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

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ sir.

      BABBIE. Your — marriage — lines — sir!

      (GAVIN goes towards her. She retreats from him in fear and sits on seat.)

      GAVIN. Sergeant —

      DAVIDSON. I must stick to my words, Mr. Dishart — you called that woman there your wife.

      (LORD RINTOUL and CAPTAIN HALLIWELL, who have been complacent, start.)

      HALLIWELL. What’s that?

      DAVIDSON. I am only saying, Captain, that is the woman.

      (Seeing something is wrong.) Is that not what you wanted me to say?

      LORD RINTOUL. You are a fool, man. It was the gipsy that he married.

      DAVIDSON. Begging your lordship’s pardon, but that is the gipsy.

      WHAMOND. Do you think we dinna ken her because she’s grand dressed?

      LORD RINTOUL. That — that is my daughter!

      (This causes a stir.)

      SNECKY.? (Licks his lips.)

      WHAMOND. His daughter?

      (Pause.)

      DAVIDSON. Heaven help me, what have I done?

      HALLIWELL. I tell you — that is Lady Barbara Yuill.

      LORD RINTOUL (wildly). Mr. Dishart — Babbie, tell them who you are.

      BABBIE (quaking). But I — I — I am not quite sure, father!

      WHAMOND (grandly). I think I can tell you who she is — that’s Lady Barbara Dishart!

      LORD RINTOUL (choking and going to BABBIE). Was — was it you?

      (BABBIE rises, retreats quaking, then nods.)

      How?

      (Elders all gather, with their heads together.)

      BABBIE. By the secret staircase! You remember I told you — you ought to have that panel nailed up! I wanted to save the weavers. You always said I took my sense of humour from you, father! And then he — (Looking at gavin) — he thought I was a gipsy. It was so stupid of him, just because I was wearing a gipsy dress — and he made love to me —

      WHAMOND. The Minister! (Looks at gavin.)

      BABBIE. Yes, you did! I was very angry —

      GAVIN. Oh!

      BABBIE. I was — so! went out to meet him again, just to show him that — just to show him — and he thought! was a gipsy all the time, and — (Desperate) — and — so stupid of him — and so — father —

      (HALLIWELL stamps his foot.)

      — it is all Dick’s fault!

      HALLIWELL. My fault!

      WHAMOND. The Captain’s fault!

      (Soldiers chuckle, halliwell glares at them.)

      BABBIE. Well, if it isn’t your fault, it is this man’s. (Looks reprovingly at gavin.) I won’t have father blamed!

      LORD RINTOUL (stepping back). You — you — (Frantic.)

      (BABBIE retreats and sits on doorstep of Manse.

      HALLIWELL is about to seize the paper which is on seat, but MICAH seizes it, gives it to DOW.)

      HALLIWELL. Mr. Dishart, it cannot be that you are willing to take advantage OF Lord Rintoul’s infernal blunder?

      RINTOUL. My blunder! Yours from beginning to end.

      WHAMOND. It matters little whether he is willing to take advantage of it or no, but! Think! Ken four simple auld men that mean to do.

      SNECKY. Four simple auld men — it’s nobly said.

      (Elders are gathered complacently round WHAMOND to great delight of DOW.)

      WHAMOND. Rob Dow, that paper. (To MICAH) Micah, send the congregation here.

      (Exit MICAH triumphantly.)

      HALLIWELL (desperately). Rintoul, I have been laughed AT sufficiently about this gipsy, but when this is known — !

      LORD RINTOUL (pettishly). Always thinking of yourself!

      WHAMOND (facing the Elders). My best plan, I think, will be to read this document to the congregation — the marriage lines, as it has been truly called!

      (He eyes LORD RINTOUL and CAPTAIN HALLIWELL, who groan.)

      Unless — ?

      HALLIWELL (eagerly). Unless?

      WHAMOND. Unless YOUR lordship was JUST TO TELL THEM THAT your daughter is — what’s the word? — engaged to be married to Mr. Dishart. Then we could have a second marriage at Rintoul, and none but oursel’s standing solemnly here need ever ken about the first.

      HALLIWELL. Rintoul, you must do it.

      RINTOUL (rebelliously). Must, sir!

      HALLIWELL. If you don’t — I shall order my men to arrest the gipsy.

      GAVIN (fiercely). Sir!

      HALLIWELL. I swear it!

      BABBIE. Father!

      (A hum of people is heard.)

      WHAMOND. Which is it to be?

      LORD RINTOUL. It will all leak out in any case.

      WHAMOND. Which is it to be?

      LORD RINTOUL. Fold up that paper. (Groans.)

      (BABBIE takes the document from WHAMOND. The Congregation come crowding in excitedly, led by NANNY, some through gate, some get on walls. They are chattering — cries of ‘It’s her, it’s her ladyship—’

      ‘That’s RINTOUL — eh, the red-coats, lads, lads, losh,’ etc., etc.

      WHAMOND signs silence. Those in front are pushed forward.)

      MAN (in front). Tell them to stop shoving, Tammas.

      WHAMOND. Stand back there!

      (The two Soldiers shove Crowd back.)

      Now, my lord. (To lord rintoul.)

      LORD RINTOUL (reluctantly). My — my friends —

      (Excited murmurs from Crowd.)

      My daughter here and your minister СКАЧАТЬ