Six Short Plays. Galsworthy John

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СКАЧАТЬ a sigh of utter relief, steals forward to the couch and sinks down. KEITH goes up to her.

      He'd told me.

      WANDA. [Clasping her hands round her knees.] Yes?

      KEITH. An awful business!

      WANDA. Yes; oh, yes! Awful—it is awful!

      KEITH. [Staring round him again.] In this room?

      WANDA. Just where you are standing. I see him now, always falling.

      KEITH. [Moved by the gentle despair in her voice] You—look very young. What's your name?

      WANDA. Wanda.

      KEITH. Are you fond of Larry?

      WANDA. I would die for him!

      [A moment's silence.]

      KEITH. I—I've come to see what you can do to save him.

      WANDA, [Wistfully] You would not deceive me. You are really his brother?

      KEITH. I swear it.

      WANDA. [Clasping her hands] If I can save him! Won't you sit down?

      KEITH. [Drawing up a chair and sitting] This, man, your—your husband, before he came here the night before last—how long since you saw him?

      WANDA. Eighteen month.

      KEITH. Does anyone about here know you are his wife?

      WANDA. No. I came here to live a bad life. Nobody know me. I am quite alone.

      KEITH. They've discovered who he was—you know that?

      WANDA. No; I have not dared to go out.

      KEITH: Well, they have; and they'll look for anyone connected with him, of course.

      WANDA. He never let people think I was married to him. I don't know if I was—really. We went to an office and signed our names; but he was a wicked man. He treated many, I think, like me.

      KEITH. Did my brother ever see him before?

      WANDA. Never! And that man first went for him.

      KEITH. Yes. I saw the mark. Have you a servant?

      WANDA. No. A woman come at nine in the morning for an hour.

      KEITH. Does she know Larry?

      WANDA. No. He is always gone.

      KEITH. Friends—acquaintances?

      WANDA. No; I am verree quiet. Since I know your brother, I see no one, sare.

      KEITH. [Sharply] Do you mean that?

      WANDA. Oh, yes! I love him. Nobody come here but him for a long time now.

      KEITH. How long?

      WANDA. Five month.

      KEITH. So you have not been out since–?

      [WANDA shakes her head.]

      What have you been doing?

      WANDA. [Simply] Crying. [Pressing her hands to her breast] He is in danger because of me. I am so afraid for him.

      KEITH. [Checking her emotion] Look at me.

      [She looks at him.]

      If the worst comes, and this man is traced to you, can you trust yourself not to give Larry away?

      WANDA. [Rising and pointing to the fire] Look! I have burned all the things he have given me—even his picture. Now I have nothing from him.

      KEITH. [Who has risen too] Good! One more question. Do the police know you—because—of your life?

      [She looks at him intently, and shakes her, head.]

      You know where Larry lives?

      WANDA. Yes.

      KEITH. You mustn't go there, and he mustn't come to you.

      [She bows her head; then, suddenly comes close to him.]

      WANDA. Please do not take him from me altogether. I will be so careful. I will not do anything to hurt him. But if I cannot see him sometimes, I shall die. Please do not take him from me.

      [She catches his hand and presses it desperately between her own.]

      KEITH. Leave that to me. I'm going to do all I can.

      WANDA. [Looking up into his face] But you will be kind?

      Suddenly she bends and kisses his hand. KEITH draws his hand away, and she recoils a little humbly, looking up at him again. Suddenly she stands rigid, listening.

      [In a whisper] Listen! Someone—out there!

      She darts past him and turns out the light. There is a knock on the door. They are now close together between door and window.

      [Whispering] Oh! Who is it?

      KEITH. [Under his breath] You said no one comes but Larry.

      WANDA. Yes, and you have his keys. Oh! if it is Larry! I must open!

      KEITH shrinks back against the wall. WANDA goes to the door.

      [Opening the door an inch] Yes? Please? Who?

      A thin streak of light from a bull's-eye lantern outside plays over the wall. A Policeman's voice says: "All right, Miss. Your outer door's open. You ought to keep it shut after dark, you know."

      WANDA. Thank you, air.

      [The sound of retreating footsteps, of the outer door closing. WANDA shuts the door.]

      A policeman!

      KEITH. [Moving from the wall] Curse! I must have left that door.

      [Suddenly-turning up the light] You told me they didn't know you.

      WANDA. [Sighing] I did not think they did, sir. It is so long I was not out in the town; not since I had Larry.

      KEITH gives her an intent look, then crosses to the fire. He stands there a moment, looking down, then turns to the girl, who has crept back to the couch.

      KEITH. [Half to himself] After your life, who can believe–? Look here! You drifted together and you'll drift apart, you know. Better for him to get away and make a clean cut of it.

      WANDA. [Uttering a little moaning sound] Oh, sir! May I not love, because I have been bad? I was only sixteen when that man spoiled me. If you knew–

      KEITH. I'm thinking of Larry. With you, his danger is much greater. There's a good chance as things are going. You may wreck it. And for what? Just a few months more of—well—you know.

      WANDA. [Standing at the head of the couch and touching her eyes with СКАЧАТЬ