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

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СКАЧАТЬ acknowledges her greeting with a grunt, Steele with a stiff bow, and the girls say, "Good evening, Celia.")

      Celia. Well, Aunt Ida.

      Aunt Ida. (Kissing her on both cheeks) Dear child!

      (Celia passing L. over to Mr. Raleigh, who is left of table L.

      Celia offers her hand, which he takes with a very bored air. Meanwhile, the groups break up after Celia has passed. Lady Trenchard joins the Admiral and Steele at upper end of sofa. Phyllis joins Tarver; they sit at lower end of fender, Phyllis sitting in chair below fender. Aunt Ida joins Madge and they all talk in dumb show during Celia's scene with Raleigh.)

      Celia. Mr. Raleigh, how are you?

      Raleigh. I am very well, thank you. (Pause.) Yes.

      Celia. Yes?

      Raleigh. (In a bored monotone, looking straight in front of him) Yes. I hope you enjoyed yourself, Miss Faraday. You were in London?

      Celia. No, at Southampton.

      Raleigh. Oh, yes-er-all amongst the ships and things,

      Celia. Yes.

      Raleigh. Yes.

      Celia. Won't you sit down, Mr. Raleigh?

      Raleigh. No, thanks. I never sit down.

      Celia. Eh?

      Raleigh. After dinner.

      Celia. Oh.

      Raleigh. You have been away quite a long time, Miss Faraday?

      Celia. Yes, for me.

      Raleigh. Yes, I mean for you. Well-nothing much has happened.

      Celia. Well, one hardly expects much, does one?

      Raleigh. No. Oh, Manners has got himself engaged.

      Celia. Really? To Jennie Woodcote, I suppose?

      Raleigh. Yes; they were all saying it was her last chance.

      Celia. Yes, they would.

      Raleigh. Of course, that's all nonsense. Nowadays, there's no-a-

      Celia. Age limit?

      Raleigh. Exactly! (Then catching himself up in great confusion) No, no! Good Lord, no! I didn't mean-

      Faraday. (Coming forward L.C.) Well, we might as well have some bridge. (Murmurs of "Oh, splendid!")

      Raleigh. (With a shout of relief backs away from Celia toward card room) Bridge! Oh, splendid!

      (Evelyn and Steele go slowly to card room. Tarver starts L.)

      Grice. (Quickly) Tarver, I have another question to ask you.

      Tarver. (To Faraday, enthusiastically) Admiral Grice plays a ripping game.

      Faraday. (Gayly) Come along, Admiral. Come along.

      Grice. (Crossing left. Faraday takes him by the arm. They go up to card room together, chatting gayly) Not bad. Not bad.

      (These last few lines are played very quickly. Celia has remained in chair R. of L. table after Raleigh has gone to card room. Aunt Ida and Madge are standing up stage and those who have gone into the card room seat themselves in the following fashion, after the settling of partners in dumb show: Raleigh is seated down stage, his back to the audience; Lady Trenchard to his right, Faraday to his left, and Admiral Grice opposite him. They begin their game of bridge. Tarver has gone up R. of sofa, getting a cigarette at head of table. Phyllis throws herself lightly on the sofa on her knees, gathering up Celia's letters and flourishing them at her.)

      Phyllis. Celia, here are some letters for you.

      Celia. (Crossing to chair L. of table R. and sitting) Letters for me?

      Phyllis. One is a big one. (Gives Celia letters, kneeling on sofa.)

      Celia. I don't suppose any of them are very important.

      Phyllis. (Pityingly) No, I don't suppose so.

      Celia. (Looking at letters) Circulars. Circulars. (Tears open one envelope and takes out circular letter. Then seeing big envelope, says brightly as she picks it up and draws out fashion plates) Oh, spring fashions.

      Phyllis. (With an air of superiority) Oh, you don't want those. Give them to me.

      (Celia submissively hands them, over, leaving large blue envelope on table. Phyllis takes them and sits on sofa with Tarver, who has come down after lighting his cigarette. They hold hands, backs to Celia, looking at fashions.)

      Celia. (Reading letter that she has opened) "Dear Sir or Madam: Having secured our unparalleled stock of sherry wine on a falling market-" (Drops envelope and opens another. Reads) "Dear Madam: You are cordially invited to attend our spring opening of household linens-"

      Faraday. (Coming from card room) Madge, you will play?

      Madge. No, thanks, I'll finish my letter. (Who has been talking to Aunt Ida, goes back to writing table up R. and resumes writing.)

      Faraday. (Disappointedly) And Phyllis doesn't.

      Aunt Ida. Well, there's Celia.

      Faraday. (Coming down to Celia,) God bless my soul! Of course, why did I forget?

      Celia. Oh-that's all right, Father. (Cheerfully opening her letters) It's being done, you know.

      Faraday. (To Tarver and Phyllis, who are seated on sofa, holding hands) Now, then, you two, none of that! No holding hands! (They rise quickly, looking embarrassed and facing father.) You are; not engaged yet, you know.

      Celia. (Happily) Engaged? Phyllis and Mr. Tarver?

      Faraday. (Reassuringly) No, no, certainly not. Nothing of the kind. Cheer up, my dear. (Patting Celia on the shoulder) You don't suppose I would allow a chick like Phyllis to marry with you on my hands still?

      Aunt Ida. (Who has been watching him and listening to him) William! (She takes him by the arm and they go up to the card room together.)

      (There are now in the card room Grice, Faraday, Steele, Raleigh, Lady Trenchard and Aunt Ida. Aunt Ida is out of sight. Raleigh, Lady Trenchard, Grice and Faraday are playing. Steele is circulating about above table. Tarver goes up in the morning room, sits left of table, and reads a magazine. Celia rises and goes to Phyllis, who meets her below sofa.)

      Celia. Phyllis-?

      Phyllis. СКАЧАТЬ