Why? What do you mean?
Larita
I'm going away --- to-night.
Sarah
Lari!
Larita
For good.
Sarah
Oh, my dear!
--- what on earth's the matter?
Larita
Everything.
Where's John?
Sarah
In the supper-tent.
Larita
Listen. There was a dreary family fracas this this afternoon.
Sarah
What about?
Larita
Hilda had unearthed a newspaper cutting, dis- closing several of my past misdemeanors
Sarah
The unutterable little beast! I made her swear
Larita You knew about it?
Sarah Yes, she showed it to me three days ago.
Larita
[Slightly overcome.] Oh, Sarah!
0
Sarah
I said I'd never speak to her again if she showed it to anybody, and I shan't.
Larita
It was all very unpleasant. The Colonel stood by me, of course --- John wasn't there --- he doesn't know anything yet.
Sarah
But Lari dear, don't give in like this and chuck up everything.
Larita
I must --- 'ou see, they're right; it's perfectly horrible for them. I'm entirely to blame.
Sarah
But what does it matter? The past's finished with.
Larita
Never. Never, never, never. That's a hopeless fallacy.
Sarah I'm most frightfully sorry.
Larita
I wouldn't give in at all --- unless I was sure. You see, John's completely sick of me --- it was just silly calf-love, and I ought to have recognized it as such. But I was utterly carried away --- and now it's all such a hopeless mess.
Sarah John's behaved abominably.
Larita
No --- not really. I expected too much. When you love anybody, you build in your mind an ideal of them --- and it's naturally terribly hard for them to play up, not knowing
Sarah
But, Lari, don't do anything on the impulse of the moment.
Larita
It isn't the impulse of the moment --- I realized it weeks ago.
Sarah It may all come right yet.
Larita Be honest, Sarah --- how can it?
Sarah Where are you going?
Larita
London to-night, and Paris to-morrow. I've ordered a car. Louise is packing now.
Sarah Where will you stay?
Larita The Ritz. I always do.
Sarah I wish I could do something.
Larita
[Pressing her hand.] You can.
Sarah What?
Larita Look after John for me.
[Turning away.] Don't, Lari.
Sarah
Larita
I mean it. You're fond of him --- you ought to have married him, by rights. He needs you so much more than me. He's frightfully weak, and a com- plete damn fool over most things, but he has got qualities --- somewhere --- worth bringing out. I'm going to arrange for him to divorce me, quietly, without any fuss.
Sarah
I don't love him nearly as well as you do.
Larita
All the better. Women of my type are so tire- some in love. We hammer at it, tooth and nail, until it's all bent and misshapen. Promise me you'll do what I ask.
Sarah
I can't promise ; but if circumstances make it pos- sible, I'll try.
Larita All right--- that'll do.
Sarah Shall I see you again --- ever?
Larita Yes, please.
Sarah Well, we won't say good-by, then.
Larita
It's such a silly thing to say. [She gets up.]
Sarah Good luck, anyhow.
Larita
I'm not sure that that's not sillier. [John comes in.]
John Sarah, I've been looking for you everywhere.
Sarah Well, you've found me now.
John
Lari, I'm sorry I was beastly just now --- about your dress. You are rather a Christmas tree, though, aren't you?
Larita
It was done with a purpose.
John
What purpose ?
Larita
It was a sort of effort to re-establish myself --- rather a gay gesture --- almost a joke!
John Oh!
Sarah
You'll find me in the garden, John.
Larita
[Quickly.]
Don't go, Sarah --- please. [Sarah stops.] I'm rather tired, so I'll say good night.
John
The dance will go on for hours yet --- this is only a lull.
Larita Yes, I know ; but I'm dead.
John Oh, very well.
Larita
Good night, darling. [She kisses him.]
John I'll try not to disturb you.
Larita I'm afraid you won't be able to help it.
Sarah Come and dance, John.
John
What's the matter, Lari? Why are you looking like that?
Larita
I think I'm going to sneeze.
[Bobby Coleman and Nina rush across, laughing; he's delving into her bag and she's trying to re- capture it.]
[John and Sarah go into the dance-room.]
[Furber enters from veranda.]
Larita Is the car ready, Furber?
Furber Yes, ma'am. Your maid is waiting in it.
Larita Get my cloak from her, will you, please?
Furber
Very good, ma'am.
[He goes off.]
[Larita, left quite alone, leans up against pne of the windows and looks out into the garden. The light from the lanterns falls on her face, which is set in an expression of hopeless sadness. She fans herself once, then lets her fan drop.]
[Furber re-enters with her cloak, and helps her on with it.
Larita
Thank you very much, Furber. You won't for- get what I asked you, will you?
Furber No, ma'am.
Larita Then good-by.
Furber
Good-by, ma'am. [He holds open the door for her, and she walks out. There is a burst of laughter from the veranda. The band continues to play with great enthusiasm. ]
Curtain.ittakers' house is typical of wealthy upper-middle-class England. The furniture is good and the chintz obvious, but somehow right for the atmosphere. There are three French windows down the right-hand wall. A flight of stairs up L., with the lobby leading to the front door. Down L. double doors open into the dining-room. A big bureau where Mrs. Whittaker does her accounts, etc., oc- cupies a space between two of the windows. There is a comfortable sofa set in the center, with a table behind it, on which are books and papers and flowers of some sort. A statuette of Venus de Milo on small pedestal L.
When curtain rises, it is a morning in early April. The hall looks quite gay with spring flowers, but rain can be seen beating against the windows.
Mrs. Whittaker, attired in a tweed skirt, shirt- blouse, and a purple knitted sports-coat, is seated at her bureau. She is the type of woman who has the reputation of having been "quite lovely" as a girl. The stern repression of any sex emotions all her life has brought her to middle age with a faulty digestion
which doesn't so much sour her temper as spread it. She views the world with the jaundiced eyes of a woman who subconsciously realizes she has missed something, which means in point of fact that she has missed everything.
Marion is seated on the sofa, reading her letters. She is largely made and pasty, with big lymphatic eyes. In fifteen years'' time she will have the reputa- tion of having been "quite lovely as a girl." Her clothes are slightly mannish.
Colonel Whittaker is reading "The Times." He is a gray-haired man of about fifty --- his expres- sion is generally resigned.
Mrs. Whittaker I've written a strong letter to Mrs. Phillips.
Marion What have you said?
Mrs. Whittaker
Listen. [She reads.] "Dear Mrs. Phillips --- I feel it my duty to write to you with regard to the ad- visability of sending the unfortunate Rose Jenkins to London. As you know, she was in my service for a year, and I was quite convinced when I dis- charged her that a girl of her character could
ultimately come to no good. I was therefore ex- tremely surprised when I heard that you had en- gaged her. As you have appealed to me for advice in the matter, I suggest that you should get rid of her at once, as her presence in the village might quite conceivably corrupt the morals of the other girls. I will endeavor to use my influence with Mrs. Faddle, who, as you know, is a prominent member of the Y. W. C. A., and perhaps later on a respect- able berth of some sort may be obtained for her. I sadly fear, however, that our efforts on her behalf will be useless, as recent unpleasant events prove that the wretched girl is entirely devoid of any moral responsibility.
Sincerely yours,
Mabel Whittaker."
Marion
I must go and see Rose Jenkins and have a talk to her.
Mrs. Whittaker I'm afraid you wouldn't do any good.
Marion
You never know. A straight-from-the-shoulder chat might make her see things in a better light.
Colonel Why not leave the poor girl alone?
Marion
Because, father, if there's any chance of helping some one to see the truth, I consider it shirking to disregard the opportunity.
Mrs. Whittaker
It's no use arguing with your father, Marion --- he doesn't understand.
Colonel No, I don't. What is the truth?
Mrs. Whittaker
The truth is, Jim --- that Rose Jenkins, by her immoral behavior, has caused unpleasantness in the village, and therefore must suffer accordingly.
Colonel It's her own village --- she was born here.
Mrs. Whittaker That's not the point,
Colonel
Yes, it is --- it's for her parents to decide what's to be done with her.
Marion
Mother's right, you know, father. It's better for her to be sent to London.
Colonel I'm glad you think so.
Mrs. Whittaker
I wish you wouldn't be so tiresome, Jim dear. I'm sure I've enough worries and responsibilities with- out
Colonel
I fail to see that the Rose Jenkins business is any affair of yours --- she isn't in your service any more.
Mrs. Whittaker I think we won't discuss it any further.
Colonel Very well, dear.
Mrs. Whittaker Do you think that letter's all right, Marion?
Marion Perfectly. You've put it very clearly.
Mrs. Whittaker
Mrs. Phillips is so hopelessly lacking in stamina. [She puts letter in envelope and sticks it down.]
Colonel I'm going down to see Jackson for a minute.
Mrs. Whittaker
You'd better tell him what we decided about that bed in front of the sundial.
Colonel
All right. I suppose Hilda took the dogs with her to the post office, didn't she?
Mrs. Whittaker
I expect so --- you'll probably meet her. [Colonel Whittaker goes outJ
Marion Poor old father.
Mrs. Whittaker He's so fearfully annoying about things.
Marion Edgar's exactly the same. Men never will see.
Mrs. Whittaker When is Edgar coming back?
Marion
I don't know --- I had a long letter from him this morning. It will mean another four or five months out there, I'm afraid.
Mrs. Whittaker Do you think he's really behaving himself?
Marion
I had a straight talk with him the day before he sailed --- I think I made him realize things a bit better.
Mrs. Whittaker
Who would have imagined he'd turn out like that ?
Marion
Oh, Edgar's all right --- it's his upbringing. We'll always be pals --- he's not really a marrying man, you know. I think I realized that all along, and now
0
I've found other things in life to occupy my mind, thank God !
Mrs. Whittaker
It couldn't have been John's upbringing al- together --- could it?
Marion John's different --- he's exactly like father.
Mrs. Whittaker Yes, I'm afraid he is.
Marion He was always weak, you know.
Mrs. Whittaker I've tried to shut my eyes to it.
M
ARION
It's no use doing that, mother --- everything must be faced.
Mrs. Whittaker
I lie awake at nights, wondering what's going to happen eventually.
Marion You mustn't worry.
Mrs. Whittaker
Worry! It's on my mind always --- naturally I've got over the first shock, to a large extent.
Marion She may not be so bad, after all.
Mrs. Whittaker [Bitterly.]
It's the greatest catastrophe that ever happened --- your father's affairs were nothing to this --- nothing.
Marion
Have you heard from John lately?
Mrs. Whittaker Not since that postcard two weeks ago.
Marion He's bound to bring her home soon.
Mrs. Whittaker
He's taken good care to explain nothing about her in his letters. If he hadn't been apprehensive
of what we should think of her, he would have
brought
months.
brought her home at once, instead of waiting three
Marion He did say she was ill.
Mrs. Whittaker ! Yes, I expect she was.
Marion
I'm glad I shall be here, anyhow.
Mrs. Whittaker
So am I. I wouldn't have faced it alone --- and Jim's no help : he never has been, especially over any- thing of this sort.
Marion Is Sarah coming to-day?
Mrs. Whittaker
Yes : she's bringing a man over to lunch --- they've got a houseful of people.
Marion I suppose she was broken-hearted when she heard?
Mrs. Whittaker
She was splendid ; she wrote me the sweetest letter --- saying that John's happiness was the thing to be considered before anything else, and that she was sure it would all turn out wonderfully.
Marion
That was to comfort you.
Mrs. Whittaker Yes. [Enter Hilda. She possesses all the vivacity of a deficient sense of humor. She is nineteen, and completely commonplace. ]
Hilda
Here's a wire, mother --- they gave it to me at the post office.
Mrs. Whittaker
[Startled.] A wire?
Hilda
[Giving it to her.~
They were going to send the boy with it, but I said, "Oh no, don't do that, because I'm just going straight through the village and round." [Mrs. Whittaker reads it and closes her eyes.]
,
Marion What it is? What's the matter? . . . John?
Mrs. Whittaker [Nodding.] Yes. [She gives it to her.]
Hilda
Let me see --- let me see. [She cranes over Marion's shoulder.] To-day --- this morning --- they're arriving this morning!
Marion
[Handing the wire hack.] How typical of him.
Mrs. Whittaker
[Bowing her head.] This is terrible.
Marion
When was it handed in?
Hilda
[Snatching the wire from Mrs. Whittaker.] Ten-five. They must have sent it just as they were starting.
Mrs. Whittaker Ring the bell, Hilda.
Hilda
[Jumping up and doing so.] It's terrifically exciting.
Marion
Why on earth didn't he let you know before? He must be mad! Nothing's ready, or anything.
Mrs. Whittaker
I've long ago given up expecting any considera- tion at Johnnie's hands.
Marion
Are you going to stick to your original plan about the schoolroom?
Mrs. Whittaker Yes. --- Don't drum your heels, Hilda.
Hilda
I'm thrilled! [Enter Furber.]
Mrs. Whittaker
Furber, Mr. John is arriving with his wife almost immediately. Will you see that fires are lit in the schoolroom and dressing-room?
Furber Yes, ma'am.
Mrs. Whittaker If by any chance they're late, we'll wait lunch.
Furber
Very good ma'am. [He goes out.]
Marion
Sarah! What about Sarah?
Mrs. Whittaker What shall we do? Put her off?
Marion She's bound to meet her sooner or later
Mrs. Whittaker Yes, but we don't know yet --- what she's like.
Marion
Sarah doesn't matter --- it might be a good thing for her to be here --- in one way.
Mrs. Whittaker Go and find your father, Hilda.
Hilda Where is he?
Mrs. Whittaker
With Jackson, I think. Also tell Jackson to send in some flowers at once.
Hilda
All right --- lovely! I'll arrange them. [She rushes off girlishly.]
Mrs. Whittaker
[Putting out her hand.]
Marion --- I shall need your help --- badly.
Marion
[Patting her.] Cheer up, mother.
Mrs. Whittaker
I feel so unequal to it all to-day --- I didn't sleep a wink last night, and I woke with a racking headache.
Marion Shall I get you some aspirin?
Mrs. Whittaker
No; it wouldn't do me any good --- the blow's fallen, you see --- the blow's fallen.
Marion
Don't mother !
i
Mrs. Whittaker
I feel as though I were going mad. John --- my John --- married to this --- this --- woman! It's un- thinkable.
Marion She may be a good sort.
Mrs. Whittaker
It's no good bolstering ourselves up --- I know in
my heart
[SJie cries a little.]
Marion
[Embracing her dutifully.]
It will all come right in the end, mother, if only you have enough faith.
Mrs. Whittaker
Faith ! All my life I've had to battle and struggle against this sort of thing. First your father --- and now John --- my only son. It's breaking my heart.
Marion
We must just put our trust in Divine Providence, dear. I'll have a straight talk to John. If she really is --- well, quite hopeless --- something must be done.
Mrs. Whittaker
Nothing can be done --- I tell you I know --- she's got him, and she'll stick to him.
Marion
If she's the sort of woman we imagine, she's prob- ably realized her mistake already.
Mrs. Whittaker
Why should she have married him? Except for what she can get out of him --- money and position.
0
He's been made a fool of, just as your father was made a fool of --- hundreds of times. We know she's older than John --- I don't suppose there was any love, as far as she was concerned; she's just twisted him around her little finger.
Marion
It's no use upsetting yourself now --- you must pull yourself together and face it bravely.
Mrs. Whittaker
I thought he would at least have had the decency to give me fair warning.
Marion
I expect they came over from France yesterday. [Enter Hilda and Colonel Whittaker.]
Hilda I've told father the news.
Colonel I suppose they're motoring down.
Marion Yes.
Hilda
It was luck me going to the post office like that, wasn't it? I nearly as anything didn't go out at all this morning --- what with the rain and everything.
Colonel Are their rooms ready?
Mrs. Whittaker I've told Furber to have fires lighted.
Hilda
It's too exciting for words --- wondering what she'll be like.
Mrs. Whittaker
[Bitterly.]
I wish I could share your feelings.
Hilda
And it's so romantic --- the old schoolroom being turned into a boudoir for John's wife.
Mrs. Whittaker Sitting-room, not boudoir.
Hilda
Sitting-room, then. Do you think she'll be dark or fair?
Mrs. Whittaker I don't know.
Marion Do be quiet, Hilda.
Hilda I think fair and larky !
Mrs. Whittaker I see no reason to suppose anything of the sort.
Hilda
But guessing at people is such fun --- Jackie Cory- ton and I do it lots --- she's awfully good at it. What do you think she'll be like, Marion?
Marion Stop asking absurd questions.
Hilda I'm dying to see. I wonder if she drinks.
Mrs. Whittaker
[Sharply.] Hilda!
Hilda Well, you never know --- living abroad like that.
Marion
Can't you see mother's upset and doesn't want to be worried?
Colonel
I fail to see the object of working yourself up into a state before you've set eyes on her.
Mrs. Whittaker
You wouldn't see, Jim, because you don't care --- you never have cared. As long as you're comfortable you don't mind if your son goes to the dogs.
Colonel
He had to marry somebody --- she's probably a very interesting woman.
Mrs. Whittaker I've no doubt you'll find her so.
M
Hilda She may be frightfully sweet.
Mrs. Whittaker
When you've reached my age, Hilda, you'll prob- ably realize that the sort of women who infest French watering-places are generally far from being "frightfully sweet."
Hilda
Cannes isn't exactly a French watering-place --- I mean it's better than that --- I mean everyone goes there.
Colonel
Everything's changing nowadays, anyhow.
Mrs. Whittaker
I fail to see that that makes the slightest differ- ence.
Marion
Father means that social barriers are not quite so strongly marked now, and perhaps, after all
Mrs. Whittaker I know quite well what your father means.
Hilda
But everybody's accepted so much more --- I mean nobody minds so much about people --- I mean
Mrs. Whittaker
You don't know what you mean --- you don't know anything about it.
Hilda
But, mother
Mrs. Whittaker
Your attitude towards the whole affair is ridicu- lous, Hilda, and I'm surprised at you. [She sniffs.]
Hilda
Oh, mother, don't cry --- it will only make your eyes
all red
[Furber enters, with a tray on which there are some
vases, a jug of ivater and some flowers. ~
Furber Jackson sent these in just after breakfast, ma'am.
Hilda These will be enough, mother. I'll arrange them.
Mrs. Whittaker Tell Jackson not to pick any more.
Furber
Very good, ma'am.
[He goes out.]
[Hilda pounces on, the 'flowers with girlish en- thusiasm.]
Hilda
Aren't they lovely ? --- I expect she's used to orchids and things. These are so fresh --- they'll be a gor- geous surprise.
Marion
We ought to warn Sarah --- it might be a shock for her.
Mrs. Whittaker
Yes --- you'd better telephone.
Marion
I'll just say that we should like her to come, but if she feels that she'd rather not, we quite understand.
Mrs. Whittaker Don't splash that water all over the table, Hilda.
Marion What's the number?
Mrs. Whittaker
0.
Marion [At telephone.]
Hullo --- 0, please.
Hilda
[ Conversationally. ]
I saw Mrs. Phillips coming out of Smith's.
Mrs. Whittaker
[Tidying up the papers on bureau.] Did you?
Hilda
She went over to talk to Mrs. Jenkins. Rose was peeling potatoes in the porch.
Marion
Hullo! --- is that you, Sarah? It's Marion. Listen, old girl ; prepare yourself for a shock. John's com- ing home with Larita, or whatever her name is, this
morning. --- Oh, I thought it would be rather. . . . I'm glad you feel like that, anyhow. We wanted to know if you'd come over to lunch just the same. . . . Yes, of course, bring him. . . . All right. Good-by, old thing. [She hangs up receiver.] That's that.
Mrs. Whittaker Have you seen my glasses anywhere?
Marion Aren't they on the desk?
Mrs. Whittaker They must have slipped down behind
Hilda Did Sarah seem upset?
Marion She laughed.
Mrs. Whittaker
[Shocked.] Laughed !
Marion
I think she's pretending --- even to herself --- that she doesn't mind.
Mrs. Whittaker
If only everything had been different --- it might have been Sarah he was bringing home.
Hilda It wouldn't have been half so exciting.
Marion
I wish to Heaven it were. She's a damned good sort, that girl.
Hilda
What's the man's name who's coming over with her?
Marion
Charles Burleigh.
Hilda
I'm dying for lunch --- it's going to be too thrilling for words.
Marion [Finding glasses.] Here are your blinkers, mother.
0
Mrs. Whittaker
[Forcing a wan smile at Marion's ebullient phraseology. ]
Thank you, Marion.
Colonel
I wonder how John's looking.
Mrs. Whittaker [Jumping.]
What a fright you gave me, Jim. I'd forgotten you were here.
Colonel
The return of the Prodigal is always such a mo- mentous occasion, isn't it?
Mrs. Whittaker
I wish you wouldn't talk like that --- it's not amusing.
Colonel
I'm sorry. I thought perhaps a little light irony might alleviate the prevailing gloom.
Mrs. Whittaker
If you think constant reminders of your callous- ness over the whole affair
Colonel
I'm not callous, Mabel; I'm just waiting with a more or less open mind.
[Bitingly.] Open mind!
Mrs. Whittaker
Hilda
There --- those look sweet, don't they? I'll take them up.
Mrs. Whittaker
Take the tray into the kitchen first.
Hilda
All right. [She rushes off with the tray.]
Marion What's the time?
Colonel A quarter past twelve --- if I may be so bold.
Marion They might be here at any minute now.
Mrs. Whittaker
I'm going upstairs to look at the schoolroom. Tell Hilda to bring that other vase --- I'll take these. [She goes upstairs.]
Colonel
[Lighting his pipe.]
I'm glad your mother's getting cross. I prefer irritability to hysteria.
Marion
I don't think you're being very decent to mother,
father.
Colonel
You know, Marion, you're the only thoroughly Christian woman I've ever known who has retained her school-girl phraseology. [Re-enter Hilda, breathlessly.]
Hilda Where's mother?
Marion
She's gone up to the schoolroom with the flowers. Will you take that other vase up?
Hilda
All right. Don't you feel terrifically excited, father ?
Colonel
Terrifically. [Hilda runs joyously upstairs with the vase.~
Marion Hilda's irrepressible.
Colonel How is Edgar?
Marion
He's all right. Why do you ask --- suddenly like that?
Colonel
I have such a friendly feeling for him since you broke off your engagement.
Marion
Do you imagine I don't see when you're sarcastic and bitter, father? It's been growing lately. You're always saying unkind things.
Colonel Ami?
Marion You must be very unhappy.
Colonel Perhaps that accounts for it.
Marion Then you are?
Colonel
Do you want to have a straight talk to me, Marion ?
Marion
I suppose you despise me for trying to help other people ?
Colonel
You and your mother are always trying to help lame dogs over stiles --- even if they're not lame and don't want to go.
Marion
You don't appreciate mother.
Colonel I appreciate you both enormously.
Marion Mother's played fair all her life, anyhow.
Colonel And I haven't. I quite see that.
Marion I'm glad you admit it.
Colonel
I'm surprised that you're glad --- it generally an- noys people to be agreed with.
Marion Don't you ever think of other things, father?
Colonel What sort of other things?
Marion You know quite well what I mean.
Colonel
Don't try to save my soul, Marion. I can defend myself.
Marion
I don't mind your taunts a bit.
Colonel Good!
Marion But mother does.
Colonel
My dear girl, your mother stood by me through my various lapses from grace with splendid forti- tude.
Marion You realize that?
Colonel I realize the fact but distrust the motive.
Marion
What motives could she possibly have had other than loyalty and affection?
Colonel I don't believe you know.
Marion I certainly don't.
Colonel Well, I won't disillusion you.
Marion Father
Colonel [Politely.] Yes?
Marion
She needs your help and support now --- badly.
Colonel Why?
Marion You can seriously stand there and ask why?
Colonel
She has built up in her mind a black-hearted mon- ster of a woman who has enslaved her babe, and she
expects me to combine in a superhuman effort to oust her.
Marion
Nothing of the sort, father.
Colonel
As I said before, I'm waiting with an open mind --- and whatever John's wife is or has been, I shall do my utmost to make her happy and comfortable here. [Re-enter Mrs. Whittaker and Hilda.]
Hilda
The car's coming up the drive --- I saw it from the landing window.
Marion
Now for it!
Mrs. Whittaker
[Appealingly.] Jim.
Colonel [Amiably.] Yes, dear?
Mrs. Whittaker
Nothing --- it doesn't matter.
Hilda Oh, I wonder what she'll be like --- I wonder
Colonel We shall soon see. [They wait in silence. Then John bursts in. He is young, good-looking, with great charm; his eagerness is perhaps a shade overdone.
John
Mother ! [He kisses her.]
Mrs. Whittaker But, John, where
John
She's still in the car --- powdering her nose. She said she wanted me to get the first joys of reunion over. Father ! \He shakes hands with the Colonel.]
Colonel I'm glad you're back, John.
John
I do so hope you'll like her. [He kisses Marion and Hilda.]
0
Hilda
I know I shall.
John
I feel terrified. It will be so wonderful if you d( like her, and so awful if you don't.
Mrs. Whittaker It's a little late to think of that now.
John
[His face falling.'} Mother ! [Larita comes in. She is tall, exquisitely made up and very beautiful --- above everything, she it perfectly calm. Her clothes, because of theii simplicity, are obviously violently expensive; sht wears a perfect rope of pearls and a small clost traveling-hat.
Mrs. Whittaker
How-do-you-do.
Larita
[Taking both her hands.]
How-do-you-do seems so hopelessly inadequate, doesn't it, at a moment like this? But perhaps it's good to use it as a refuge for our real feelings.
Mrs. Whittaker
[Coldly.]
Did you have a nice crossing yesterday?
Larita
[Sensing her attitude and smiling emptily.] Perfectly horrible.
Mrs. Whittaker
I'm so sorry. This is my eldest daughter, Marion, --- and Hilda. No doubt you've heard John speak of them.
Larita
[Shaking hands with Marion.]
But of course I have --- hundreds of times. [She kisses Hilda.] You're like Johnnie, you know. [The family wince at the diminutive.]
Mrs. Whittaker And this is my husband.
Larita
[Shaking hands with the Colonel.] You looked dazed --- I suppose I'm very unlike what you expected --- or perhaps not?
Colonel I'm delighted to welcome you home.
Larita [Gratefully.] Oh, thank you.
Hilda [Excitedly.] You're not a bit like what I expected.
Larita
I'm very much older, probably. [She looks at Mrs. Whittaker.] I'm awfully sorry about that.
John
Don't be silly, Lari.
Larita
There have been a good many happy marriages
even though
John
It doesn't matter how many there have or haven't been, as long as ours is.
Larita That's right, Johnnie darling.
Mrs. Whittaker
You must be tired after your journey. Perhaps 'ou'd like to go upstairs.
Hilda
[Eagerly.]
We've turned the old schoolroom into a boudoir for you.
Larita
How divine! It will be full of memories of Johnnie as a grubby little boy.
Colonel
I'm sure you'd rather smoke one cigarette and get to know us all a little better first. [He offers her his case.]
Larita
[Smiling.]
You're right --- I should. Do you mind if I smoke one of my own? I have a special kind. Try one. [She produces a beautiful case.]
Colonel
[Taking one.] Thanks.
Larita
[Looking round.]
Would anyone else like one?
Mrs. Whittaker
No, thank you.
Larita
[Sitting down.]
You know, it's such a relief being here at last. I've been wondering so frightfully what it was going
to be like
[The Colonel lights her cigarette.]
Mrs. Whittaker I'm so sorry it's such bad weather.
Larita
The house looked fascinating from outside --- I'm longing to go all over it.
John I'll take you after lunch.
Larita I want Mrs. Whittaker to show it to me.
John
Oh, Lari darling, not Mrs. Whittaker. It's mother now.
Larita Not quite yet, Johnnie --- I don't think.
Marion Did you get down without any mishaps?
Larita Yes, it was a perfect run.
Hilda Have you ever been in England before?
Larita
Oh yes, several times. I used to come here a lot with my first husband.
Mrs. Whittaker Your first husband?
Larita Yes.
Mrs. Whittaker
[Stiffening.]
I never realized you had been married before. John told us so little.
Larita That was awfully tiresome of you, Johnnie.
John He was a perfect brute to her, mother.
Mrs. Whittaker
How dreadful ! It must have been almost a relief when he died.
Larita He didn't die --- he divorced me.
\H or r or -struck. ] Divorced you !
Marion
Larita
Yes, I ran away. I was very young and silly --- I should have waited, shouldn't I? and borne it stoi- callv. It would have been braver.
John I don't see that at all. He was an absolute devil.
Hilda
I think it's the most thrilling thing I've ever heard !
Larita It does sound picturesque now.
Mrs. Whittaker I suppose you went back to your parents?
Larita
No --- I couldn't go as far as that. They were both dead.
Colonel [Kindly.] It's awfully nice of you to tell us this.
Larita
Johnnie ought to have explained it all, really --- it would have cleared the way.
John You can't write things like that in letters.
Mrs. Whittaker No, I suppose not.
Larita
[To Mrs. Whittaker.]
You must have been very anxious and surprised and worried. We should have come home at once, only I stupidly got ill --- pleurisy, you know. I've had it before --- perfectly infuriating.
Marion Beastly thing, pleurisy.
Larita
But Johnnie was absolutely wonderful to me, and here we are at last. Can your butler speak French?
Mrs. Whittaker I beg your pardon ?
Larita
I say, can your butler speak French? You see,
my maid Do go and rescue Louise, Johnnie;
she's probably having a bad time.
John
All right. Take Lari up, mother. [He goes off.]
Hilda No, let me --- do let me.
Larita I should love you to.
Mrs. Whittaker I hope you'll find everything quite comfortable.
Larita
I'm sure I shall. Come along, Hilda. [She takes her hand.]
Hilda
I've put some flowers up there, but the rooms aren't very warm yet, I'm afraid. You see, the fires have only just been lighted.
Mrs. Whittaker I think perhaps I'd better come.
0
Larita
Xo, please don't trouble. Hilda will look after me perfectly all right --- won't you Hilda?
Hilda [Eagerly.]
Rather. Do let me, mother.
Mrs. Whittaker Very well. Lunch will be ready quite soon.
Larita
[As she goes upstairs with Hilda.]
Lovely. I'm ravenous. I was too excited to eat any breakfast. [They go off. There is silence for a moment.]
Marion She seems a good sort --- I like her.
Mrs. Whittaker Do you, Marion?
Marion Don't you?
Mrs. Whittaker She's exactly what I expected --- in every detail. [She turns away.]
Colonel Surely not in every detail? She wasn't drunk
Mrs. Whittaker
Jim, please!
Marion
Father --- how can you say things like that?
Colonel Larita's an extraordinarily pretty name.
Mrs. Whittaker
Excellent for musical comedy. [She turns her back and goes over to the window.] [John enters, and sees that Larita has gone.]
John
[Eagerly.] Well?
Colonel I congratulate you, John.
John
[Shaking his hand violently.]
Oh, father, thank you --- I --- am glad!
Marion I hope you managed the French maid all right?
John
Oh yes. I'm used to her. Mother
[He goes to her.]
Mrs. Whittaker
[Turning and kissing him without warmth.] Well, John, I hope you'll be very happy.
John I am, mother --- frightfully.
Mrs. Whittaker She's very beautiful.
John Do you think so, honestly?
Mrs. Whittaker Yes, of course.
John
And you've no idea what a darling she is. All the time she was ill she was splendid --- so brave and everything.
Marion
Is she a Catholic?
John
[Nonplused.]
I say --- I'm afraid I don't know. You see, we weren't married in church.
Marion
Oh!
John
[Pulling himself together.]
What a fool I am ! She's a Catholic, of course ; I remember now.
Mrs. Whittaker
Sarah's coming over to lunch.
John
Is she? How ripping. I've been longing to see her again. I want her to meet Lari, too.
Mrs. Whittaker
The Hursts have been entertaining a lot this winter. Sarah's been very much in demand. They gave a most successful dance in London.
John
Good old Sarah !
Mrs. Whittaker
If you've got any aspirin in your room, Marion dear, I should like some. My headache's rather bad.
Marion All right. Will you come up, or shall I fetch it?
Mrs. Whittaker I'll come up.
John
I'm so sorry, mother. I suppose I ought to have let you know before that we were coming.
Mrs. Whittaker It doesn't matter.
John I did so want it to be a surprise.
Mrs. Whittaker
I hope you'll see that your --- Larita has everything she wants, John.
John Rather! Thanks, mother, --- of course I will.
Mrs. Whittaker
That's right. [She goes upstairs with Marion.]
John I suppose mother's upset, isn't she?
Colonel A little, I think.
John You think she'll get over it, though, don't you ?
Colonel I expect so. Don't worry.
John
It must have been an awful shock for her --- for you both.
Colonel
My dear boy, this sort of thing's always a shock --- it's unavoidable.
John You like Lari, though, don't you, father?
Colonel She seems charming.
John
Oh, she is --- she's more than that --- she's won- derful.
Colonel She's older than I thought.
John
Yes, but that doesn't matter really, does it? --- I mean if people really care for one another.
Colonel I don't know. It might --- later on.
John
[Haltingly.]
You mean --- children?
Colonel Not altogether.
John I don't suppose we shall have any children.
Colonel No --- I don't suppose you will.
John But Marion's married, and Hilda will be soon.
Colonel [Gently.]
That's not quite the same thing, is it?
John Are you cut up about it?
Colonel
What's the use of being cut up, John? When a thing's done, you've got to stand by it.
John
Father --- I do love her terribly; she's my life's happiness.
Colonel
That's all right, then. Run up and look after her --- she's probably feeling a little shattered.
John
All right. Thanks, father.
[He goes upstairs, two at a time.]
[The Colonel sighs, takes "The Times" and goes off into the library.]
[Furber enters, followed by Sarah Hurst and Charles Burleigh. Sarah is boyish and modern and attractive. Charles Burleigh is a pleasant- looking man somewhere between thirty and forty.]
Sarah Where's everybody, Furber?
Furber
I don't know, miss. Mr. and Mrs. John have just arrived. They're probably all upstairs. I'll tell them you're here.
Sarah No, don't do that --- we'll wait.
Furber Very good, miss.
Sarah How's your neuritis, Furber?
FURBER
It's been rather bad, miss.
Sarah
I meant to bring you over that stuff, but I forgot. I'll send it to-night.
Furber
Thank you very much, miss. [He goes out.]
Charles
I suppose this is a slightly momentous day in the lives of the Whittakers.
Sarah Very momentous.
Charles Is your heart wrung with emotion?
Sarah [Lightly.] Don't be a beast, Charles.
Charles I think it's spirited of you to come.
0
Sarah
I want to see her.
Charles
I feel secretly embarrassed --- as though I oughtn't to be here at all.
Sarah
Nonsense --- you're moral backing for me.
Charles Thank you, Sarah, --- it's an attractive role.
Sarah
I wasn't really officially engaged to John --- it was just a sort of understood thing.
Charles I see.
Sarah
And I've had a nice three months to get over being upset about it.
Charles And you have?
Sarah Entirely.
Charles Well, that's a comfort, isn't it?
Sarah A great comfort.
Charles
Shall we be discovered intimately looking over the Toiler together ?
Sarah No --- that would be overdoing it.
Charles Perhaps it would.
Sarah I'm extremely hungry.
Charles That's a healthy sign.
Sarah
Whatever she's like, you must be awfully nice, and pay a lot of attention to her.
Charles Certainly.
Sarah I think I'm going to get the giggles.
Charles For Heaven's sake, don't.
Sarah It is funny, you know.
Charles
[Gloomily.] Excruciatingly.
Sarah
You'll realize just how funny it is when you see Mrs. Whittaker.
Charles I shall try to control myself.
Sarah And Marion. --- Oh, dear Marion!
Charles Shut up, Sarah --- you're unnerving me.
Sarah
I can't help it. [She giggles hopelessly.]
Charles
Pull yourself together. Some one's coming. [Hilda rushes downstairs.]
Hilda Sarah !
Sarah Hullo!
Hilda
[Breathlessly.]
Oh, Sarah, she's too beautiful for words!
Sarah No, really.
Hilda And the most heavenly clothes.
Sarah This is Mr. Burleigh--- Hilda Whittaker.
Hilda
[Shaking ha fids.]
How-do-you-do. We're all fearfully excited, you know --- John's new wife's just arrived.
Charles
Yes : Sarah told me.
Hilda
She's got a scream of a French maid --- I nearly died!
Sarah How's Mrs. Whittaker?
Hilda
She's got a headache. John's talking to her in her room. I've got to dash down to the garage to give a message to the chauffeur --- he's a new man. Come with me.
[She proceeds to drag her hand.]
Sarah I can't leave poor Charles all alone.
Hilda
[Persistently.]
You must --- it's only for a minute. I've got such lots to tell you.
Sarah
All right. Do you mind, Charles?
Charles
Very much.
Hilda
She shan't be long --- honestly. I haven't seen Sarah for ages, and I shan't get another opportunity of talking to her.
Sarah
[Laughing.]
Charles is such a timid man, it'll do him good. Come on.
Charles Here, I say --- Sarah
Sarah
We shan't be very long ! [She goes off with Hilda.]
Charles [Alone.]
Oh, God! [He wanders about the hall, then finally sits down
on the sofa with the "Tatler."] [Larita comes downstairs, having taken off her hat
and generally reinstated herself.] [Charles rises to his feet.]
Larita Oh, how-do-you-do.
Charles
[Shaking hands.] How-do-you-do.
Larita Are you lunching here?
Charles
Yes ; I came over with Sarah Hurst. I'm staying with them --- a few miles away.
Larita I've heard Johnnie speak of them.
Charles You've only just arrived, haven't you?
Larita
Yes, this morning. We came over from Paris yesterday. [There is a slight pause.]
Charles
It's always rather an anti-climax, isn't it? --- arriving anywhere.
Larita
Why? Do I look bored?
Charles Not at all.
Larita
I know what you mean, though; one feels sort of dead.
Charles
It's only temporary.
Larita Oh yes --- I hope so.
Charles Do you know if anyone else is lunching ?
Larita
Only you and Miss Hurst, I believe --- outside of the family.
Charles Good!
Larita Why do you say "Good" so emphatically?
Charles
It must be bad enough for you to have to meet a bunch of brand-new relations --- let alone total strangers. I feel quite an interloper.
Larita
Please don't. I don't mind meeting new people a bit --- on the contrary, it's rather a comfort, in a way --- it eases things a little.
Charles
[Offering case.] Will you smoke?
Larita
I'll smoke one of my own, if you don't mind. I get a bad throat if I change. I smoke far too much. [She takes a cigarette out of her case.]
Charles
[Lighting hers and his own.] That's an enchanting case.
Larita It is a darling.
Charles Cartier?
Larita
No ; Lacloche. I've had it for years.
Charles Were you in Paris long?
Larita
Only a week. I had to get some new clothes and fortify myself.
Charles Naturally.
0
Larita Where is everybody?
Charles I don't know.
Larita
They're discussing their first impressions of me, I expect. It must be horrid for them.
Charles I don't see why.
Larita [Smiling.] You do --- perfectly well.
Charles
I suppose it's always rather a shock for people when their sons marry.
Larita Do you know Johnnie?
Charles No.
Larita He's an angel.
Charles
I don't know any of them --- I'm more of a stranger than you.
Larita
I'm so glad. It gives us a sort of bond in com- mon, doesn't it?
Charles Yes.
Larita Tell me about Sarah Hurst.
Charles How shall I begin ?
Larita
Don't look apprehensive. I know about her and Johnnie --- when they were young, and everything.
Charles She's a charming girl --- unaffected.
Larita Thank God for that.
Charles Not very emotional --- and quite a sense of humor.
Larita I'm looking forward to seeing her.
Charles Are you?
Larita No.
Charles
[Laughmg outright.] I quite understand.
Larita I know you do. Is she pretty?
Charles Not exactly. More attractive than pretty.
Larita Dark or fair?
Charles
Fairish. She's rather like a young edition of a very old friend of mine. She lives in Paris. I won- der if you've met her.
Larita Who?
Charles Cecile de Vriaac.
Larita [Delighted.] Cecile! Do you know Cecile?
Charles I've known her for years.
Larita How extraordinary ! What's your name ?
Charles Charles Burleigh.
Larita
Of course! She has shown me snapshots of you. I knew I recognized your face, somehow. She is
such fun, isn't she?
Charles I'm devoted to her.
Larita And Freddy !
Charles Oh, Freddy! [They both laugh.]
Larita That's all over now.
Charles No?--- Is it?
Larita
Yes --- last August, in Venice --- or rather the Lido, to be accurate.
Charles
I don't wonder. That beach would kill any passion.
Larita You know Zushie Wincott, of course?
Charles Rather ! What's become of her ?
Larita
I tremble to think --- judging by the way she was behaving in Cannes at Christmas.
Charles With George, I suppose?
Larita No, not with George --- at George.
Charles Poor old Zushie ! She's rather a dear, really.
Larita
She's so utterly uncontrolled --- always making scenes. I loathe scenes.
Charles You first met John at Cannes, didn't you?
Larita
Yes. He'd been Banco-ing recklessly and losing everything. I was well up on the day, so I lent him some plaques, and it changed his luck.
Charles In more ways than one.
Larita I wonder.
Charles I'm sure of it.
Larita
It's sweet of you to say so. I'm dreadfully fond of him you know.
Charles I can see that.
Larita Can you? How?
Charles By the way you talk of him.
Larita
He's awfully young and --- well, almost ingenuous sometimes. I think that must have been what at- tracted me to him at first --- it was refreshing.
[Nodding.] Yes.
Charles
Larita
And then we kept on meeting, you know. Cannes is a small place --- and I was so tired of everybody.
Charles People run dreadfully in grooves.
Larita
Always the same faces --- and the same expressions and the same motives.
Charles Motives ?
Larita
You know what I mean.
Charles Yes.
Larita
It's amusing and fun for a little while, and then one begins to realize that perhaps --- after all --- it's a trifle cheap.
Charles
It's certainly astonishing how quickly one becomes disillusioned over everything.
Larita Everything ?
Charles Well, practically everything.
Larita [ With a sigh. ] Yes, that's true.
Charles
Are you going to live here indefinitely?
Larita [Slowly.] I don't know. Through the summer, anyhow.
Charles I hope you'll be very happy.
Larita
Thank you. [She looks out of the window.] I wish it wasn't raining.
Charles
There's a ridiculous picture of Harry Leftwich in the T after, walking along the terrace at Monte Carlo with that dark woman who went to share a studio with Maud Callish in the Rue Bonaparte.
Larita Oh, Suzanne --- do let me see --- Suzanne Fellini
[She comes over to the sofa, and they both bend over the "Tatler."]
Charles [Finding it.] There.
Larita
Yes, that's Suzanne --- doesn't she look fierce ? It's so absurd when people are photographed with their legs sticking straight out in front of them like that.
Charles [Laughing.] Poor dears!
Larita
Oh, do look at her hat.
[They both laugh a good deal.]
[Mrs. Whittaker comes downstairs, followed by John and Marion. Mrs. Whittaker's face freezes slightly. Charles gets up.]
0
Mrs. Whittaker How-do-you-do. You are Mr. Burleigh?
Charles
[Calmly.]
Yes; your youngest daughter came and spirited Sarah away. I don't know where they've gone.
John
[Going to Larita.]
I couldn't think where you were, Larita.
Larita I thought everyone was down here.
Mrs. Whittaker
[To Larita.]
I suppose you and Mr. Burleigh have introduced yourselves ?
Larita
Oh yes ; we've discovered lots of mutual friends.
Mrs. Whittaker
How nice. [To Charles.] This is my eldest daughter.
Charles
[Shaking hands.] How-do-you-do.
Mrs. Whittaker And my son.
John How are you? [He also shakes hands.] [Hilda and Sarah re-enter.]
Sarah
[Kissing Mrs. Whittaker.]
Hilda dragged me off to see a perfectly strange chauffeur. Have you all met Charles?
Charles Yes, you're too late --- it's all over.
Sarah Hallo, John --- I'm terribly pleased to see you.
John
[Taking her hand.]
Sarah, I want you to meet my wife, Larita. I do hope you'll be friends.
Larita
[Shaking hands.] I hope so, too.
Sarah
Of course we shall. You're utterly different from what I imagined.
Larita
[Smiling.] Am I really?
Sarah [Laughing.] Yes --- I pictured you fair and fluffy.
Larita How absurd ! [Furber enters.]
Furber
Lunch is served.
Mrs. Whittaker Let's all go in, then. Tell the Colonel, Furber.
Furber Yes, ma'am. [The Colonel enters.]
Hilda
Come on, father; lunch is ready. [Sarah takes Larita's arm and xvalks into the din- ing-room with her. Larita throws a look over her shoulder at Charles, who smiles. Everyone goes in talking. Furber waits, and then follows them, closing the folding doors after him.]
Curtain
ACT II
ACT II
Scene: Three months have passed since Act I. It is a warm summer day --- warm for England, any- how --- which means that unless you hurl yourself about on tennis-courts or indulge in some sort of strenuous exercise all the time, you get extremely cold. The sun-awning has been let down over the veranda.
Larita is lying on the sofa, reading "Sodom and Gomorrah," by Marcel Proust. Outside in the garden tennis noises can be heard, occasional shouts and laughter. Larita throws her cigarette-end out on to the veranda, but it goes on the carpet, so she has to get up and throw it again, which she does with a slight display of temper. She lights herself an- other and lies down again; then discovers that Marcel Proust has eluded her and is reclining care- lessly on the bureau. With an expression of re- signed fury she gets up again and fetches it. When she is once more ensconced on the sofa
Mrs. Whittaker enters.
Mrs. Whittaker Why don't you go and watch the tennis, Larita ?
Larita
The excitement's so intense, my nerves won't stand it.
Mrs. Whittaker
[At window,]
I wish you wouldn't throw cigarette-ends on to the veranda ; it looks so untidy. [She picks it up and throws it into the garden.]
Larita I'm sorry.
Mrs. Whittaker Fancy lying indoors on a lovely day like this.
Larita It's very chilly outside.
Mrs. Whittaker Not in the sun.
Larita I get a headache if I sit in the sun.
Mrs. Whittaker I wonder you don't play tennis with the others.
Larita I'm so awfully bad that it annoys everybody.
Mrs. Whittaker You'd soon improve if you practiced.
Larita
j I don't know that the end would altogether justify the means.
Mrs. Whittaker
Have you seen Marion?
Larita Not since lunch.
Mrs. Whittaker I wonder where she is.
Larita Upstairs, I think.
Mrs. Whittaker She had a letter from Edgar this morning.
Larita Did she?
0
Mrs. Whittaker He's coming home.
Larita How lovely.
Mrs. Whittaker
[Shooting a suspicious glance at her.] You've never met him?
Larita
Never. I meant it was lovely for Marion that he was coming home --- not for me.
Mrs. Whittaker Where's Jim?
Larita He went out, I think.
Mrs. Whittaker
How irritating! I wanted to talk to him par- ticularly.
Larita Perhaps he didn't know.
Mrs. Whittaker I think we shall have to get rid of Jackson.
Larita What a pity ! He seems such a nice man.
Mrs. Whittaker He's been neglecting the garden disgracefully.
Larita It must be awfully difficult to be a gardener.
Mrs. Whittaker I'm worried to death about to-night.
Larita I'm so sorry. Why?
Mrs. Whittaker If it's wet we can't have the buffet on the veranda.
Larita Perhaps it will be fine.
Mrs. Whittaker
Only half the things I ordered have arrived from Fortnum's.
Larita Can I do anything?
Mrs. Whittaker
Xo, thank you, Larita. I'm quite used to all responsibilities of this sort falling on to my shoulders. The children are always utterly inconsiderate. Thank Heaven, I have a talent for organization. [She goes out with a martyred expression.] [Larita, with a sigh, once more plunges into her
booh.] [Enter Marion, down stairs.]
Marion
Hallo! old thing. Why aren't you watching the tennis ?
Larita I'm afraid of discouraging them.
Marion Have you seen mother?
Larita Yes, she's just gone into the garden.
Marion I think she's getting a bit fussed about to-night.
Larita She has a talent for organization.
Marion
Tilings are certain to turn out all right, if you don't worry about 'em.
Larita That must be a very comforting philosophy.
Marion
You seem a bit snappy, old girl. Has anything upset you ?
Larita
[Putting down her book.]
I'm sorry --- I didn't mean to be snappy. What shall we talk about?
Marion
I'm afraid I haven't time to talk now --- too many things to see to. You know, only half the stuff's arrived from Fortnum's.
Larita Why not telephone them?
Marion I have.
Larita Are they sending the rest down?
Marion Yes.
Larita Well, that's all right, then, isn't it?
Marion Have you seen father?
Larita He went out, I think.
Marion
Typical of him to shelve everything on to mother and me.
Larita Perhaps he'll come back soon bristling with ideas.
Marion
I think mother's wrong about having the buffet on the veranda --- it's sure to rain. [She goes out.] [Larita lies back and closes her eyes. She is about
to read again when John rushes in from the
garden, very hot. ]
John
Hullo! Why don't you come and watch the tennis ?
Larita
There seems to be a conspiracy among everybody to lead me on to that very exposed tennis-court.
John
Well, you needn't come if you don't want to. [He begins to go upstairs.]
Larita Where are you going?
John
To get Sarah's sweater --- she left it in the school- room before lunch.
Larita You might bring down my fur coat.
John Fur coat? What on earth for? '
Larita I'm cold.
John I don't wonder --- lying about indoors all day.
Larita
Don't be intolerant, darling. [John goes off.] [Larita bites her lip and looks extremely unhappy.
After a moment John returns, with Sarah's
sweater over one arm and Larita's coat over the
other.
John
Here you are. [He gives it to her.]
Larita
Thank you, Johnnie. [She puts it on.]
John You wouldn't be cold if you took some exercise.
Larita Come for a walk with me.
John
[Irritably.]
How can I ? We're in the middle of a set. [John goes out.]
[Calling.] Johnnie !
[Reappearing.] What is it?
Larita
John
Larita
[Hopelessly.]
Nothing. It doesn't matter. [John goes out.] [Larita sits on the sofa, her fur coat round her and
her chin cupped in her hands; her eyes fill with
tears, so she takes a handkerchief from her bag
and blows her nose.] [Colonel Whittaker enters. He regards her
thoughtfully for a moment.]
Colonel Hullo! What's the matter?
Larita
[Jumping.]
Oh --- I never heard you.
Colonel You seem plunged in gloom.
Larita
[Lightly.]
It's only a mood.
Colonel Cheer up.
Larita
You won't ask me why I'm not watching the tennis, will you?
Colonel
No, my dear. Nor will I inquire why you are wearing your fur coat --- the reasons are obvious : you are bored and cold.
Larita Exactly.
Colonel
Shall we play bezique?
Larita [Shuddering.] No, thank you.
Colonel Do. It's such a thrilling game.
Larita I don't remember how
Colonel
Neither do I --- that will give it an added piquancy. [He goes to the bottom drawer of the bureau and produces a bezique set.]
00
Larita
[Laughing.]
You really are absurd.
Colonel
Stay where you are, and I'll bring up this dear little table. [He does so.]
Larita It is sweet, isn't it?
Colonel
[Sitting down opposite her.]
I forget how to deal. It's either nine or thirteen.
Larita I believe it's eleven.
Colonel
[Dealing her two cards and himself two.] Turn them up.
Larita
[Turning them up.] Card.
0
Colonel
[Turning his up.] Nine.
Larita
I'm more used to this sort of bezique. [He deals out four more cards.] [Turning up eight.]
Eight.
Colonel.
[Passing her the pack.] There now.
Larita [Dealing.] I feel my nostrils quivering like a war-horse.
Colonel Card, please.
Larita
[Turning up her cards.]
Useless.
Colonel Are you preparing to have a run ?
0
Larita
Certainly. [She deals again.]
Colonel
[Turning up.] Eight.
Larita
[Also turning up.] I'm so sorry --- nine !
Colonel
Devil.
Larita
[Dealing again.] Faites vos jeux.
Colonel
[Turning up.] Carte.
Larita Nine!
Colonel Lucky at cards, unlucky
0
Larita
Don't say that to me --- it's a malicious treason. [She deals again.]
Colonel Carte.
Larita
[Giving him one and herself one.] Now then.
Colonel
Damn!
Larita Nine!
Colonel There's something underhand about this.
Larita
I shall have you turned out of the Casino if you accuse me of cheating.
Colonel One more go, please.
0
Larita
[Dealing.] There !
Eight.
Colonel
Larita
[Laughing.]
My poor friend! Nine.
Colonel
[Hurling the pack on to the floor.] Disgusting.
Larita
Don't be a cad ! [They both go down on to the floor and proceed to pick up the cards.]
Colonel
I should like to get a shoe and a couple of seedy croupiers, and start a gambling-hell in this village.
Larita
It would be grand. [Mrs. Whittaker enters.]
0
Mrs. Whittaker What on earth are you doing?
Colonel
Gambling.
Larita
I'm afraid the Colonel forgot he was an English gentleman, and lost his temper.
Mrs. Whittaker Have you been down to the village, Jim?
Colonel Yes.
Mrs. Whittaker
Well, all I can say is, you might have told me you were going --- you could have seen Harry about fixing the Japanese lanterns.
Colonel I did see Harry.
Mrs. Whittaker What did he say?
0
Colonel He's coming up at half-past five.
Mrs. Whittaker
Well, I think you might have let me know. [Going. She goes upstairs.]
Colonel It is such fun giving a dance.
Larita You must control your excitement.
Colonel
There, that's all, I think. [He rises.]
Larita
There's an angry Queen of Hearts secreting her- self under the sofa. [She retrieves it and rises.] I feel better now, thank you.
Colonel Splendid.
Larita
Who's coming to-night?
0
Colonel
The county. You'll see dresses that will make your mouth water.
Larita
I must be careful --- it will be my social debut.
Colonel What will you wear?
Larita Something non-committal and austere.
Colonel Not black?
Larita No --- that would clash with the Dowager's.
Colonel White?
Larita Too ingenue.
Colonel There's always lavender.
0
Larita Yes --- much more appropriate.
Colonel Your friend Charles Burleigh's coming.
Larita Yes, I know --- I'm awfully glad. He's a nice man.
Colonel I tremble for you sometimes.
Larita Why?
Colonel This life must be so deadly for you.
Larita Don't say that.
Colonel It is though --- isn't it?
Larita Now and then --- perhaps.
0
Colonel Do you regret everything?
Larita What's the good? I must get used to it.
Colonel
I try my best, with bezique and small-talk, to make things brighter for you.
Larita I know you do. You've been a darling all along.
Colonel
Do you think you'd be happier if you and John settled down in London?
Larita
I don't know. I feel frightened of making any definite plans. Everything depends on John.
Colonel I'll talk to him.
Larita
No, please don't; let him decide on his own what- ever he wants to do.
0
Colonel He must see you're being bored stiff.
Larita I'm not --- all the time. I just get moods-
Colo
NEL
[Patting her hand.] I understand.
Larita
I wouldn't mind how bored and out of place I was
-if only
Colonel
[Gently.]
If only what?
Larita If only John were with me a little more.
Colonel He's inconsiderate --- but he doesn't mean to be.
Larita He's getting a bit sick of me, I'm afraid.
Colonel What nonsense!
Larita
I ought to be so much more adaptable --- but it's difficult. I've tried terribly hard during the three months I've been here, but I've only succeeded in making everyone more or less used to me. I've estab- lished a sort of truce, that's all.
Colonel
That in itself is an achievement. We're an insular, hidebound set.
Larita Nobody really likes me --- except you.
Colonel
Sarah does.
Larita
Yes, I'd forgotten Sarah. It's queer of her, isn't it?
Colonel
She places a high value on intelligence where no one else recognizes it.
Larita
Marion is persistently pleasant because she feels she owes it to her religious views.
Colonel Marion --- though I says it as shouldn't --- is a fool.
Larita
I've got an unworthy passion for popularity --- it hurts my vanity not to be an unqualified success.
Colonel Rubbish ! --- it's nothing to do with your vanity.
Larita
Please --- I want it to be my vanity that's hurt, and nothing else.
Colonel
You mustn't expect results too soon, you know. Three months is a very short time.
Larita
[Suddenly, with vehemence.]
Oh, what's the use of going on about it? --- throw- ing dust and trying to obscure the truth. You know and I know --- it's all a rotten failure !
[She goes upstairs.]
[The Colonel shrugs his shoulders and lights a
cigarette.] [Marion comes in from the garden.]
Marion
I think if we had the lanterns just along the veranda and across to the cedar it would be all right, don't you?
Colonel
Quite. There aren't enough to go further, any- how.
Marion
Mother thought there ought to be a few round the summer-house.
Colonel
Fairy lamps would be much better there, and there are more of them.
Marion
I wish you'd tell her what you think. [She sees Larita's book and picks it up.] Hullo! what's this? Sodom and Gomorrah. Why does Lari read such silly muck ? [She flings it down again.]
*
Colonel [ Gently. ]
Don't be sweeping, Marion. Marcel Proust hap- pens to be one of the few really brilliant novelists in the world.
Marion
Pity he chooses such piffling subjects, then.
Colonel Have you ever read him?
Marion
No --- but all French writers are the same --- sex --- sex --- sex. People think too much of all that sort of tosh nowadays, anyhow. After all, there are other things in life.
Colonel
You mean higher things, don't you, Marion? --- much higher?
Marion
I certainly do --- and I'm not afraid to admit it.
Colonel
You mustn't be truculent just because you've affiliated yourself with the Almighty.
[He goes into the library.]
[Marion snorts crossly, and Mrs. Whittaker comes downstairs.]
Mrs. Whittaker [Obviously.] Oh, there you are, Marion.
Marion Father's intolerable.
Mrs. Whittaker What's the matter?
Marion He never loses an opportunity of jeering at me. Mrs. Whittaker
He's an exceedingly selfish man --- he knows per- fectly well how rushed and worried I am, and he never attempts to help. I found him in here, on the floor, with Larita.
Marion
On the floor?
Mrs. Whittaker Yes; they'd been playing cards, and dropped them, or something.
Marion
I wish Larita wouldn't slack about indoors all day. It isn't healthy.
Mrs. Whittaker
[Seeing "Sodom and Gomorrah"] Whose is that book?
Marion Hers, of course.
Mrs. Whittaker
Well, please take it up to her room. I don't like that kind of literature left in the hall --- especially when there are young people about.
Marion
You'd think she'd make some effort to adapt her- self to our ways, wouldn't you? instead of
Mrs. Whittaker
Please don't let's discuss her, Marion; you know it upsets me --- and Heaven knows I've got enough on my mind to-day.
Marion
I should like to give her a little advice about things.
Mrs. Whittaker
Do, dear ; but wait until after to-night --- we don't want a scene.
Marion
I don't think she'd cut up rough if I was tactful. You see, she doesn't quite understand
Mrs. Whittaker How can you expect her to?
Marion
And father's always encouraging her, and saying ridiculous things, and making her laugh.
Mrs. Whittaker
Your father has a certain horrible streak in him that nothing will eradicate --- no one's more aware of that than I. It's caused me years of suffering.
Marion I know, mother.
Mrs. Whittaker Birds of a feather
Marion
[Alarmed.]
But I think Larita's all right --- really, mother, don't you ? I mean
Mrs. Whittaker
My dear Marion, I flatter myself I'm a woman of the world. We have no proof of the sort of life Larita has led, and we don't want any proof --- she is John's wife, and as long as he cares for her nothing
can be done
Marion
What do you mean by "nothing can be done?"
Mrs. Whittaker
This was never anything but a mad infatuation --- and mad infatuations don't last.
Marion But, mother, he's married to her.
Mrs. Whittaker There is such a thing as divorce.
Marion I don't approve of divorce, and I never have.
Mrs. Whittaker
Neither do I --- but in a case like this it's rather different.
Marion
I think she's fond of him, you know.
Mrs. Whittaker
Time will show. [Hilda comes in from the garden; she is flushed and hot.]
Hilda
Philip and I won the set. Is there any lemonade, or an} thing?
Mrs. Whittaker
You'd better go into the pantry and get some. Furber's very busy.
Hilda Where's Larita?
Mrs. Whittaker I don't know.
0
Hilda
She was making sheep's eyes at Philip all through lunch.
Mrs. Whittaker You mustn't say things like that, Hilda.
Hilda Well, she was. I nearly died of shame.
Marion You'd better go and fetch the lemonade.
Hilda You'd think she'd know how to behave at her age.
Mrs. Whittaker Hilda, that will do.
Hilda
I'm fed up with her. Look how she went on with Harry Emsworth. She'd better be careful, I can
tell you
[Enter John, Sarah and Philip Bordon --- he is a
callow, lanky youth.]
John Where's the drink?
Hilda I'm just going to fetch it.
Sarah
[Sinking down.] I'm dead.
Philip It's jolly hot.
John Why didn't you play, Marion ?
Marion Too busy. Anyhow, you were four.
Sarah Give me a cigarette, John.
John
I've only got stinkers.
Sarah
I'll take one of Lari's ; she won't mind. [Takes one from Lari's case on the sofa.] [John lights it.]
Mrs. Whittaker
I wonder if two extra girls will be enough, with Furber and Ellen.
Marion I should think so.
Mrs. Whittaker
We can get Mrs. Pollock's married daughter, you know. They're only just down the road.
Marion
It won't be necessary. [Re-enter Hilda, with tray of drinks.]
Hilda Furber had it all ready.
John Put it on the veranda, Hilda.
Philip Let me help. [He and Hilda retire on to the veranda with the drinks. ]
Mrs. Whittaker
Come into the library, Marion, and help me with the dinner list.
Marion Father's in there.
Mrs. Whittaker
We'll go up to my room, then. If Harris comes, don't let him go before I've seen him, John.
John
All right, mother.
Mrs. Whittaker
[As she and Marion go upstairs.] We shall have to put Lady Gibbons next to your father.
Marion He hates her.
M
Mrs. Whittaker
It can't be helped. [They go off.]
Sarah
Bring me some lemonade in here, John --- it's so nice and cool.
John
[Going out on to veranda.] I wish you were dining too.
Sarah
I've got to be at home and help mother with our party. I ought to be there now, really.
John
[Off-]
Wouldn't you rather have ginger beer?
Sarah
No --- lemonade, please.
John
Right. [After a moment he returns with lemonade for Sarah and ginger beer for himself.]
Sarah [Taking it.] Thanks.
John
Pretty hot player, Philip.
Sarah He nearly killed me.
John Keep a lot of dances for me to-night, won't you?
Sarah Of course.
John It ought to be fun, if it keeps fine.
Sarah Where's Lari, I wonder?
John Reading somewhere, I expect.
Sarah She looked divine at lunch.
John
It's funny you liking her. I was afraid you wouldn't.
Sarah Why?
John Oh, I don't know --- she's so utterly different.
Sarah I expect that's the reason.
John I wish she wouldn't slack indoors so much.
Sarah I don't see that it matters, if she wants to.
John
It's all very well in the winter, but in this sort of weather
Sarah
You mustn't be grumpy just because people don't ■^ like doing exactly the same things as you.
John I'm not grumpy.
Sarah Yes, you are --- a little.
John It's annoying, though.
Sarah Don't let it be.
John You're such a sport, always ready for anything.
Sarah
But I haven't got Lari's beauty or charm or intelligence.
John Here, I say!
Sarah I mean that.
John She is clever, isn't she?
Sarah Yes, and being clever she's a little bored.
John She wouldn't be if only she entered into things.
Sarah
Perhaps she can't enter into things. You must remember this sort of life is entirely new to her.
John Yes, I know, but
Sarah
You're all right, because you're on your own ground. I think you ought to give a bit more.
John How do you mean ?
Sarah
Do what she wants now and then, instead of only what you want.
John
But I do. I took her for miles in the car yester- day --- she said she needed air.
Sarah That's right.
John So you see
Sarah Don't make excuses ; you know what I mean.
John I don't.
Sarah
Well, I can't explain ; it's something you must find out for yourself.
John
I do think it's most frightfully decent of you to stand up for her.
Sarah
That wasn't my object.
John
I say, you have changed lately ; you never used to go on like this.
Sarah Like what?
0
John Well, all serious and preachy.
Sarah
[Laughing.]
I'm sorry you think I'm preachy; you see, I'm growing up, and you're not.
John Oh yes, I am.
Sarah Well, not in the way you should, then.
John You've got ever so much nicer-looking.
Sarah Thank you.
John Are you going to marry, too?
Sarah Certainly.
John
[Anxiously.] Who? Charlie?
Sarah Good Heavens, no ! He's much too old.
John
Oh!
Sarah
[Repentantly.]
I'm awfully sorry. I didn't mean that exactly.
John It's all right.
Sarah
He's not my type at all ; if I loved him, I wouldn't care how old he was.
John I can't imagine you married.
Sarah What a pity ! I have a vivid mental picture of it.
John
Is there anybody you are in love with?
Sarah Not at the moment, but I'm keeping my eyes open.
John
it t( hadn't the courage
I've often meant to ask you something, but I
Sarah Well, don't then.
John I must.
Sarah Give me a cigarette first.
John
Stinker ?
Sarah Yes ; anything.
John
[Giving her one.] Here.
Sakah Thanks. Go ahead.
John
Did you think I behaved like a cad, marrying Lari like that, without letting you know?
Sarah Of course not.
John Are you sure?
Sarah Quite. I understood perfectly.
John It's been on my mind rather.
Sarah
You took your opportunity and married for love, John, and I respect you for it. If we'd married, it would have been for friendship and convenience.
John Would it?
Sarah
[Firmly.]
Yes --- we knew one another far too well.
John Do you think that's a disadvantage?
Sarah In married life, certainly.
John I don't.
Sarah
It would have been so dull and ordinary --- no ex- citement at all.
John
I don't want excitement.
Sarah
I do. I want thrills and glamour and passionate love-letters --- all the trappings.
John I could have written you love-letters.
Sarah Well, why didn't you?
John I don't know. I
Sarah
[ Triumphantly. ]
The fact that you didn't proves that you couldn't --- you didn't feel that way about me, ever.
John It was a different sort of feeling.
Sarah
Don't be a hypocrite, John, and try and deceive yourself.
John
I did love you, all the same.
Sarah [Rising.] How touching.
John I do still.
Sarah
Shut up, John !
John
You see, I'm beginning to realize I've made rather a mess of things. [He puts his face in his hands.]
Sarah
[Furiously.]
Shut up, I tell you, or I'll never speak to you again. That's behaving like a cad, if you like --- an utter cad !
[Miserably.] Sarah
John
Sarah
You ought to be ashamed of yourself! Haven't you got any sense of decency? Let me tell you one thing --- you're not fit to wipe Lari's boots. [Larita appears at the top of the stairs in time to catch the last sentence.]
Larita
[Lightly; coming down.]
Hallo!--- what are you two squabbling about?
Sarah
John's infuriating --- he always gets bad-tempered when he loses a set.
Larita
I ought to have watched, after all, to keep him in order.
Sarah
I stole a cigarette out of your rich and rare case, Lari.
Larita
That was revolting of you. I don't think I can forgive it. [Hilda and Philip come in from veranda.]
Hilda Aren't you going to play any more, John?
John
[Eagerly.] Yes, rather.
Sarah
I should stay and talk to Lari if I were you, John --- you've neglected her shamefully.
Philip I'll stay with Mrs. John.
Larita
You're all very kind and considerate --- I really only want some one to hold my knitting. [She makes a gesture of winding wool.]
Hilda I want Philip to play.
Larita
I'll come and glare at you all with eyes starting out of my head like prawns.
Sarah
No, don't. There's nothing so hideously dull as watching people play games you're not particularly interested in. Come on, Hilda --- you and I will play Philip. He can beat us easily.
Hilda
[Satisfied.] All right.
Sarah Come along.
&
Larita
[Lightly.]
Thanks, Sarah darling. [She blows a kiss to her.] [Sarah, Hilda, and Philip go off.]
John
[Noticing Larita is still wearing her coat,] Are you still cold?
Larita
No, not really. I'll take this off if it annoys you. [She does so.]
John I don't mind.
Larita
What shall we do? Go for a nice drive in the motor ?
John Would you like to?
Larita No, dear --- don't look so scared; I should hate it.
0
John
I'm sorry if you think I've been neglecting you lately, Lari.
Larita
Sarah put that into your head ; I didn't.
John But have I?
Larita No. I think I've been neglecting you.
John I'm afraid I've been thoughtless and beastly.
Larita [Smiling.] Dear Johnnie. [ She pats his hand. ]
John
I say, you have got some strong scent on.
Larita
It's very good, though, isn't it? [She leans forward so that he can smell it better.]
John
[ With forced enthusiasm. ] Lovely.
Larita
Why are you looking so depressed?
John I'm not depressed.
Larita
I hope you haven't been overtiring yourself --- at tennis?
John Of course I haven't.
Larita
[Seriously.]
Kiss me, Johnnie.
John
All right. [He does so.]
Larita
I think I'd better put on my fur coat again.
John What's the matter with you to-day, Lari?
Larita Don't you know?
John No.
Larita We're married.
John What do you mean?
Larita That's what's the matter with both of us.
John There's nothing the matter with me.
Larita Isn't there?
John I feel a bit tired, that's all.
Larita Yes, I believe you do.
John
I think you were right --- I have been rather strenuous to-day.
Larita Poor darling !
John
And we've got this awful dance to-night.
Larita Aren't you looking forward to it?
John
Not particularly.
Larita Let's run away secretly to Deauville.
John How can we?
Larita [Smiling.] It's all right. I didn't mean it; that was a joke.
John
Oh, I see.
Larita
You mustn't be dull. [She laughs.]
John
Oh, do stop twitting me !
Larita Twitting! What a ridiculous expression.
John You're always in some mood or another.
Larita Surely that's quite natural?
John
I suppose it's my fault, really, for leaving you alone so much. But still, I do think
Larita
If you're going to be magnanimous, do it grace- fully.
John There you are, you see. Whenever I try
Larita
[Sharply.]
You weren't trying hard enough.
John
Anyone would think I'd been deliberately planning to annoy you.
Larita Deliberately or not --- you've succeeded.
John I don't see what I've done.
Larita
You play tennis eternally --- tennis --- tennis --- tennis! Such a pretty game.
John
It's healthier than sitting indoors, anyway.
Larita
I believe it develops the muscles to an alarming extent.
John You don't want me to be flabby, do you?
Larita Mentally or physically?
John Lari, look here, I
Larita I'm getting flabby mentally --- and I can't bear it.
John Well, it's not my fault.
Larita Yes, it is.
John How?
Larita Come away --- come abroad again.
John We can't --- you know we can't --- possibly.
Larita Why?
John It's unfair of you to ask me.
Larita Yes, it is --- I suppose.
John After all, this is my life, and it always will be.
Larita
Will it?
Of course.
And mine?
John
Larita
Naturally,
John
Larita How secure that sounds.
John
Secure?
Larita
Yes. Words are such silly things. When you said "Naturally" like that it sounded like everything I want in the world ; but I know in my heart it meant nothing.
John I don't understand.
Larita That's why it meant nothing.
John
Are you really dissatisfied?
Larita Yes.
John You're not happy here at all?
Larita No.
John Why?
Larita Beeause you've stopped loving me.
John
[Startled.] Lari!
Larita It's true.
John But you're wrong --- I haven't stopped loving you.
Larita
[Lightly.] Liar!
John
Look here, you're hysterical and upset because I've been neglecting you.
Larita No, dear, it isn't that.
0
John I've never heard anything so ridiculous in my life.
Larita Neither have I.
John Why, we've only been married six months.
Larita It might be six years.
John It looks more as though you'd stopped loving me.
Larita Oh, John, don't be silly.
John
[Hotly.]
I'm not silly ! You're always irritable and snappy these days --- you never used to be.
Larita I'm sorry.
John
If you were a bit more interested in everything here and didn't retire into your shell so much, you'd be far happier.
Larita
Does your mother want me to be interested? John
Of course she does.
Larita
Then why does she snub me and discourage me whenever I make the slightest effort?
John She doesn't mean to. You're too sensitive.
Larita
Sensitive ! [She laughs.]
John
Yes, you think everybody's against you.
Larita So they are --- except your father and Sarah.
John Marion's been sweet to you, and Hilda
Larita
Hilda evinced a high-school passion for me when I first arrived --- which has since reacted into black hatred.
John Rot!
Larita It isn't rot. Marion is gratuitously patronizing.
John She's nothing of the sort.
Larita Her religious views forbid her to hate me openly.
John It's beastly of you to say things like that.
Larita I'm losing my temper at last --- it's a good sign.
John I'm glad you think so.
Larita
I've repressed it for so long, and repression's bad. Look at Marion.
John
I don't know what you mean.
Larita
No --- you wouldn't.
John
But I suppose it's something unpleasant.
Larita Quite right --- it is.
John
Well, will you please remember that Marion is my sister.
Larita
I shouldn't think of her at all if she weren't.
John You're behaving like a child.
Larita I can't tell you what a wonderful relief it is.
John It's damned inconsiderate.
Larita Yes --- my turn now!
John Look here, Lari
Larita
Don't try and stop me. Let me go on and on --- or I shall burst.
John Don't talk so loudly.
Larita
Why not? No one would be in the least surprised to find me rolling about on the floor, soaked in drugs and hiccoughing. They almost expect it of me. Surely a little shouting won't matter --- it will gratify their conception of my character.
John I've never seen you like this before.
Larita No, it doesn't happen often.
John Thank God for that!
Larita
Splendid! Repartee helps. I like you to play up. This is our first row, you know.
John
[Sullenly.]
I hope it will be our last.
Larita It may be --- quite possibly.
Jo
HN
As fai? as I can see, you're just thoroughly bad- tempered because I haven't been dancing attendance on you all the time.
Larita
If you can only see as far as that, you're ex- traordinarily short-sighted.
John All the same, I'm right.
Larita How I wish you were !
John
If things have been upsetting you for so long, why on earth didn't you tell me before?
Larita
I was hoping against hope that you'd see for yourself.
John
[Turning away irritably.]
Oh, what's the use of arguing and bickering like this? It doesn't lead anywhere.
Larita
You never know --- it might lead to the end of everything.
John
Do you want it to?
Larita
Do you?
John No, I don't. All I want is peace and quiet.
Larita
You're far too young to make a remark like that seriously.
John I can't help my age.
Larita You said just now that you loved me still.
John I certainly don't when you go on like this.
Larita I wanted to see how much it would stand.
John
Wasn't that rather silly?
Larita
No, it wasn't silly. Three months ago you'd never have spoken to me as you have to-day. Whatever I'd done. I've been watching your passion for me die. I didn't mind that so much; it was inevitable. Then I waited very anxiously to see if there were any real love and affection behind it --- and I've seen the little there was slowly crushed out of you by the uplifting atmosphere of your home and family. Whatever I do now doesn't matter any more --- it's too late.
John Look here, Lari
Larita
I've shown myself to you quarrelsome and cheap and ugly for the first time --- and it hasn't hurt you ; it's only irritated you. You're miles away from me already.
John
You're utterly unreasonable --- you imagine things.
Larita Do I?
John
I realize that I'm to blame for leaving you alone so much --- and, honestly, I'm sorry.
Larita Do you really believe that that accounts for it all?
John Yes.
Larita Well, let's pretend it's true --- for a little longer.
John There's no need to pretend.
Larita Give me my handkerchief, will you? --- it's in my
[Finding it.] Here you are.
John
Larita
Thanks. [She dabs her eyes and blows her nose.] I hope I'm not going to have a cold.
0
John
I'll see that you don't get miserable and upset any more.
Larita
[Half smiling.] Will you, Johnnie?
John Yes --- and I'll talk to mother.
Larita No, don't do that.
John I will. I don't think she's been quite fair.
Larita
Please don't say a word --- promise me you won't. It wouldn't do the slightest good. She's your mother, and I do see her point, you know.
John
As a matter of fact, I should rather like to go abroad again in September --- Venice or somewhere.
Larita
It would be lovely. [She laughs.]
John
[Suspiciously.]
Why are you laughing?
Larita Because I feel happier.
John Or Algiers --- I've never been to Algiers.
Larita
If we went to Algiers, we could stay with the Lessings.
John
I don't know them.
Larita
They're darlings. She's an American. She used to design people's houses. We had great fun in New York.
John
I never knew you'd been to New York.
Larita I must have told you --- I was there for ages.
John You didn't. Was it before you married?
Larita No; after.
John I thought you lived in Paris all the time.
Larita Not all the time.
John Why did you go?
Larita
Oh, I don't know --- the tall buildings and the cham- pagne air --- so fascinating.
John Did you go alone?
Larita Yes --- but the boat was crowded.
John Why didn't you tell me?
Larita
I thought I had. It doesn't matter though, does it?
John What did you do there?
Larita Really, Johnnie --- nothing particular.
John
You never told me much, you know --- about any- thing.
Larita
I'll write my memoirs one day; then all will be disclosed.
John Is Francis alive now?
Larita Oh yes; he's kicking about somewhere.
John You never hear from him?
Larita
Of course not. I don't consider it chic to receive chatty letters from ex-husbands.
John I only wondered.
Larita
Well, you needn't have.
John
Mother's always trying to pump me about your early life.
Larita
And what do you say ?
John
Nothing. I feel rather a fool.
Larita Never mind, dear.
John
It's natural that she should be curious, I suppose.
Larita Oh, quite.
John And that I should be, too.
Larita I never realized you were.
John You are my wife, after all.
Larita Yes, isn't it lovely?
John Do you regret anything?
Larita Hundreds of things.
John But seriously
Larita
The home atmosphere is certainly having its effect on you.
John How do you mean?
Larita You never cross-questioned me before.
John I'm not cross-questioning you.
Larita Yes, you are --- a little.
John I'm sorry. I won't any more.
Larita It betrays a certain lack of trust.
John
Lari, how can you !
Larita
You see, when we married, we married because we loved one another --- no explanations were necessary on either side.
John They're not necessary now, only
Larita
Only you're feeling a little uncomfortable --- is that it?
j
John
No, not exactly.
Larita It's all a question of values.
John Values ?
Larita
Yes, the scales are awfully erratic. When we met and fell in love, nothing else mattered as long as we were together. But when the first fine careless rap- ture wears off, other things begin to obtrude them- selves --- one has to readjust oneself to see clearly. What had happened to either of us in the past didn't count a bit at first --- why should it? --- everything was new and exciting. Now it's not new and exciting any more ; we've grown used to one another, so to alleviate the monotony we start prying about behind the
scenes --- trying to find out things about each other that haven't any real bearing on the case at all. It's inevitable with such a hideously intimate relation- ship as marriage.
John I don't want to find out anything.
Larita
You may not want to, but you'll persevere until you do. It's human nature.
John I'd hoped there was nothing to find.
Larita There's always something --- somewhere.
John Don't let's say any more about it.
Larita Very well. [She takes out her powder-puff and powders her nose.]
John I trust you absolutely.
Larita
Whatever happens in the future, dear, I want you to remember one thing --- I've never deceived you and I've never lied to you. There are many things that I've purposely left unexplained, because they don't concern you in the least and don't apply in any sense to our life together.
John
Darling ! [He kisses her very sweetly, and she smoothes his hair. ]
Larita
You've rubbed all the powder off my nose.
John
I don't care a bit.
Larita
Go and play some more tennis --- you've been in the house far too long ; it isn't healthy.
John
Don't be a beast.
Larita
Away with you --- I'm going to rest before tea.
0
John I'll come and rest too.
Larita
No, you won't. We should go on talking and talk- ing and talking until our heads fell off.
John
Oh, all right. [He kisses his hand lightly and goes into the
garden. ] [Larita is about to go upstairs xvhen Marion comes
down.}
Marion Hallo! old girl.
Larita Hallo!
Marion Are you going upstairs?
Larita I was. I thought of lying down a little.
Marion You're always lying down.
Larita
Yes, isn't it strange? I expect there's something organically wrong with me.
Marion [Anxiously.] I hope there isn't.
Larita
[Beginning to go.]
Well, I'll see you later on
Marion
[Touching her arm.]
Don't go. I've been wanting to talk to you.
Larita
To me? Why --- what about? --- anything impor- tant ?
Marion No; just everything.
Larita That ought to take several years.
Marion
[Laughing forcedly.] I didn't mean it literally.
Larita Oh, I see.
Marion Have you got a cigarette on you?
Larita Yes, certainly. Here. [She hands her case.]
Marion
[Taking one.] Thanks.
Larita
[Amiably.]
Why aren't }^ou watching the tennis ?
Marion
[Insensible of irony.]
I've been too busy all the afternoon.
Larita How are all the preparations for to-night going?
Marion All right. You're sitting next to Mr. Furley.
Larita Splendid. Is he nice?
Marion
He's a damned good sort --- rather High Church, you know ; almost ritualistic.
Larita He won't be ritualistic at dinner, will he?
Marion And you've got Sir George on the other side of
I you -
Larita Sir George who ?
Marion
Sir George Bentley. He's awfully well up in dead languages and things.
Larita I do hope I shall be a comfort to him.
Marion Very interesting man, George Bentley.
Larita How many are dining altogether?
Marion
Only twelve --- we haven't really room for more comfortably.
Larita I hope it will all be an enormous success.
Marion
You won't be offended if I ask you something --- just between ourselves?
Larita That depends, Marion. What is it?
Marion Speaking as a pal, you know.
Larita [ Vaguely. ] Oh yes --- well?
Marion Don't encourage father too much.
Larita
In what way --- encourage him? I don't under- stand.
Marion
Well, you know --- you and he are always getting up arguments together.
Larita Why shouldn't we?
Marion It annoys mother so when he tries to be funny.
Larita
I've never noticed him trying to be funny --- he's a very intelligent man.
Marion
Sometimes when you're discussing certain sub- jects, he says things which are not quite
Larita
You say "certain subjects" in rather a sinister way, Marion. What subjects do you mean par- ticularly ?
Marion
Well, sex and things like that. You were talking about the Ericson divorce ^case the other day at lunch, when Harry Emsworth was here
Larita It's an extraordinarily interesting case.
Marion
Yes, but one doesn't discuss things like that openly in front of strangers --- I mean to say, it doesn't matter a bit when we're by ourselves; no one could be more broad-minded than I am --- after all, what's the use of being in the world at all if you shut your eyes to things?
Larita
[ Crisply. ] Exactly.
Marion You're not angry, are you?
Larita Angry? --- no.
Marion
You see, I like you, Lari ; we get on well together. I grant you we see things from different points of view, but that's only natural.
Larita Yes --- oh yes.
Marion
I knew you'd be a sport about it and not mind. You see, my philosophy in life is frankness. Say what you've got to say, and have done.
Larita In other words --- moral courage.
Marion Yes, that's it.
Larita
Why didn't you attack the Colonel on these little breaches of etiquette ? He seems to be more to blame than I.
Marion A woman always understands better than a man.
Larita Surely that's a little sweeping.
Marion It's true, all the same. I knew you'd see.
Larita
You weren't by any chance afraid that he'd laugh at you?
Marion
Good Heavens, no ! I don't mind being laughed at.
Larita How extraordinary ! I hate it.
Marion
What does it matter? If you've got something to say, say it.
Larita
According to your code, the fact of having spoken like that about your father doesn't strike you as being disloyal in any way, does it?
Marion Not between pals like us.
Larita Of course, yes --- pals, I keep forgetting.
Marion I believe you are angry.
Larita I'm not --- but I'm very, very interested.
Marion
Look here, Lari, it's like this. Father's been a bit of a dog in his day. Mother's had a pretty bad time with him, and she's stood by him through thick and thin.
Larita How splendid !
Marion
Some men are like that --- no moral responsibility. Edgar, you know, was just the same.
Larita You say "was." Has he reformed?
0
Marion
I think I've made him see --- but it's been a tough struggle.
Larita What have you made him see?
Marion
I've made him see that nothing matters if you keep your life straight and decent.
Larita
There are so many varying opinions as to what is straight and decent.
Marion God admits of no varying opinions.
Larita
Your religion must be wonderfully comforting. It makes you so sure of yourself.
Marion
If you're going to take up that tone, we won't discuss it.
Larita
No --- we'd better not.
Marion [Gently.]
You mustn't jeer at religion, old girl. [She puts her hand on her arm.]
Larita
[Shaking her off.]
I don't jeer at religion --- but I jeer at hypocrisy.
Marion Vm not a hypocrite --- if that's what you mean.
Larita [Quietly.]
I'm afraid you are, Marion --- and a disloyal one, too, which makes it all the more nauseating.
Marion
How dare you speak to me like that ! [Enter Philip Bordon from the garden.]
Philip [To Larita.] Hallo ! --- I wondered if you were still here.
Larita
You must be exhausted. You've been at it steadily all the afternoon.
Philip
John and Sarah are playing a single now, and Hilda's sitting on the steps, scoring. [Marion, livid with rage, takes a writing-block off
the bureau and marches into the library. ]
[Looks after her in some surprise.]
What's up?
Larita
We've been arguing about the dinner guests --- it's all very difficult.
Philip
I wish I was dining.
Larita
But you're coming directly afterwards, aren't you?
Philip
Rather ! About ten of us.
Larita Good Heavens !
Philip Will you keep a dance for me?
Larita Certainly.
Philip What number?
Larita I don't know.
Philip Three?
Larita Perhaps you won't be here in time.
Philip
Say five, then, and six.
Larita
[Laughing.]
Not two running! We should be bored stiff with each other.
Philip
Five and seven, then?
Larita All right.
Philip You won't forget?
Larita Of course not.
Philip I'm sure you dance wonderfully.
Larita Why?
Philip Because of the way you move.
Larita Oh, thank you very much.
Philip
I mean it.
Larita
Well, it's very sweet of you. [She sits on sofa.]
Philip May I sit next to you?
Larita
Certainly, if you like. [She makes room for him.]
Philip
[Sitting down.]
I'm afraid I'm awfully hot and sticky.
Larita
[Laughing out loud.]
I don't mind as long as you keep your end.
Philip Don't laugh at me.
Larita I'm sorry --- but you are rather funny.
Philip
[Gloomy.] Everyone says that.
Larita
Never mind. Be frank --- speak straight from the shoulder --- say what you have to say, and have done.
Philip
[Surprised,]
I beg your pardon?
Larita It's all right --- I was only quoting.
Philip
Oh, I see.
Larita
You must forgive me if I'm a little distrait --- I've had a rather trying afternoon.
Philip
Everybody fussing round, I suppose, over the dance ?
Larita Yes --- more or less.
Philip People take things so damned seriously.
Larita
You don't think it's a good plan to take things seriously ?
Philip Oh, sometimes, of course, but
Larita I'm inclined to agree with you.
Philip Life's too short to worry over things.
Larita It is miserably short, isn't it?
Philip Rather !
Larita
I sometimes wonder why we're here at all --- it seems such a waste of time.
Philip You're laughing again.
Larita
Not altogether.
Philip
No one ever thought old John would marry any- one like you.
Larita
Do you know that remark positively made me jump.
Philip
You're so different and so alive. He's a lucky devil.
Larita
You must be careful with your compliments. If you go peppering them about like that they'll ]ose value.
Philip They're not compliments --- they're true.
Larita Do t ou always go on like this ?
Philip Of course not. I wouldn't dare. /
Larita
Forgive me for asking --- but do you lead a straight and decent life?
[Alarmed.] What!
Philip
Larita
It's so important. Whenever you feel yourself slipping, think of me.
Philip I don't quite understand.
Larita
On second thoughts, it would be better if you thought of Marion.
Philip I'd rather think of you.
Larita
Good! I must leave you now --- I've been trying to get to my room for the last hour. [She rises.]
0
Philip
[Catching her hand.] Please don't go yet. [Hilda bounces in in time to see Larita with- drawing her hand from Philip's grasp.]
Larita
I must, really.
Hilda
\ Furiously.]
Oh!
Philip
[Rising.] Hallo! Have
they
finished ?
Hilda
I wondered where you were --- I might have known. [She shoots a malignant glance at Larita.]
Larita
[Frowning.] Hilda!
Hilda
I hope I'm not intruding.
Larita
[Irritably.] This is too much !
Hilda
Yes, it is !
Larita
If you adopt that rather rude tone to me, Hilda, I'm afraid I shall have to poach on Marion's pre- serves and have a straight talk to you.
Philip Look here, Hilda
Hilda
Don't speak to me ! [Furber enters with various tea-things. Mrs. Whittaker comes downstairs.]
Mrs. Whittaker
Has anyone seen my little blue notebook? I can't think where I left it. [Furber finds it on the bureau.]
Furber Is this the one, ma'am?
Mrs. Whittaker
Yes --- thank you, Furber. It's really too annoy- ing, Harris has never come --- you'd better send down after tea.
Furrer
Very good, ma'am. [Sarah and John come in.]
John
[To Larita.]
Did you get your rest, darling?
Larita No --- but it doesn't matter.
Sarah
Mrs. Whittaker, Philip and I must really go now. I've left mother all alone with herds of strange people.
Mrs. Whittaker Won't you have some tea first? It's all ready.
Sarah No, honestly ! --- I daren't. She'll be cross as it is.
Mrs. Whittaker Very well. Be in good time to-night.
Sarah
I don't intend to miss one dance. Come along, Philip.
Philip
[Shaking hands with Mrs. Whittaker.] Good-by, and thanks awfully.
Mrs. Whittaker
Until to-night.
Philip
Rather! [He goes to Larita.] I say
[He looks at Hilda, who glowers at him.}
Larita
Good-by for the moment --- you must make me laugh some more to-night.
Philip
Remember --- five and seven.
Larita I won't forget.
Sarah Come on, Philip! See you later Lari.
Larita
Yes. Good-by. [Sarah and Philip go off. Eurber brings in the teapot. ]
John
I'm going up to have a bath --- I don't want any tea.
Mrs. Whittaker
Oh, John --- just one cup.
John
No, mother. I've had tons of ginger beer during the afternoon. Come up after, Lari.
Larita
All right, dear. [John bounds off upstairs.] [Marion and the Colonel come in from the library.
Marion is fuming. ]
Colonel
If you don't like my opinions, you shouldn't ask for them.
Marion
I'm not used to having that sort of thing said to me.
Mrs. Whittaker
[ With a look towards Furber. ] Marion, please !
Marion
[Flopping down.] Father's impossible! [Furber goes out.]
Mrs. Whittaker
I do wish you'd control your temper in front of the servants, Marion.
Hilda
Other people besides Marion ought to control themselves.
Mrs. Whittaker What do you mean, Hilda?
Hilda Ask Lari --- she knows what I mean.
Mrs. Whittaker Come and sit down and have your tea.
Hilda Disgusting, I call it !
Marion What's disgusting?
Hilda
Ask Lari.
Larita
[Quietly.]
Hadn't you better explain yourself, Hilda, instead of referring everyone to me?
Hilda I pity John --- that's all.
Colonel
[Angrily.]
Have you gone mad, Hilda?
Mrs. Whittaker What on earth's the matter?
Hilda
I came in suddenly, and found Lari canoodling on the sofa with Philip.
Mrs. Whittaker
Don't use such expressions, Hilda --- I'm surprised at you. Come and sit down, Larita.
Larita I think I'll go to my room, if you don't mind.
Hilda
She's frightened because she knows I've found her out. [Larita stifles an exclamation of rage.]
Colonel Stop, Hilda ! I forbid you to say another word.
Hilda
[Hysterically.]
I won't stop --- I know something you none of you know, only I wasn't going to say anything about it --- until after the dance. [She goes, in dead silence, to the bookcase, takes down a book, and takes a news- paper cutting out of it; she gives it to Mrs. Whit- taker.] Look at that, mother. I got it from Sir
George when I went there on Tuesday --- he keeps all the back numbers of The Times, in files. I cut it out when he was in the garden.
Mrs. Whittaker
[Reading cutting.]
Marion --- Jim
[She puts out her hand.]
[Marion approaches and reads the cutting too. The
Colonel turns away.]
Larita I should like some bread-and-butter, please.
Colonel
Here you are, my dear. [He hands it to her.]
Hilda And I'm glad I did --- glad.
Colonel
[Ignoring her.]
Do you want any jam with it?
Larita No, thanks ; I always drop it all over myself.
Hilda
[Shrilly.]
It's no use pretending to be so calm. You know the game's up now, don't you?
Larita
[Serenely.]
Specially strawberry --- the runny kind.
Mrs. Whittaker
Hilda, be quiet. [She sits back and closes her eyes.]
Marion We'd better have this out and face it, hadn't we?
Larita By all means. What happened?
Marion
[Handing her cutting.]
I suppose you don't deny that that's you?
Larita
[Glancing at it and handing it back.] I've always hated that photograph.
00
Marion You'd better read it, father.
Colonel
Certainly not. I haven't the faintest desire to see it.
Larita
[Taking it and handing it to him.]
Please do --- all my friends know about this. I ought to have told you before, really, but it didn't seem necessary.
Colonel
Really, I'd rather not.
Larita
Please --- it's necessary now. [There is silence while the Colonel reads the cutting. Larita drinks a little tea.]
Colonel
Well, what of it? [He tears up the cutting.]
Hilda Father!
0
Larita
That was unkind. Hilda went to such a lot of trouble to get it.
Mrs. Whittaker This is appalling !
Colonel Why? Larita's past is no affair of ours.
Mrs. Whittaker
You seem to forget --- she's married to our son ---
our son
[She breaks down.]
Marion
[Putting her arm round her,] Mother, don't give way.
Colonel I must apologize for this unpleasant scene, Lari.
Larita It had to occur, sooner or later.
0
Mrs. Whittaker
[Raising her head; to Larita, bitterly.] I hope you're satisfied.
Larita
I'm not at all satisfied. I think --- with the excep- tion of the Colonel --- that you're all behaving ridiculously.
Marion
It's easy to adopt a light tone --- when you've brought degradation on to us.
Colonel Don't be a fool, Marion.
Marion
I'm not surprised at your attitude, father. Larita's your sort, isn't she?
Larita
That's one of the nicest things that have ever been said to me.
Mrs. Whittaker Don't talk like that, Marion --- it's useless.
0
Marion
[Firmly.]
The question is --- what's to be done ? [ To Larita. ]
Does John know about this?
Larita
Mind your own business. [Furber enters.]
Furber
[Announcing.] Mr. Harris. [Mrs. Whittaker gives a gasp of horror, and Harris enters. He is a thick-set, affable little man.]
Harris
[Brightly.]
Sorry I couldn't come up before, Mrs. Whittaker, but we've 'ad a busy day down at the White 'Art, what with one thing and another. [There is silence for a moment, then Marion
speaks.]
Marion
[With an effort.]
My mother's not feeling very well, Harris; per- haps you'd call a little later.
0
Harris
[ Sympathetically . ]
Oh, I am sorry to 'ear that --- but time's getting on, you know --- I've got to get back inside of 'arf an hour. If you'd just tell me where you want the fairy lights put, I could run 'em up right away.
Marion
[Helplessly.]
I don't really think-
Larita
[Rising.]
I can show you from here ---
Harris
Oh, thanks very much --- if it isn't troubling you
Larita
Not at all. Look --- [she moves to the window] we want chains --- between those four big trees --- and some on the arch leading to the rose garden.
Harris
[Jotting it down.]
Mixed colors, or shall I make it a scheme?
0
Larita Mixed colors would be better, I think.
Harris
Right you are.
Larita
And if you could arrange some round the summer- house [To Colonel]. Just a few, don't you
think?
Colonel Oh yes, certainly ; it will brighten it up.
Harris
[Still jotting.]
Rose h'arch --- summer-'ouse. --- What about the Chinese lanterns?
Larita
Furber can manage those, I think. We've got them all here.
Harris
Righto, then, that's that. I'll get 'em up in no time. It ought to look very pretty and gay.
M
Larita I'm sure it will.
Harris Can I go out this way?
Larita Oh yes, by all means.
Harris
Thanks very much. Sorry to have troubled you. Hope you'll be feeling better by to-night, Mrs. Whittaker. Good afternoon. [To Hilda.] Good afternoon, miss.
Hilda
[Jumping.] Oh --- good afternoon. [He goes importantly out on to the veranda and out
into the garden.] [Larita sits down again and goes on with her tea.] [Mrs. Whittaker has been busy regaining her self- control; her face is slightly suffused with rage.]
Mrs. Whittaker
[With forced calm.]
Larita, will you oblige me by going to your room, please? We will discuss this later.
0
Larita Certainly not. I haven't finished my tea.
Mrs. Whittaker
Doubtless you imagine that you are carrying off this --- this abominable situation with a high hand, but your callousness only goes to prove that your senses must be blunted to all decent feelings.
Larita
[Quietly.]
Nothing I have ever done warrants your speak- ing like that.
Mrs. Whittaker You have married my son !
Larita I married John because I loved him.
Marion Under false pretenses.
Larita There were no false pretenses.
0
Mrs. Whittaker
Do you think he'd have married you if he'd known ?
Larita
I expect so.
Marion
Then why didn't you tell him?
Larita
Because I didn't consider it necessary. We took one another on trust. What happened before I met him concerns no one but myself. I've never let John down in any way --- I love him.
Mrs. Whittaker
You married John because you wished to break away from your disgraceful life and gain a position to which you were not entitled.
Larita
It's natural that you should think that, but it's not true.
Colonel
Larita, please go upstairs, and let me deal with this.
0
Larita
No --- honestly, I'd rather stay. I understand Mrs. Whittaker's attitude perfectly, and I sympathize with it. It's horrible for her --- but I don't want her to labor under any misapprehension.
Marion
In the face of everything, I'm afraid there's very little room for misapprehension.
Larita
Your life is built up on misapprehensions, Marion. You don't understand or know anything --- you blunder about like a lost sheep.
Marion Abuse won't help you.
Larita That's not abuse --- it's frankness.
Mrs. Whittaker
This is beside the point.
Larita
Not altogether --- it's an attitude of mind which you all share.
0
Colonel
Instead of jumping to the worst conclusions at once, wouldn't it be better to give Larita a little time to explain? We may be doing her an injustice.
Larita
That's kind of you. I haven't the faintest inten- tion of making excuses or trying to conceal anything --- that newspaper cutting was perfectly accurate --- as far as it went. I was concerned in that peculiarly unpleasant case. I changed my name afterward for obvious reasons. The papers rather overreached themselves in publishing the number of my lovers --- only two of the list really loved me.
Mrs. Whittaker You were responsible for a man killing himself.
Larita
Certainly not. It was his weakness and cowardice that were responsible for that --- not I.
Mrs. Whittaker It's incredible --- dreadful --- I can hardly believe it.
Larita I felt like that at the time, but it's a long while ago.
Marion Fifteen years ! John was a child.
Larita Thank you. I quite realize that.
Mrs. Whittaker And how have you lived since this --- this --- scandal?
Larita Extremely well.
Mrs. Whittaker Your flippancy is unpardonable.
Larita
So was your question. I've only explained so far because, as you're John's mother, I felt I owed it to you; but if you persist in this censorious attitude I shall say no more.
Mrs. Whittaker
Do you realize what you've done?
Larita
Perfectly, and I regret nothing. The only thing that counts in this instance is my relationship with
John. Nothing that has occurred in the past affects that in the least.
Mrs. Whittaker
Your marrying him was an outrage.
Larita Why ? I've told you before, I love him.
Mrs. Whittaker
You prove your love by soiling his name irrepar- ably.
Larita
Nonsense.
Colonel
Do you think it's quite fair, Mabel, to set ourselves up in judgment on Larita? We know none of the circumstances which led to these bygone incidents.
Mrs. Whittaker
You've failed me too often before, Jim, so I'm not surprised that you fail me now.
Larita
The Colonel's not failing you --- it's just as bad for him as for you. You don't suppose he likes the idea
of his only son being tied up to me, after these --- revelations? But somehow or other, in the face of overwhelming opposition, he's managed to arrive at a truer sense of values than you could any of you ever understand. He's not allowed himself to be cluttered up with hypocritical moral codes and false sentiments --- he sees things as they are, and tries to make the best of them. He's tried to make the best of me ever since I've been here.
Marion That hasn't astonished us in the least.
Larita
No doubt, with your pure and unsullied concep- tion of human nature, you can only find one meaning for the Colonel's kindness to me?
Marion
I didn't say that.
Larita
You think it, though, don't you? Only this after- noon you asked me not to encourage him.
Mrs. Whittaker Marion !
Larita
You disguised your unpleasant lascivious curiosity under a cloak of hearty friendship --- you were pump- ing me to discover some confirmation of your pretty suspicions. One thing my life has taught me, and that is a knowledge of feminine psychology. I've met your type before.
Marion
How dare you ! How dare you !
Mrs. Whittaker
[Rising.]
This is insupportable.
Larita [Sharply.] Yes, it is. --- Sit down.
Mrs. Whittaker
[Impotently.]
I--- I
[She sits down.]
Larita
I want you to understand one thing --- I deny nothing. I have a perfect right to say what I like and live how I choose --- whether I've married John
or whether I haven't, my life is my own, and I don't intend to be browbeaten.
Marion I hope God will forgive you.
Larita
Don't you rather overrate the Almighty's interest in the situation?
Mrs. Whittaker
In the face of your brazen attitude, there's nothing more to be said.
Larita
You're wrong. There's a good deal more to be said. According to you, I ensnared John in my toils in order to break away from my old life and better my position. If that were the case, what do you mean by deliberately trying to crush down my efforts to reform myself ? How do you reconcile that with your stereotyped views of virtue and charity? But you needn't worry; I didn't marry John to reform myself. I don't consider my position in this house a step up, socially or spiritually. On the con- trary, it's been probably the most demoralizing ex- perience that's ever happened to me.
Mrs. Whittaker You're a wicked, wicked woman.
Larita
That remark was utterly fatuous and completely mechanical. You didn't even think before you said it --- your brain is so muddled up with false values that you're incapable of grasping anything in the least real. Why am I a wicked woman?
Mrs. Whittaker
You betrayed my son's honor by taking advantage of his youth and mad infatuation for you. He'd never have married you if he'd known.
Larita
I suppose you wouldn't consider it betraying his honor if he'd had an affair with me and not married me?
Mrs. Whittaker
It would certainly have been much more appro- priate.
Larita
Unfortunately, I don't consider John worthy of me in either capacity --- I realized a long time ago
that our marriage was a mistake, but not from your point of view --- from my own.
Marion It's easy to talk like that now.
Larita
It isn't easy --- it's heartbreaking. I love John more than I can ever say, but it's not blind love --- unfortunately --- I can see through him. He's charm- ing and weak and inadequate, and he's brought me down to the dust.
Mrs. Whittaker
How dare you say such vile things! How dare you!
Larita
It's true. You can't appreciate my feelings about it. I don't expect you to.
Marion I should think not.
Larita
Your treatment of all this shows a regrettable lack of discrimination. You seem to be floundering
under the delusion that I'm a professional cocotte. You're quite, quite wrong --- I've never had an affair with a man I wasn't fond of. The only time I ever sold myself was in the eyes of God to my first hus- band --- my mother arranged it. I was really too young to know what I was doing. You approve of that sort of bargaining, don't you? --- it's within the law.
Marion
[ Contemptuously. ] Huh!
Larita
Why do you make that peculiar noise, Marion? Does it indicate approval, contempt, or merely asthma ?
Marion Do you think this is the moment to be facetious?
Larita You're an unbelievable prig.
Marion
I hope you don't imagine that your insults could ever have any effect on me?
Larita
If you only knew it, I'm at your mercy completely, but you're too silly to take advantage of it --- you choose the wrong tactics.
Marion
We're certainly not experienced in dealing with women of your sort, if that's what you mean.
Larita
It is what I mean --- entirely. I'm completely out- side the bounds of your understanding --- in every way. And yet I know you, Marion, through and through --- far better than you know yourself. You're a pitiful figure, and there are thousands like you --- victims of convention and upbringing. All your life you've ground down perfectly natural sex im- pulses, until your mind has become a morass of in- hibitions --- your repression has run into the usual channel of religious hysteria. You've placed phys- ical purity too high and mental purity not high enough, And you'll be a miserable woman until the end of your days unless you readjust the balance.
Marion
[Rising impetuously.] You're revolting --- horrible !
0
Larita
You need love and affection terribly --- you'd go to any lengths to obtain it except the right ones. You swear and smoke and assume an air of spurious heartiness because you're not sure of your own religion and are afraid of being thought a prude. You try to establish a feeling of comradeship by sanctimonious heart-to-heart talks. All your ideals are confused and muddled --- you don't know what to ask of life, and you'll die never having achieved any- thing but physical virtue. And God knows I pity you. [Marion, with as much dignity as she can command,
walks into the library without a, word, and slams
the door.]
Mrs. Whittaker You're achieving nothing by all this.
Larita How do you know?
Mrs. Whittaker
Because you're a moral degenerate --- lost to all sense of right and wrong.
Larita
I respect you for one thing, anyhow --- you are sure of yourself.
Mrs. Whittaker I don't want your respect.
Larita
You're the only one here with the slightest grip. You've risen up like a phoenix from the ashes of your pride. It's quite, quite excellent --- and infinitely pathetic.
Mrs. Whittaker
I don't wish to speak to you any more --- until to- morrow. I shall be very grateful if you will remain upstairs this evening --- I will make suitable excuses for your absence.
Larita
You mean you're frightened that I should make a scene ?
Mrs. Whittaker
That is neither here nor there --- I certainly don't desire an open scandal.
Larita
You've run to cover again. I was afraid you would.
Mrs. Whittaker
This has been painful beyond belief.
Colonel You're right --- it has.
Mrs. Whittaker I don't feel capable of bearing any more.
Larita
You intend to confine me to my room like a naughty child?
Mrs. Whittaker
The simile is hardly appropriate, but I hope you will have the decency to remain there. [She goes upstairs in silence.]
Colonel
Lari
Larita
Please go away --- I don't want anyone to speak to me at all for a little. I must think --- think
[She is trembling hopelessly and making a tremen- dous effort to control her nerves.]
Colonel.
Very well. [He goes out into the garden.] [Hilda, who has been standing aghast throughout
the entire scene, suddenly bursts into floods of
tears and rushes at Larita.]
Hilda
[Hysterically.]
Lari --- Lari --- forgive me! I didn't mean it --- I
didn't mean it
Larita
[Pushing her gently away.]
Don't be a little toad, Hilda. Try to have the
courage of your convictions.
[Hilda rushes out into the garden, weeping hys- terically. ]
[Larita bites her lip; then, still trembling violently, she lights a cigarette and takes "Sodom and Gomorrah" ' off the bureau. She settles her- self on the sofa, obviously exerting every ounce of control, and opens the book methodically; she at- tempts to read, but her eyes can't focus the page; she is acutely conscious of an imperfect statuette
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of the Venus de Milo which is smirking at her from a pedestal by the dining-room doors. Suddenly, with all her force, she hurls the booh at it, knock- ing it to the floor and smashing it.
Larita I've always hated that damned thing !
Curtain Falls
[ When it rises once, she has buried her face in the sofa cushion, and her shoulders are heaving, whether with laughter or tears it is difficult to say A
ACT III
ACT III
Scene: The same. When the curtain rises the dance is in full swing. The actual dancing takes place in the dining-room, because the floor is better. The hall and library are the sitting-out places; the buffet is on the lower end of the veranda, just out of sight of the audience. The festoons of Japanese lanterns and fairy lights look --- as Mr. Harris prophesied --- very pretty and gay.
There is a group of Young People clustered round the buffet; their light-hearted conversation can be heard intermittently. Several people are littered about the hall. Miss Nina Vansittart, attired in a strikingly original rose-taffeta frock, with a ribbon of the same shade encircling her hair the wrong way --- giving more the impression of a telephone apparatus than a head ornament --- is seated on the sofa, basking enthusiastically in the illuminating conversation of the Hon. Hugh Pet- worth, healthy young man, whose unfortunate shape can be luckily accounted for by his athletic prowess. He has had the forethought to wear white gloves which have wrinkled up slightly, displaying belozv his cuffs a mercifully brief expanse of blood- red wrists.
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Hugh It was a frightful rag.
Nina
I wish I'd been there.
Hugh
If you'd seen old Freddie fall off the roof of the taxi
Nina
[Delightedly.]
I should have died --- I know I should !
Hugh
And you should have seen the way old Minky Taylor lammed into the commissionaire chap outside the Piccadilly
Nina
[With whole-hearted sincerity.] Oh, lovely ! [A cherubic hoy --- Bobby Coleman by name --- ap- proaches them.]
Bobby I say, Nina --- this is us.
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Nina What number is it ?
Bobby Nine.
Nina
[Rising.]
I'll leave my bag here. Keep your eye on it, Hughie.
Hugh I'm supposed to be dancing this with Lucy.
Nina
Never mind ; it will be all right there. [Hugh rises automatically, and subsides again as Bobby and Nina go into the dancing-room. Two Young People walk across and out on to the veranda.
st Young Person Jolly good tune, that.
nd Young Person Lovely.
0
st Young Person The garden looks awfully pretty, doesn't it?
nd Young Person
Yes, awfully pretty. [They go off.] [Hilda comes out of the library. She is wearing
such a pretty blue dress, with stockings to match.]
Hilda
[To Hugh.]
Why aren't you dancing?
Hugh
I'm supposed to be --- with Lucy. Have you seen her anywhere?
Hilda
Yes, she's in the library. I'm looking for Philip Bordon. Have you seen him anywhere?
Hugh No. I'll go and get Lucy. Will you dance later?
Hilda Missing two.
Hugh
Righto. [He goes off.] [Hilda goes towards the veranda and meets Philip
entering. ]
Hilda Oh, there you are. This is ours.
Philip Oh--- is it?
Hilda Yes --- nine. You said so this afternoon.
Philip Where's Larita? --- Mrs. John ?
Hilda
She's upstairs with a bad head --- she's not coming dovvn at all.
Philip
I say --- what a shame ! [Despondently.]
Hilda
[With meaning.] Yes, isn't it?
Philip
[Resigned.]
Come on. [They go into the dancing-room. The music stops,
and everyone can be heard clapping. Then it
goes on again.] [Hugh comes out of the library with Lucy, a pretty
girl with badly-bobbed hair; her dress is awfully
pretty --- yellorv, with shoes and stockings to match.
They go into the dancing-room. They meet
Sarah and Charles coming out, and exchange a
few meaningless words. Sarah flops down on the
sofa. ]
Charles Do you want an ice or anything?
Sarah
No, thanks.
Charles
[Sitting down.]
That dining-room's far too small and hot to dance in. Why didn't they have the band here?
Sarah The floor's better in there.
Charles I hadn't noticed it.
Sarah I'm worried, Charles --- about Larita.
Charles
Yes --- I know.
Sarah
I tried to slip up and see her when we arrived, but Marion stopped me ; she said she'd asked particularly to be left alone.
Charles
I'm extremely disappointed --- I wanted to see her too.
Sarah
Something's happened --- I'm sure of it.
Charles What could have ?
Sarah I don't know exactly, but I've got a feeling.
Charles What shall we do about it ?
Sarah
Nothing, yet --- but I mean to see her somehow, before we go.
Charles John seems quite happy.
Sarah
Mrs. Whittaker doesn't, though, and I haven't seen the Colonel.
Charles They're a tiresome family.
Sarah Very.
Charles Have you danced with John?
Sarah Yes --- just after we got here.
Charles Did he say anything?
Sarah
Only that she'd got a racking headache and was in bed.
Charles
You'd have been able to tell from his manner if anything was wrong.
Sarah
He's either being cleverer than I thought him, or he just doesn't know.
Charles
, rigl You were here?
She seemed all right this afternoon, didn't she?-
Sarah Yes --- more or less.
Charles How do you mean --- more or less?
Sarah I'm furious with John.
Charles Why?
Sarah He's making her utterly wretched.
Charles That was inevitable.
Sarah I don't see why.
Charles She's all wrong here --- right out of the picture.
Sarah
I know, Charles ; but he oughtn't to let her down --- it's filthily mean of him.
Charles He can't help it --- he doesn't see anything.
Sarah
But he should see. If she's unhappy here, he must take her away.
Charles That wouldn't do any good --- ultimately.
Sarah
It was all a fiasco, from the first. I knew that directly I saw her. But still, he ought to play up and stand by her.
Charles
I can't imagine anyone of her intelligence being silly enough to marry him.
Sarah
She adores him.
Charles
Yes, but --- she might have known it would end badly.
Sarah It hasn't ended badly yet.
Charles It will.
Sarah Don't be so certain.
Charles You're just as certain.
Sarah
Oh, Charles, I wish she'd been a cheap, loud-voiced cat --- it would have been funny then.
Charles
Would it?
Sarah
Well, less difficult, anyhow. There would be some excuse for John.
Charles That's what's worrying you, is it?
Sarah
Of course. I used to be awfully fond of him, but he's shrunk over this beyond all recognition --- gone tiny.
Charles An observant mind is painful sometimes, isn't it?
Sarah Damnably.
Charles Would you like to marry me, Sarah?
Sarah Don't make me laugh, Charles --- just now.
Charles I believe I mean it.
Sarah
You're a darling --- but you don't. The intoxi- cating atmosphere of this revelry has gone to your head.
Charles Perhaps.
Sarah You're not in the least in love with me.
Charles I don't know.
Sarah
But it is frightfully sweet of you to ask me, and I do appreciate it.
Charles We might be awfully happy together.
0
Sarah
We probably should, but something would be wrong somewhere.
Charles I wonder.
Sarah You know perfectly well
Charles
I've been paying pretty marked attentions to you during the last six months --- surely that proves something ?
Sarah
It proves that you like being with me very much, and I like being with you.
Charles Well, then ?
Sarah
Marriage would soon kill all that --- without the vital spark to keep it going.
Ml
Charles
Dear, dear, dear. The way you modern young girls talk --- it's shocking, that's what it is!
Sarah
Never mind, Charles dear, you must move with the times.
Charles
I didn't know you thought so highly of the vital spark, anyhow.
Sarah
Of course I do. It's a fundamental instinct in everybody. Being modern only means twisting things into different shapes.
Charles [Rising.] The garden looks awfully pretty, doesn't it?
Sarah [Also rising.] Oh, yes, frightfully pretty.
Charles
[As they move away.]
All those colored lights and everything --- so attractive.
Sarah Terribly sweet!
Charles It's extraordinary how pretty a garden can look.
Sarah
Oh, shut up!
[They go off on to the veranda.]
[Furber crosses the hall, with a tray of clean glasses. The music stops, and desultory clapping can be heard. Several couples belch out of the dining- room, among them Marion with Henry Furley, an earnest young man with a pinched face and glasses. Marion, for some obscure reason, is in white, with a black Indian scarf speckled with gold, and gold shoes which hurt her a little. They walk across, talking. Marion is being painfully jolly and gay --- she slaps Philip Bordon heartily on the back in passing.]
Marion
We'll have you turned out if you twirl about like that, you know.
Philip
[With equal jocularity.] I shan't go quietly.
Marion
I bet you won't. [Several people laugh at this volley of wit, including the perpetrators of it.] [To Mr. Furley.] Damned good tune that.
Furley Yes, I enjoyed it.
Marion You lugged me round like a Trojan.
Furley
[Politely.] Not at all.
Marion
You know some tricky steps --- we'd do well on the stage.
[Laughing.] Yes, wouldn't we?
Furley
Marion
Be a good chap and get me a glass of something- I'm dry as a bone.
FuRLEY
Claret-cup ?
Marion
Yes, rather. That'll do. I'll wait here. [She sits down, up- stage, and fans herself with her
hand.] [Mr. Furley departs in search of claret-cup.] [Tivo Young People who have been sitting on the
stairs, rise.]
Girl You really are awful --- I don't believe a word of it.
Boy
It's true --- I swear it is.
[They both go into the dancing-room, where the music has restarted.]
[Mrs. Whittaker comes in, wearing a good many brooches on a mauve dress; she also has a diamente butterfly in her hair. She is accompanied by Mrs. Hurst, a tall, handsome woman in black.]
Mrs. Whittaker But you really mustn't --- it's quite early yet.
Mrs. Hurst
I'm just going to slip away without anybody noticing. Sarah can collect our party and come home when she wants to.
Mrs. Whittaker Of course, if you're really tired---
Mrs. Hurst
I'm so sorry your daughter-in-law is so seedy.
Mrs. Whittaker It is tiresome, isn't it? --- Poor Larita.
Mrs. Hurst
Tell her how disappointed I was not to have seen her, won't you?
Mrs. Whittaker
Certainly. [Mrs. Phillips, a pale white-haired woman, ap- proaches. ]
Mrs. Phillips
[Effusively.]
There you are, Mrs. Whittaker! It's all going off most successfully, isn't it?
Mrs. Whittaker
Yes ; I think the young people seem to be enjoying themselves.
Mrs. Phillips So fortunate that it kept fine.
Mrs. Whittaker I've been on absolute tenterhooks all day.
Mrs. Hurst
I was just saying what a pity poor Mrs. John is missing it all.
Mrs. Phillips
I know --- it's dreadful. What is wrong with her, exactly ?
Mrs. Whittaker
A blinding headache --- she has them, you know, quite often. I'm always trying to make her go to a specialist.
Mrs. Phillips
Poor dear ! It is a shame --- to-night of all nights. [John comes in with Mary Banfield, a dark girl with whom he has been dancing.]
Mrs. Whittaker
But still, it's much better, if you do feel ill, to stay quite quiet.
Mrs. Phillips
Oh, much, much! Do tell her how sorry I am,
won't you?
[Charles and Sarah wander in from the veranda. Marion has been rejoined by Mr. Furley, and is sipping her claret-cap. John and Mary Ban- field sit on the bottom step of the stairs and light cigarettes. ]
Mrs. Hurst
Sarah, dear, I'm just going to slip away. When you come home, you will remember to lock up and turn out all the lights, won't you?
Sarah
[Joining the little group with Charles.] All right, mother.
Mrs. Phillips The Chinese lanterns look so pretty, don't they?
Charles [Amiably.] Perfectly charming --- quite Venetian.
EASY VIRTUP:
Sarah
Mrs. Whittaker, I'm so sorry about Lari. Do you think I could run up and see her?
Mrs. Whittaker
[Hurriedly.]
No, dear, really --- she asked particularly to be left alone; you know what these headaches are
Sarah Yes, but
Mrs. Whittaker The only thing to do is just rest and keep quiet.
Sarah Poor darling!
Mrs. Whittaker
She may have dropped off to sleep by now. [At this moment Larita appears at the top of the stairs. Her dress is dead-white and cut extremely low; she is wearing three ropes of pearls, and an- other long string twined round her right wrist. Her face is as white as her dress and her lips vivid scarlet. Her left arm positively glitters with
M
diamond, ruby and emerald bracelets; her small tiara of rubies and diamonds matches her enor- mous earrings; she also displays a diamond anklet over her cobweb -fine flesh-colored stocking. She is carrying a tremendous scarlet ostrich-feather fan. There is a distinct gasp from everybody. Marion rises and drops her glass of claret-cup.]
Charles Marvelous --- marvelous.
Mrs. Phillips Well.
Larita
Get out of the way, Marion dear, or I shall tread on you.
Marion Larita --- I
Mrs. Whittaker My dear Larita, this is a surprise.
Larita Why?
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Mrs. Whittaker We thought you weren't coming down.
Larita
I've been dressing and doing my face, it always takes me hours.
Mrs. Whittaker
We understand you had a bad headache.
Larita
Forgive me but that is quite untrue --- you didn't understand anything of the sort.
Marion
[Flustered.]
Larita --- I
Larita
If you have been building up a few neat social lies on my account, it is very unwise of you --- I don't live according to your social system.
Sarah
[Kissing her.]
You look perfectly lovely, Lari, and I'm fright- fully glad to see you.
Larita
I'm dying for something to eat --- I didn't feel in- clined for any dinner and now I'm starving --- Oh, get me a sandwich or something, Johnnie. There's a darling.
John
What's the matter --- I don't understand
Larita
And some champagne --- [There is a blank pause.] If there isn't any, plain water will do.
John
Oh, all right.
Larita
How divine the garden looks. Hello, Charles Bur- leigh, I hoped you were coming --- I haven't seen you for ages.
Mrs. Phillips
We were just sending you up messages of sym- pathy --- we understood you were prostrate.
Larita
So I was --- my maid has been massaging me --- perfect agony.
Mrs. Whittaker
Well, anyhow I'm sure I'm glad you're better now --- and changed your mind about coming down.
Larita
Why do you persist in this ridiculous fallacy of my being ill? This afternoon you had the imperti- nence to command me to remain in my room. That was quite unpardonable and you must take the con- sequences. I have nothing more to say to you. [John enters with sandwich.] Thank you, Johnnie.
Mrs. Whittaker
Marion, I'm sure the band ought to be given some- thing to eat and drink --- they've been playing for such a long time.
Marion
Righto, mother --- I'll see Furber about it. [She looks at Larita contemptuously.]
Larita
How charming you look, Marion --- and what a lovely scarf. I'm sure it came from India. [Marion, ignoring her, goes on to the veranda.]
Mrs. Hurst I really must be off now.
Mrs. Phillips I don't think I can tear myself away --- yet
Mrs. Hurst Good-by and thank you so much.
Mrs. Phillips
[Seating herself beside Larita.] I must stay a little longer.
Mrs. Whittaker
Please do --- It's so early. [She walks towards the door with Mrs. Hurst.]
Larita
[To Mrs. Phillips.]
How is your girl, Rose Jenkins, progressing in London, Mrs. Phillips? You seemed so worried about her when you came to tea last week.
Mrs. Phillips
I really don't know --- I'm afraid she's a hopelessly bad character.
Larita
I'm sure she'll get on in the profession you've sent her to.
Mrs. Phillips
[Stiffly.]
I sent her to no profession.
Larita
How stupid of me! I thought you had. [Mrs. Phillips, sensing underlying meaning, moves away. ]
John
Lari, why on earth are you dressed up like this ?
Larita
I just felt like it, Johnnie. I'm wearing all the jewelry I've got in the world --- it's a heavenly sensation. [She jingles her bracelets.]
John It looks ridiculous.
Larita Don't be an ass, John.
John But it does --- honestly.
Larita
[Brushing him with her fan.]
Run away and dance if you can't be pleasant to me.
John But look here, Lari
Larita
[With suppressed fury.]
Perhaps you don't realize that I'm serious?
John
Oh, all right --- if you're going on like that. [He slams off in a rage.]
Larita
John's lost grip of things terribly lately, hasn't he?
Sarah
Lari dear, what's happened?
Larita Lots and lots and lots of things.
Sarah Are you upset?
Larita
You don't suppose I should do this --- ordinarily --- do you? v
Sarah Tell me.
Larita
Not yet, Sarah --- later on. [Philip Bordon rushes up.]
Philip I am glad you're all right.
Larita Thank you.
Philip
You've cut both the dances you promised me by coming down late.
Larita I'm so sorry. Let's have this one.
Philip Rather!
Larita
[To Sarah.] Later on, dear.
Charles Next dance, please.
Larita Missing eight.
Charles No --- the next one.
Larita
All right. [She goes into the dancing-room with Philip.]
Charles You must say she's magnificent.
Sarah She's wretched.
Charles I've never seen such an entrance in my life.
Sarah [Smiling.] Poor Mrs. Whittaker.
Charles Serve her right.
Sarah I wonder what Lari's object is --- in all this.
Charles Swan song.
Sarah Charles --- what do you mean?
Charles Wait and see.
Sarah Come and dance, then.
Charles I feel pleasantly thrilled.
Sarah
Well, you ought to be ashamed of yourself. [They go into the dance-room. Nina Vansittart and Hugh Petworth are standing by the danc- mg-room door.]
Nina That's her in white.
Hugh
Phew!
Nina
I've never seen anything like it.
Hugh
Look at her pearls.
Nina
Downright vulgar, I call it.
Hugh
Come on in. [They go in.] [Mrs. Whittaker intercepts Marion coming from
the veranda, and draws her aside.] [Furber goes into the dance-room with drinks for
the hand.]
Mrs. Whittaker
This is outrageous ! How dare she !
Marion Nothing can be done.
0
Mrs. Whittaker
I'm so ashamed.
Marion
If I can get her alone I'll give her a piece of my mind.
Mrs. Whittaker
No, no ; ignore her --- don't say a word. We don't want a repetition of this afternoon.
Marion
We shall never hear the last of it. Did you see Mrs. Phillips' face?
Mrs. Whittaker
I'm sure I don't know what I've done to be so humiliated.
Marion
[Fearing a breakdown.'] Mother --- for Heaven's sake
[Hilda rushes in from the dance-room.]
Hilda
[Frantically.]
Mother --- Lari's come down! She's dancing!
Marion Yes, yes, we know.
Hilda I've been telling everybody she was ill.
Mrs. Whittaker Don't speak so loudly, Hilda.
Hilda She looks a sight. What are we to do?
Mrs. Whittaker
Nothing. Ignore her completely --- behave as if she wasn't there at all, and don't discuss her with anybody.
Hilda But everybody's talking about her.
Marion I don't wonder.
Hilda
It's too awful. [Furber approaches them.]
FlJRBER
The sit-down supper's ready in the tent now, ma'am.
Mrs. Whittaker Well, tell everybody. You'd better stop the band.
Marion
No, there won't be room if they all troop out. I'll go in and just tell some of them.
Mrs. Whittaker Yes, do.
Hilda I'll come too.
Mrs. Whittaker
Remember, Hilda --- don't be aware of anything unusual at all.
Hilda
All right. [Hilda and Marion go into the dance-room.] [Mrs. Whittaker passes her hand hopelessly across
her forehead.] [John comes in.]
John Mother --- I'm fearfully sorry about this.
Mrs. Whittaker Don't John --- don't.
John
But I don't understand --- it's so unlike Lari to make an exhibition of herself like this.
Mrs. Whittaker
[Bitterly.] Unlike her !
John Something's happened. What is it?
Mrs. Whittaker
Don't worry me now, John ; can't you see I'm at my wits' end?
John
I mean to find out. [Several people come in, among them Sarah and
Charles.] [Mrs. Whittaker goes out to the supper-tent.]
Sarah
[Lightly.]
Don't look so gloomy, John.
John Something's happened to Lari --- what is it?
Sarah She's dancing at the moment with Philip Bordon.
John
Why did she pretend to have a headache, and not come down to dinner or anything ?
Sarah She didn't feel like it, I suppose.
John I'm going to find out what's wrong.
Sarah
[Taking his arm.]
No, you're not; you're going to give me some supper. Come along, or there won't be any room.
John
But, Sarah
Sarah
Come along. [She drags him off, throwing a meaning look at
Charles over her shoulder. Charles nods, and
lights a cigarette. ] [Bobby Coleman walks across with a Girl.]
Bobby I think she looks jolly attractive.
Girl
Fancy all those bracelets, though !
[They go off.]
[Larita comes in with Philip, followed at a dis- creet distance by Hilda, scowling malignantly.]
Larita
No --- I couldn't eat a thing at the moment. If I'd known supper was so close I should never have had that sandwich. [She sits down on sofa.]
Philip Can I get you anything to drink?
Larita
No, thanks --- nothing. Go and have supper with poor little Hilda, and we'll dance again afterwards.
Philip
But, I say
Larita
Please ! I want to rest for a minute.
Philip Oh, very well. [Hilda marches out, with her head in the air. Philip follows despondently.]
Larita [To Charles.] Come and talk to me.
Charles I've been wanting to do that.
Larita How sweet of you. Where's Sarah?
Charles With John --- having supper.
Larita
Oh! [She opens her cigarette-case and offers him one.]
Charles
Thanks. [He lights hers and his own.]
Larita Such a good floor, don't you think?
Charles
Perfectly awful.
Larita
I wonder if your attention has been called to those fascinating Japanese lanterns?
Charles Several times.
Larita You must admit it's a fine night, anyhow.
Charles How you've changed.
Larita Changed?
Charles
Yes. Meeting you just now and then, as I've done, makes it easier to observe subtle differences.
Larita In what way have I changed?
Charles You're dimmer.
Larita
Dimmer!- --- with all these? [She jingles her bracelets.]
Charles Yes, even with those.
Larita
You wouldn't have thought me dim if you'd seen me this afternoon.
Charles Why, what happened?
Larita
Several things.
Charles
I don't want you to think I'm angling for your confidence, but I am interested.
Larita
I know that. It's interesting enough. Do you remember saying, the first day I met you, that one was disillusioned over everything?
Charles You've been disillusioned lately?
Larita Yes --- I didn't know I was capable of it.
Charles That's one of the greatest illusions of all.
Larita You've been awfully nice to me.
Charles Why not? We speak the same language.
0
Larita Yes --- I suppose we do.
Charles
And naturally one feels instinctively drawn --- par- ticularly in this atmosphere.
Larita
English country life. [She smiles.]
Charles
Yes, English country life.
Larita
I wonder if it's a handicap having our sort of minds ?
Charles In what way?
Larita Watching ourselves go by.
Charles No, it's a comfort in the end.
Larita
I'm face to face with myself all the time --- specially when I'm unhappy. It's not an edifying sensation.
Charles I'm sorry you're unhappy.
Larita
It can't be helped --- you can't cope adequately with your successes unless you realize your failures.
Charles It requires courage to do either.
Larita I've always had a definite ideal.
Charles
What is it?
Larita
One should be top-dog in one's own particular sphere.
Charles
It's so difficult to find out what is one's own par- ticular sphere.
Larita
I'm afraid that's always been depressingly obvious to me.
Charles You feel you've deviated from your course.
Larita Exactly --- and it's demoralized me.
Charles Why did you do it?
Larita Panic, I believe.
Charles What sort of panic?
Larita
A panic of restlessness and dissatisfaction with everything.
Charles
That's a black cloud which descends upon every- one at moments.
Larita Not everyone --- just people like us.
Charles
When you live emotionally you must expect the pendulum to swing both ways.
Larita
It had swung the wrong way with a vengeance when I met John. Marrying him was the most cowardly thing I ever did.
Charles
Why did you?
Larita
I loved him quite differently. I thought that any other relationship would be cheapening and squalid --- I can't imagine how I could have been such a fool.
Charles
Neither can I.
Larita
Love will always be the most dominant and absorb- ing subject in the world because it's so utterly in- explicable. Experience can teach you to handle it
superficially, but not to explain it. I can look round with a nice clear brain and see absolutely no reason why I should love John. He falls short of every ideal I've ever had --- he's not particularly talented or clever ; he doesn't know anything, really ; he can't talk about any of the things I consider it worth while to talk about; and, having been to a good school --- he's barely educated.
Charles Just a healthy young animal.
Larita
Yes.
Charles Perhaps that explains it.
Larita
If my love were entirely physical, it would ; but it isn't physical at all.
Charles That is a bad sign.
Larita The worst.
Charles What do you intend to do?
Larita I haven't decided yet.
Charles I think I know.
Larita Don't say that.
Charles
Very well; I'll tell you afterwards if I guessed right.
Larita Go, and send Sarah to me --- alone ; will you ?
Charles
[Rising.] All right.
Larita
[Putting out her hand.]
We shall meet again, perhaps, some day.
Charles
I was right.
Larita
[ Putting her finger to her lips.] Sshhh!
[Charles goes out.]
[People have passed backward and forward during this scene, talking and laughing. Now the hall is practically deserted. Hugh Petworth and Bobby Coleman appear on the veranda. Seeing Larita alone, they whisper and nudge each other. Finally Hugh comes in.
Hugh I say, Mrs. John, will you dance?
Larita No, thank you --- I'm rather tired.
Hugh It's a jolly good band.
Larita
Do you know, I don't believe I've ever met you before.
Hugh
Well, as a matter of fact, we haven't been intro- duced officially. My name's Hugh Petworth.
Larita
Really. How much would you have won from your little friend if I had agreed to dance with you?
Hugh
[Flummoxed.]
Here, I say, you know, --- I
Larita
You're far too young and nice-looking to be so impertinent. If I were you, I should run away and recover yourself.
[Blushing.]
I'm awfully sorry.
Hugh
Larita
Don't apologize --- it's quite all right. [Hugh Petworth bows awkwardly, and goes hur- riedly out to rejoin Bobby, who has disappeared. He cannons into Sarah, who is coming in.]
Hugh I beg your pardon.
Sarah Not at all. Hullo! Lari.
Larita
I want to talk to you, Sarah --- importantly. There isn't much time.
Sarah
Why? What do you mean?
Larita
I'm going away --- to-night.
Sarah
Lari!
Larita
For good.
Sarah
Oh, my dear!
--- what on earth's the matter?
Larita
Everything.
Where's John?
Sarah
In the supper-tent.
Larita
Listen. There was a dreary family fracas this this afternoon.
Sarah
What about?
Larita
Hilda had unearthed a newspaper cutting, dis- closing several of my past misdemeanors
Sarah
The unutterable little beast! I made her swear
Larita You knew about it?
Sarah Yes, she showed it to me three days ago.
Larita
[Slightly overcome.] Oh, Sarah!
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Sarah
I said I'd never speak to her again if she showed it to anybody, and I shan't.
Larita
It was all very unpleasant. The Colonel stood by me, of course --- John wasn't there --- he doesn't know anything yet.
Sarah
But Lari dear, don't give in like this and chuck up everything.
Larita
I must --- 'ou see, they're right; it's perfectly horrible for them. I'm entirely to blame.
Sarah
But what does it matter? The past's finished with.
Larita
Never. Never, never, never. That's a hopeless fallacy.
Sarah I'm most frightfully sorry.
Larita
I wouldn't give in at all --- unless I was sure. You see, John's completely sick of me --- it was just silly calf-love, and I ought to have recognized it as such. But I was utterly carried away --- and now it's all such a hopeless mess.
Sarah John's behaved abominably.
Larita
No --- not really. I expected too much. When you love anybody, you build in your mind an ideal of them --- and it's naturally terribly hard for them to play up, not knowing
Sarah
But, Lari, don't do anything on the impulse of the moment.
Larita
It isn't the impulse of the moment --- I realized it weeks ago.
Sarah It may all come right yet.
Larita Be honest, Sarah --- how can it?
Sarah Where are you going?
Larita
London to-night, and Paris to-morrow. I've ordered a car. Louise is packing now.
Sarah Where will you stay?
Larita The Ritz. I always do.
Sarah I wish I could do something.
Larita
[Pressing her hand.] You can.
Sarah What?
Larita Look after John for me.
[Turning away.] Don't, Lari.
Sarah
Larita
I mean it. You're fond of him --- you ought to have married him, by rights. He needs you so much more than me. He's frightfully weak, and a com- plete damn fool over most things, but he has got qualities --- somewhere --- worth bringing out. I'm going to arrange for him to divorce me, quietly, without any fuss.
Sarah
I don't love him nearly as well as you do.
Larita
All the better. Women of my type are so tire- some in love. We hammer at it, tooth and nail, until it's all bent and misshapen. Promise me you'll do what I ask.
Sarah
I can't promise ; but if circumstances make it pos- sible, I'll try.
Larita All right--- that'll do.
Sarah Shall I see you again --- ever?
Larita Yes, please.
Sarah Well, we won't say good-by, then.
Larita
It's such a silly thing to say. [She gets up.]
Sarah Good luck, anyhow.
Larita
I'm not sure that that's not sillier. [John comes in.]
John Sarah, I've been looking for you everywhere.
Sarah Well, you've found me now.
John
Lari, I'm sorry I was beastly just now --- about your dress. You are rather a Christmas tree, though, aren't you?
Larita
It was done with a purpose.
John
What purpose ?
Larita
It was a sort of effort to re-establish myself --- rather a gay gesture --- almost a joke!
John Oh!
Sarah
You'll find me in the garden, John.
Larita
[Quickly.]
Don't go, Sarah --- please. [Sarah stops.] I'm rather tired, so I'll say good night.
John
The dance will go on for hours yet --- this is only a lull.
Larita Yes, I know ; but I'm dead.
John Oh, very well.
Larita
Good night, darling. [She kisses him.]
John I'll try not to disturb you.
Larita I'm afraid you won't be able to help it.
Sarah Come and dance, John.
John
What's the matter, Lari? Why are you looking like that?
Larita
I think I'm going to sneeze.
[Bobby Coleman and Nina rush across, laughing; he's delving into her bag and she's trying to re- capture it.]
[John and Sarah go into the dance-room.]
[Furber enters from veranda.]
Larita Is the car ready, Furber?
Furber Yes, ma'am. Your maid is waiting in it.
Larita Get my cloak from her, will you, please?
Furber
Very good, ma'am.
[He goes off.]
[Larita, left quite alone, leans up against pne of the windows and looks out into the garden. The light from the lanterns falls on her face, which is set in an expression of hopeless sadness. She fans herself once, then lets her fan drop.]
[Furber re-enters with her cloak, and helps her on with it.
Larita
Thank you very much, Furber. You won't for- get what I asked you, will you?
Furber No, ma'am.
Larita Then good-by.
Furber
Good-by, ma'am.
[He holds open the door for her, and she walks out. There is a burst of laughter from the veranda. The band continues to play with great enthusiasm. ]
Curtain.
