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

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      MISS GOODWILLIE. I fling them as much together as I can — to keep him away from Miss White.

      COSENS. Oho! Is that wise?

      MISS GOODWILLIE. I am not afraid of her.

      COSENS. H’m! Well, Miss White seems to have challenged the field, so I should like to get out of it.

      MISS GOODWILLIE. She alarms you?

      COSENS. Mortally. When it comes to Lucy White versus the field, I feel sure that Lucy White will win.

      MISS GOODWILLIE. YOU think so?

      COSENS. I do, and what is more, excuse me, I am inclined to think that it will serve the field jolly well right.

      (Exit.)

      (DOWAGER enters as he is going. She is humming gaily, waggles hand to him in high spirits, evidently meaning that all is going well. He responds and exits, amused.

      MISS GOODWILLIE is picking up PROFESSOR’S rod and creel.)

      MISS GOODWILLIE. YOU seem to be in high spirits.

      DOWAGER. I am! I don’t know why. Perhaps just because it’s such a beautiful world.

      MISS GOODWILLIE. I can’t say it is striking me in that light. By the way, I hope you are to take Tom off to lunch.

      DOWAGER. I shall be only too delighted.

      (Exit MISS GOODWILLIE. DOWAGER kisses hand after her, hums, skips about gaily, looks about her and calls.)

      DOWAGER. Lucykins!

      (Enter LUCY.)

      What do you think, Lucy, Miss Goodwillie has asked me to invite Thomas to lunch. She is evidently on my side.

      (DOWAGER seizes her and dances with her gaily.)

      Do you know why I am so fond of you to-day, you quaint, simple Whitey?

      LUCY. Perhaps it’s because you want me to do something for you.

      DOWAGER. Fancy your guessing. It is this! I want you to keep every one away from this part of the field for the next half-hour —

      LUCY. Except the Professor?

      DOWAGER. Right again!

      LUCY. It is so good of you to let me help you.

      (Enter PETE at back gathering out corn.)

      DOWAGER. Oh, there are heaps of things I mean to let you do for me besides that.

      LUCY. Thank you.

      DOWAGER. I expect the Prof — (Sees PETE) Go away, man.

      PETE. I have Sir George’s orders.

      DOWAGER. Most provoking!

      LUCY (to PETE). Pete, why haven’t you asked Effie to marry you?

      PETE. Because there’s no hurry.

      LUCY. There is a hurry, unless you want Henders to have her.

      PETE. What’s that? What do you mean?

      LUCY. Do you see the pink figure over there? (Pointing.)

      PETE. Ay, it’s Effie.

      LUCY. And a man hurrying towards her — there!

      PETE. No!

      LUCY. You do, Lady Gilding?

      DOWAGER. Distinctly.

      LUCY. Well, that is Henders, and he’s going straight to propose to her.

      PETE. What’s to be done?

      LUCY. I know what I’d do if I were you.

      PETE. What?

      LUCY. I’d run along the wood on this side and get to Effie before him.

      PETE. I will. (He runs off.)

      DOWAGER. Clever! Is it true about Henders?

      LUCY. No, but I want to help Effie to a husband.

      DOWAGER. She would have preferred Henders.

      LUCY. Are you sure of that?

      DOWAGER. She told me so.

      LUCY. Then I won’t let Pete get her. (Turns and calls off)

      Henders!

      DOWAGER. What does it matter? She will be quite satisfied with Pete.

      LUCY. She is a dear girl and she has been kind to me. (Calls)

      Henders!

      (Enter henders with sickle.)

      Look at Pete!

      HENDERS. What’s he up to?

      LUCY. He’s off to propose to Effie.

      HENDERS. Wh — at!

      (Throws down sickle and runs off. DOWAGER and LUCY laugh heartily.)

      LUCY. Now it is a race for a wife. (Sits on stook.)

      DOWAGER. Yes, and mine is to be a swoon for a husband.

      LUCY. A swoon?

      DOWAGER. Yes, listen — it’s lovely. A little while ago I sent a letter to the Professor by Effie asking him to meet me here at two o’clock, as I had something very particular to say to him.

      LUCY. Meaning, of course, that you hope to get him to say something very particular to you.

      DOWAGER. Exactly!

      LUCY (curiously). Tell me, do you really care for him?

      DOWAGER. I shouldn’t wonder. And I assure you I mean to make him very happy. Somebody once said to me that I was the one woman in the world for the Professor; I forget who it was — perhaps it was myself — but that doesn’t matter, and obviously Miss Goodwillie is quite favourable.

      LUCY. You don’t really think him in love with you, do you?

      DOWAGER. Not with my hand on my heart, Lucy. Still, what else can be making him so gay and sportive?

      LUCY. Don’t you think it just possible that there might be some other woman?

      DOWAGER. YOU naughty! He never sees any other woman.

      LUCY. After all, there’s me.

      DOWAGER. YOU? You droll thing. Naturally he sees you and Effie. But I СКАЧАТЬ