The Complete Plays of J. M. Barrie - 30 Titles in One Edition. Джеймс Барри

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      Act III

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      The curtain is lowered only for a moment between Acts II and III to indicate the passing of time. When it rises Mrs. Ommaney is still asleep on sofa and Paul still sitting by her side. Dusk has come on and their figures are only dimly discernible. The fire has burned low. In the stillness the waves are heard breaking on the beach. Paul rises and strikes a match. By its light he looks first at Mrs. Ommaney’s face and then at the clock which shows that two hours have elapsed. He shuts window and pulls curtains, then gropes his way out by the light of the match.

      (The pulling of the curtains has made MRS. OMMANEY stir and open her eyes, unnoticed by him. When he has gone she speaks languidly without getting up.)

      MRS. OMMANEY. Is that you, Jenny? Have I been asleep?

      (SITTING UP AND YAWNING.) Are you there? How dark —

      (Rising bewildered) Why — what — (Disturbed) Something has happened! (A match is heard being struck; she goes towards entrance.) Jenny!

      (A light comes along passage and she retreats backwards as it approaches. Enter PAUL carrying a lamp.)

      You!

      (PAUL looks anxiously at her.)

      Why do you look at me so?

      PAUL. Thank God! (Puts down lamp and sinks into chair.)

      MRS. OMMANEY. When did you come here? Let me think.

      (Presses her hands to her temples.) Ah! (Flings open bedroom door.) Come out! (Seizes lamp and enters bedroom, returns.) Where is she? Your wife!

      PAUL. She is gone. We are alone in the house, you and I — and our child.

      MRS OMMANEY. So you know about HER! Where is your Margaret? She was there a moment ago.

      paul. Nearly two hours ago. You have been — asleep.

      MRS OMMANEY. Sleeping? While she — I don’t remember your coming in.

      PAUL. You were — excited.

      MRS. OMMANEY (pressing her temples again and beginning to understand). Excited? Not — not that! (Entreatingly.)

      PAUL (painfully). The girl Jenny says it happened before.

      MRS. OMMANEY. Again, again! (Covers her face with her hands.)

      PAUL (goes to her pityingly). Kate!

      MRS OMMANEY (DEFIANTLY). Don’t try to get round me. You promised me never to marry. You have broken your promise.

      (IN A HARD VOICE, WITHOUT LOOKING UP) Tell me what happened.

      (PAUL sits down beside her, and the whole act is played very quietly.)

      PAUL. I came FOR my WIFE.! DID NOT KNOW THAT you WERE IN the HOUSE.

      MRS OMMANEY. I remember. I was waiting to give you a wedding gift! (SHE LOOKS GRIMLY AT BEDROOM.)

      PAUL. What wedding gift? You don’t mean —

      MRS OMMANEY. Yes, I do! You broke your promise. Go on.

      PAUL. You had got into that excited state before I came, but we persuaded you to sleep, and then my wife went away.

      MRS OMMANEY. Does she know?

      PAUL. Not everything. Her aunt came in. Jenny’s mother had told her all she knew of you, and she repeated it to Margaret mrs ommaney. But you — do they know that you were the man?

      PAUL. You HAD TOLD MY WIFE THAT your LOCKET CONTAINED his portrait —

      MRS OMMANEY (FEELING FOR LOCKET). Ah, it is gone. Well?

      PAUL. Lady Janet opened it — and saw.

      MRS OMMANEY. And your wife — your wife?

      PAUL. My wife does not know. Lady Janet kept it from her.

      MRS OMMANEY. Then why are you here alone?

      PAUL. Margaret would not remain after —

      MRS OMMANEY. After she knew what sort of woman I was! Recoiled from me, did she? Hid her pretty eyes in horror, eh? That is СКАЧАТЬ