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

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СКАЧАТЬ a shawl, passes along behind wall and enters at gate. Her movements and glances behind her show that she fears someone is pursuing her. She sees GAVIN at window, is delighted, but hides beneath it so that he may not see her. She mischievously flashes lantern three times. Once he is about to look out; she hides; he withdraws. Again she flashes light on window. Suddenly she starts away, hears someone, looks over wall, is alarmed, and runs off hastily, DOW passes behind wall, looking about him in wrath, and enters at gate. At that moment JEAN, the woman servant, opens door to come out. DOW pounces on her in front of Manse door.)

      JEAN (screaming). Let go!

      DOW (releasing her and backing). It’s you, Jean?

      JEAN. Wha would it be? You widow man! Wha did you think it was?

      DOW (conciliatory). Nobody. (Eagerly) I’m looking for nobody. I’ve seen nobody.

      JEAN. You’re drunk again.

      DOW (eagerly). Ay, that’s it. I’m just drunk. (Looking at window) Is he there? He hasna left the house? (Fiercely)

      Tell me!

      (jean shrinks from him gavin opens window.)

      GAVIN. Jean, was that lightning a moment ago?

      JEAN. I saw no lightning, sir. (Continues winding up clothesline).

      (DOW starts.)

      GAVIN. I could have sworn I saw several flashes on the window. Has Thomas Whamond come for the key of the church?

      JEAN. No, HE HASNA come yet.

      GAVIN. You are coming to the prayer meeting, I hope, Rob?

      DOW. Ay, of course.

      (GAVIN shuts window, pulls down blind and disappears.

      JEAN goes on rolling up the rope, which she leaves hanging on hook on Manse wall.)

      JEAN. Would you shame the kirk by coming to the prayer meeting in corduroys? Away hame and put on your blacks!

      DOW. I’M NO COMING TO THE MEETING.! HAVE OTHER WORK to do. (Darkly) If she — if she —

      JEAN. Wha? Wha are you raving about? A woman?

      DOW (going to her). No, no, there’s no woman, I tell you — I’m drunk.

      WHAMOND (off). Jean!

      DOW. That’s Tammas Whamond! If you tell him I saw a woman here I’ll throttle you! (Grips her arm.)

      (She releases herself. Enter whamond in his blacks, aged silk hat, etc.)

      WHAMOND. I’ve come for the key of the kirk, Jean.

      JEAN (producing key from her pocket). There it is. (Gives him the key.) And it’s time I was putting on my blacks.

      (Looks admiringly at gavin’s window.) Tammas, he’s sitting there, studying to the last moment. At times I’m near terrified that some day he’ll walk straight out of that window in a fit of sublime thought. —

      (Exit into Manse, WHAMOND looks inquiringly at DOW.)

      WHAMOND (harshly). What are you prowling about here for?

      DOW. Nothing. I’ve no reason.

      WHAMOND. You have a reason, and the reason is an Egyptian trollop. I ken what makes ye haunt this garden.

      DOW (startled). You dinna mean —

      WHAMOND (going to him). I mean that I’ve been watching as well as you. I mean I ken about a lovers’ meeting in Nanny Webster’s house. Ay, and about another since then, at the Kaims o’ Erly.

      DOW (relieved). Is that all?

      WHAMOND. All! Is there mair?

      DOW (eagerly). No, no, may I be struck dead if there is.

      (WHAMOND fiercely grips DOW’S arm.)

      WHAMOND. You ‘re all in a trem’le. What is’t?

      DOW. Nothing — I swear. I was going when you cam.

      WHAMOND (grimly). Let’s see you go.

      (DOW hesitates.)

      Let’s see you go.

      (After hesitation, DOW exits through gate, DOW returns stealthily and steals through gate to see if WHAMOND has gone. He turns and WHAMOND confronts him. They look at each other, MICAH enters.)

      WHAMOND. Laddie, what’s the matter wi’ your father?

      DOW (warningly). Naething.

      MICAH. Naething.

      (WHAMOND goes off sternly.)

      MICAH (coming to DOW — entreating). Father, come awa’ hame.

      DOW. Not ME. Micah, did you SEE a woman wi’ A lantern?

      MICAH. Is it her that has bewitched the Minister?

      DOW. Speak low.

      MICAH. What is she like?

      DOW. She’s bonny — but she’s the devil.

      MICAH. You mak’ me shiver! I saw no woman wi’ a lantern, but I saw lightning.

      DOW. Lightning! Quick — whaur did you see it?

      MICAH. In the backend o’ the wood.

      DOW. It’s her again! Out o’ my way. (He seizes MICAH by the shoulders.)

      MICAH. Father, come hame! Come hame!

      DOW (flinging MICAH from him). I’ve other work to do!

      (Exit.)

      Micah. Enerty! Feenity! Fickerty Feg! El! Del! Dolmans egg. Irky! Birky! Ravens croak, Into Hell and let her smoke.

      (While he recites these lines micah goes twice round well looking into it. Enter babbie. She is flashing light on gavin’s window when she hears micah. She goes to him, puts down lantern and shawl above the well.)

      BABBIE. Hallo, hallo, little barelegs, whatever are you doing?

      MICAH (looking up at her quickly). I was wishing. This is a wishing-well. I was wishing the woman was in Hell.

      BABBIE. YOU are a dear boy! What woman is it?

      MICAH. The woman who has sent my father to the drink again. He says she should be burned for a witch.

      BABBIE. No doubt it would be a lovely end for her! But if he dislikes her so much how can she have such power over him?

      MICAH. СКАЧАТЬ