Green Stockings: A Comedy in Three Acts. Mason Alfred Edward Woodley

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СКАЧАТЬ Then you can spend all your time canvassing for me, can't you?

      Madge. (Patronizingly) Oh, of course, Bobby.

      Tarver. (Crossing L. to C.) Thanks awfully. And you two girls can do the same. But your sister-well- (Madge comes to head of magazine table.)

      Aunt Ida. (Turning on him quickly) Well, what, Mr. Tarver?

      Tarver. (Very diffidently) Well, I'm afraid she wouldn't be of much use-you see, she's rather difficult-isn't she?

      Aunt Ida. Difficult!

      Tarver. (Seeing he has made a break, tries to recover himself) Well, not quite the sort of person to make friends for one, don't you know?

      Aunt Ida. (Growing more and more enraged, rises and faces him) Mr. Tarver!

      Tarver. (Now thoroughly frightened) Well, shall we say a, – a-a trifle cold?

      Aunt Ida. (Backing him across stage to foot of table R.) Yes, and who has made her a trifle cold-(Imitating Tarver) – and difficult? You and your Henry Steeles and Jimmy Raleighs.

      All the Girls Together. Aunt Ida!

      Tarver. Oh, I say!

      Aunt Ida. Yes, where is she now, I would like to know? Freezing for an hour on an open wharf in the pouring rain, three miles away, because nobody took the trouble to think of her.

      Madge. (Coming center. Protestingly) Oh, Aunt Ida, I heard the motor leave not two minutes ago.

      Aunt Ida. Yes, just about two hours too late. (Madge goes above table and joins girls, who with Tarver are evidently alarmed under Aunt Ida's attack and express it in a murmur. Tarver sits.) Oh, if only she doesn't get tired of waiting before the motor can get there.

      Tarver. (To girls) Don't worry. Don't worry. Why should she get tired? It would look like a lack of confidence in you if she stopped waiting.

      Aunt Ida. Yes, and Celia is certainly accustomed to waiting for and on every one of you.

      GIRLS and Tarver. Now, you know- Oh, I say.

      (Madge turns up to piano.)

      Aunt Ida. (Continuing) She is a back number. That's your constant suggestion, and because she hasn't found a Jim Raleigh to love her, she is on the shelf-(Disgustedly) – a Jim Raleigh.

      (Tarver and Phyllis rise and she consoles him.)

      Raleigh. (Entering gayly through morning room) Hello, what's that about me? (Goes directly to Aunt Ida. They turn to table L.)

      (Aunt Ida flustered and exclaiming. Immediately following Raleigh are Faraday, Grice and Steele in the foregoing order. They are chatting and smoking and are all in evening dress.)

      Faraday. (Cheerily) You don't mind, girls, if we bring in our cigars?

      Madge and Evelyn. Not at all, Father.

      (Faraday crosses immediately to card table and looks it over.)

      Grice. (Coming down R. of sofa. Gruffly to Tarver) Tarver, I want to ask you a question.

      Tarver. (Going reluctantly to him) Yes, sir.

      (Phyllis looks reproachfully at Grice and sits again in chair L. of table R., swinging her foot and watching Tarver and Grice. Steele goes to head of sofa and talks with Lady Trenchard. Madge remains by piano, turning over music. Raleigh crosses to left of table, above table, still talking to Aunt Ida. All of this business occurs almost simultaneously and quickly.)

      Faraday. (Coming out of card room. Irritably) Madge, where are those new markers?

      Madge. I don't know, Father. Celia attends to everything.

      Faraday. (Coming down center. Testily) Well, God bless my soul, where is Celia?

      (Madge gradually comes down C., R. of Faraday.)

      Aunt Ida. (Facing him. Vehemently) God bless your soul, William Faraday, down on the wharf in the pouring rain-

      Faraday. What's that?

      Aunt Ida. (Continuing) Frozen to death by this time.

      Faraday. God bless my soul!

      Aunt Ida. (Continuing) For all any one cares.

      Faraday. But I need her. She must be sent for at once.

      (Door opens suddenly. Celia, in dripping oilskins and drenched veil, carrying a soaking wet traveling bag, enters and crosses immediately from L.IE. to R.I. All give start of surprise.)

      Omnes. Celia! Miss Faraday! (Etc.)

      Aunt Ida. Darling!

      Madge. (As Celia gets center. Coming down center) We did send the motor for you, Celia, only it was too late.

      Celia. (Pausing at door) Yes, I know, Madgie, but when I met him, he wouldn't stop. He took me for the fish-monger- (Exit quickly R.IE.)

      Faraday. Fish-monger! God bless my soul!

      Madge. (Idiotically to girls) She must have walked. Evelyn and Phyllis. Why, yes.

      Aunt Ida. Well, she could hardly sleep on the wharf, could she?

      Grice. (To Steele) What an unfortunate way that poor woman has of doing things that make everyone feel uncomfortable.

      Steele. (To Grice) Yes, the idea of her walking up here alone in the rain!

      Evelyn. (To girls) Wherever did she get the clothes?

      Celia. (Off stage) Martin, send to the station at once for my hat and coat and return these things to Wilson. He borrowed them from the pilot.

      Grice. Wilson?

      Evelyn. (Patronizingly) He is the man at the station. He's Celia's slave.

      (Celia re-enters without oilskins and stands at door R. She is in a simple traveling dress.)

      Faraday. (From center of stage) God bless my soul, Celia, where have you been?

      Celia. Why; I've been away, Father, for a week. Perhaps you haven't noticed it.

      Faraday. Not noticed it? I have missed you very much. I never get all the right things for breakfast when you're away!

      Celia. Sorry, Father. (Celia crosses quickly to Aunt Ida, who is in the center of the stage, Faraday having turned and gone up into the card room. Celia nodding as she crosses, to the Admiral and the girls) Good evening, Admiral. Well, girls.

      (Admiral СКАЧАТЬ