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

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СКАЧАТЬ on sending Miss White back to London.

      COSENS. Ah! (Looks at MISS GOODWILLIE.)

      (The figures of PROFESSOR and LUCY are seen tn shadow on blind, COSENS, from where he is standing, sees them.

      MISS GOODWILLIE sees also. The others, being seated beneath window, do not see.)

      LADY GILDING. I hope he is not missing her.

      COSENS. Not in the least.

      (professor is seen, in shadow, putting fingers through lucy’s hair.)

      DOWAGER. She is in her right place, at last!

      (LUCY is seen with head on PROFESSOR’S chest.)

      COSENS. She is!

      MISS GOODWILLIE. She is. And now I have something to tell you all. I want Tom to marry.

      DOWAGER. Mildred!

      LADY GILDING. Mamma!

      MISS GOODWILLIE. What is more, the woman I should like to see him married to, is — very near him at this moment.

      DOWAGER. George!

      MISS GOODWILLIE. I believe she loves him.

      DOWAGER. She does! Oh! You make me so happy.

      (cosens, who is leaning over the gate, chuckles.)

      Dear Miss Goodwillie, come and sit beside me.

      MISS GOODWILLIE. With pleasure.

      (professor’s hand is seen opening window a little.)

      LADY GILDING. What was that? Miss goodwillie. It must be Tom opening his window.

      DOWAGER. That is where he works, isn’t it? The last time I was in that room he gave me an electric shock.

      COSENS. You don’t need to be in the room for that. He could give you an electric shock, though you were sitting here and he upstairs.

      LADY GILDING. How clever!

      DOWAGER. I wish he would.

      PROFESSOR. Dearest!

      (dowager rises.)

      MISS GOODWILLIE (as if she had heard nothing). What is it?

      DOWAGER. I thought — I must have been mistaken.

      SIR GEORGE. Miss Goodwillie, the match to which you refer will give me complete satisfaction.

      LADY GILDING. It has our warm approval.

      MISS GOODWILLIE. Thank you.

      PROFESSOR. Darling!

      SIR GEORGE. Do you hear anything?

      DOWAGER. Not just now — but a moment ago —

      LADY GILDING. I heard nothing.

      MISS GOODWILLIE. Nor I.

      SIR GEORGE. Strange.

      LADY GILDING. I am sure she will make him a good wife, Miss Goodwillie.

      MISS GOODWILLIE. I am certain of it.

      DOWAGER. How kind you are, dear.

      MISS GOODWILLIE. I only say what I think, Lady Gilding.

      DOWAGER. Call me ‘Emily.’ miss goodwillie. Certainly, if you wish it, Emily.

      PROFESSOR. For I know now that the greatest glory in a man’s life is to have his arms round the girl he loves —

      (LUCY is seen in shadow whispering to him.)

      SIR GEORGE. Mildred!

      (SIR GEORGE, DOWAGER, and LADY GILDING stare at each other, COSENS and MISS GOODWILLIE pretend to have heard nothing.)

      MISS GOODWILLIE. I suppose you will have all your harvest in by the end of the week, Sir George?

      SIR GEORGE. Eh — ah — oh! Yes! Mildred, did you?

      LADY GILDING. Distinctly.

      DOWAGER. So did I.

      MISS GOODWILLIE. What is it?

      SIR GEORGE. Nothing!

      COSENS. It will be a pity if the weather breaks down.

      PROFESSOR. Say it again.

      LUCY. I love you. You are sure you forgive me?

      PROFESSOR. Quite!

      DOWAGER and LADY GILDING. White!

      PROFESSOR. Did you hear an echo just now?

      COSENS. The corn becomes so draggled in wet weather, but I believe the glass says ‘set fair.’ PROFESSOR. Forgive your pretending to faint? Of course I do! It showed that you loved me so much that you couldn’t wait till I discovered for myself that I loved you. Ha, ha, ha!

      SIR GEORGE. Fudge!

      MISS GOODWILLIE. What?

      LUCY. It was the Dowager who gave me the idea.

      LADY GILDING. Mamma!

      LUCY. And so we may say that we owe our happiness to the Dowager.

      PROFESSOR. We must thank her, dear.

      SIR GEORGE. Oh, Emily.

      PROFESSOR. If the Dowager had not written me that letter, you would not be in my arms now, Lucy.

      DOWAGER. I feel sick.

      LADY GILDING. Let us go home, George! Good evening!

      MISS GOODWILLIE. Going already?

      PROFESSOR. There is one thing in her letter that I could not make out?

      DOWAGER (alarmed). Come away.

      PROFESSOR. It is this — after her signature, there are three crosses. What can they mean?

      LUCY. Three crosses! Oh!

      LADY GILDING. Mamma!

      (sir GEORGE and LADY GILDING gO.)

      MISS GOODWILLIE. Any message to Lucy — Emily?

      DOWAGER (after seeing the humour of it and bursting into laughter). Tell her, with my love, that I should like to slap her.

      (Exit.)

      (cosens laughs, miss goodwillie goes to seat and sits.)

      COSENS. СКАЧАТЬ