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

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СКАЧАТЬ Oh! Ay! For the five years I have been with him, one year has just been like another. He has been six months here, lecturing and writing and making explosions in the laboratory. And then six months at Tullochmains in Scotland, writing and making explosions, but not lecturing.

      COSENS. He still goes to Tullochmains for his vacation, I suppose?

      EFFIE. Yes, and though he’s such a great man now, he just lives on quietly in the cottage that used to be his father’s. Miss Goodwillie, his sister, went there a month since to get it ready.

      COSENS. Does she know of his illness?

      EFFIE. No, for if she did, she would come back to London by the first train.

      COSENS. H’m! I wonder if I should telegraph for Miss Goodwillie?

      (LUCY taps on drinking-glass with paper-knife and makes inarticulate sounds with her mouth.)

      What is it?

      (LUCY makes signs that she wants the thermometer removed, COSENS goes right to LUCY and takes it out.)

      COSENS. Ha! Normal! Thank you, Effie.

      (EFFIE exits.)

      You want to say something, Miss White?

      LUCY. Only this, Doctor, that if you telegraph for Miss Goodwillie to come to London, you will, of course, tell her what is the matter with the Professor, though you won’t tell us.

      COSENS. H’m! Ah — ahem! I won’t send for Miss Goodwillie, Miss White.

      LUCY (who is writing out a telegram). Is there any prescription to be made up?

      COSENS. No, I —

      LUCY. I thought there was always a prescription. And as I am going to the telegraph office I could leave it at the chemist’s.

      COSENS. Thank you. Just a moment till I write it out.

      (He sits, and there is a little comedy got out of his not knowing what to write. He looks at her sideways. She is very demure. He writes.)

      Please see that it is made up at once.

      LUCY (earnestly). Yes, indeed. I’ll run all the way!

      (She goes.)

      (COSENS looks after her suspiciously. He rings bell. Enter EFFIE.)

      COSENS. Effie, what was the expression on Miss White’s face when you passed her in the hall just now?

      EFFIE. She was laughing, sir.

      COSENS. H’m! I thought so, Effie. Call her back.

      (Exit EFFIE. COSENS alone, pulls himself together. Enter LUCY.)

      LUCY. You want me?

      COSENS. Miss White, you are a clever girl, and I have been making a fool of myself. Give me back that prescription.

      (She does so; he tears it in two and throws it into wastepaper basket.)

      LUCY. Why do you do that?

      COSENS. In acknowledgment of my defeat. You have guessed rightly, Miss White; the Professor’s case baffles me.

      LUCY (frankly). That’s honest. I like you now.

      COSENS. H’m! I’m not sure whether I like you.

      LUCY. Oh, dear! (Produces handkerchief.)

      COSENS. None of that.

      (She puts away handkerchief)

      You have taught me a lesson, Miss White.

      LUCY. My Aunt Emily used to say that if it were not for women, men would never learn anything.

      COSENS. H’m! I don’t know that I like your Aunt Emily either. Well, I admit I don’t know what is the matter with the Professor. (Suddenly seizing her wrist.) Do you?

      LUCY (affecting indignation). How dare you insult me! Just because I am the poor secretary! If I had a brother —

      (She goes off in tears.)

      COSENS (contrite, calling after her.) I beg your pardon, Miss White. How could you know? I am a brute to make you cry. (Suddenly suspicious.) Was she crying?

      (Enter EFFIE with a glass of water and a box of pills.)

      EFFIE. Did you call, sir?

      COSENS. Effie, did Miss White seem much affected when she went out just now?

      EFFIE. Yes, sir, she was laughing.

      COSENS. Laughing! Damn! I am going after her.

      (Exit.)

      EFFIE (going to door after him and calling). Is the master to go on taking his pills? (Reads inscription on pill-box.) One pill to be taken every four hours. (Lays them on small table. She begins to tidy up table, though evidently aware that this is forbidden.)

      (Enter the PROFESSOR in long dressing-gown. He pauses in deep thought, stands on tiptoe, sighs, sees EFFIE.)

      PROFESSOR. Effie, what are you doing at that table? Go away. Go away. Mustn’t do that — very wrong.

      EFFIE. I will tidy.

      PROFESSOR. You shall not tidy.

      EFFIE. If I remain on here, I tidy.

      PROFESSOR. Then you shall not remain on here.

      EFFIE. What way to talk is that? How could you do without me?

      PROFESSOR. That’s true. Don’t leave me, Effie. Effie, tidy upstairs, tidy downstairs, tidy all the drawers, tidy the kitchen range — tidy me, if you must — (Appealing) But don’t tidy that table!

      (She moves from table to small table and takes box of pills and tumbler, bringing them to table. The PROFESSOR goes to back of chair, drums on it with his fingers, stands on tiptoe, sighs, sees EFFIE offering him glass of water, takes it, holds it up to light, says:)

      What’s this?

      EFFIE. The pills the Doctor prescribed.

      PROFESSOR. Oh yes, the pills. (Stares.) I don’t believe the Doctor knows what is the matter with me. Go away, woman. I must work, work.

      (Exit EFFIE. The PROFESSOR puts down glass of water, takes a pill and sip of water, puts glass back and pill-box on table. Sits at table, takes up pen — arranges papers — lapses into thought, bites pen, cries ‘Come, come’ — waits for a moment. Starts and rearranges papers. Is perplexed by the idea that EFFIE told him to do something but cannot remember what it is. Is about to call her, remembers the pills, takes one and a sip of water. He tries to work. Absently dips pen in glass of water, finds it won’t work, puts pen in mouth, reaches for large ink-bottle, puts ink in water, takes up fresh pen, dips in inkstand, СКАЧАТЬ