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

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СКАЧАТЬ style="font-size:15px;">      PROFESSOR (sweetly). It was Millie Watson.

      (COSENS points triumphantly at him. The PROFESSOR jumps up in confusion.)

      COSENS. YOU confess?

      (PROFESSOR turns and beams on him.)

      Ah, we were not dull old boys then!

      PROFESSOR. No, and your hair used to curl. (Patting COSENS on head.)

      COSENS. We never foresaw a time when we should live in the same city and not see each other once a year — eh, Goodwillie?

      PROFESSOR. You didn’t call me Goodwillie then.

      COSENS. Tom!

      PROFESSOR. Dick, old boy!

      (They hit lightly at each other until body blow, when they sit.)

      Dick, do you really know what’s the matter with me?

      COSENS. Tom, I don’t.

      PROFESSOR. I thought not. (Goes to table and sits.)

      COSENS (following him). But I mean to find out before I leave the house.

      PROFESSOR. My brain is giving way, that’s what it is.

      COSENS. Why do you stick so closely to your work? Why not give yourself a rest?

      PROFESSOR. I can’t, Dick. Sticking closely to my work has become my life.

      COSENS. And robbed you of your youth and all its pleasures — made an old man of you before your time. Ever since we were boys you have done nothing but work. Tom, how old are you?

      PROFESSOR. I don’t know exactly. (Calling) Effie! How old… Oh no, she wouldn’t know either. I’ve given up having birthdays, Dick.

      COSENS. YOU ‘re younger than I am; why, you can’t be much over forty, and you look fifty or more. Give up your work for a bit.

      PROFESSOR. I can’t, Dick. I must finish my book — at any rate I must try.

      COSENS. Then try to do some work here now. I am going to have a cigar and big think over you.

      PROFESSOR. No use. And you mustn’t smoke here. Bad for the machines. Go to the drawingroom if you want to smoke.

      COSENS. All right! I have solved some stiff cases with the help of a cigar.

      PROFESSOR. It can’t possibly tell you why I am unable to work nowadays.

      COSENS. It shall! Here is what I have to place before it. My friend, Goodwillie, is an enthusiastic electrician, whose work has hitherto engrossed him to such an extent that it has become his world. Within the last month, however, he has been unable to give his mind to his work.

      PROFESSOR. Can’t do it, can’t do it.

      COSENS. The question therefore is: has he given his mind to something else — something that now engrosses him more than electricity?

      PROFESSOR. Nonsense, you are insulting my work, Dick!

      COSENS. The cigar has got to tell me what that something is. Can I help it? Yes, to an extent. I can tell it that the only change which has come into your life of late is that your sister has not been here as usual to look after you. Now is that sufficient to account for your breakdown?

      PROFESSOR. Pooh, Dick, pooh! She has left me alone before.

      COSENS. And you are positive that there has been no other change in your life since she went to Tullochmains?

      PROFESSOR. Absolutely none.

      (COSENS rings hell.)

      Now, why did you do that?

      COSENS. I want Miss White — to ask her some questions.

      PROFESSOR. Miss White? What can Miss White tell you about me?

      COSENS. I don’t know — but she puzzles me.

      (Enter EFFIE.)

      Effie, send Miss White here.

      (Exit EFFIE.)

      PROFESSOR. Miss White can have nothing to tell you. She has not been here long enough. Why, it was after Agnes left that she became my secretary.

      COSENS (excitedly). What?

      PROFESSOR. Miss White never saw me until a month ago.

      COSENS. A month ago! (Great excitement kept up by COSENS until his exit.)

      PROFESSOR. NOW why are you so excited?

      COSENS. Tom, I won’t see Miss White until I’ve had my cigar. (Going.) Oh, if it should be that! If it should be that!

      (Exit.)

      PROFESSOR (calling after him). If it should be that! If it should be what? What are you drivelling about?

      (Enter LUCY.)

      LUCY. Effie said Dr. Cosens wanted to see me.

      PROFESSOR (rising hurriedly, shakes her hand). He changed his mind, I think. Miss Lucy, I must get through some work to-day.

      (He holds her hand for a time. He places chair for her and stands looking at her.)

      LUCY. The papers are all ready. (Sitting.) I think I found a mistake on sheet B 32.

      PROFESSOR. Very likely! B 32?

      LUCY (looks through papers). Section 104. You say that Steinhall’s magneto-electric machine was introduced in 1835. Should it not be galvanometer?

      PROFESSOR. Did I write magneto?

      LUCY. Yes.

      PROFESSOR. Criminal — quite criminal!

      (A slight pause; he prepares to write.)

      LUCY. Shall I go on with the copy?

      PROFESSOR. If you please.

      (lucy looks among papers and he watches her.)

      LUCY. Have you a pen?

      PROFESSOR. Yes, take mine.

      (Gives her his own, watches her a moment, places another pen handy for her, moves water-bottle, corrects proof, hands it to her after business with blotting-pad.)

      There is the corrected sheet.

      (LUCY takes it, puts it in its place and goes on writing. He watches her, then leans back in chair reflecting. He sighs.)

      Lucy!

      LUCY. Did you speak?

      PROFESSOR. СКАЧАТЬ