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

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      (BLANCHE ENTERS WITH FLOWERS IN BASKET.)

      BLANCHE. Buttonholes for you, pretty gentlemen. Oh, Mr. Digby, how you are shaking.

      MR FAIRBAIRN. Be calm. Take it easy. Think of something else.

      PAUL. I’ve split my glove!

      MR FAIRBAIRN. Don’t look at it and you will forget it’s split.

      MEIKLE (AT DOOR). The Honourable Mrs. Teviot and the Misses Teviot.

      (MRS. TEVIOT and the MISSES TEVIOT enter and shake hands, moving towards centre with PAUL and ARMITAGE while MR. FAIRBAIRN remains near door, BLANCHE goes about giving buttonholes to guests, PAUL has got rid of his nervousness.)

      ARMITAGE. How do you think my man is looking, Mrs. Teviot?

      MRS TEVIOT (LOOKING AT PAUL). I think you deserve great credit, Captain Armitage. I don’t see a grey hair in his head.

      MEIKLE. Provost Crosbie and Mrs. Crosbie — Colonel and Lady Farquhar — Mr. Alexander Riach.

      (THESE GUESTS ENTER, SHAKE HANDS, ETC. fairbairn REMAINS AT DOOR GREETING GUESTS.)

      PROVOST (TO PAUL). Great admirer of your paintings, sir; have not seen them yet. But they will come some day to the Pans.

      PAUL. Very good of you to say so.

      PROVOST. Oh yes, they will. Everything good finds its way to the Pans.

      MEIKLE. Bailie Blair — the Shirrah and Miss Bella Innes —

      Sir Henry and Lady Dunn.

      (A slight pause after each announcement, during which guests exchange greetings, look at presents, etc. The BAILIE is an inquisitive little man who thinks artists deeply interesting but not quite respectable.)

      BAILIE. Proud to shake hands with you, Mr. Digby.

      (He is about to do it but is pushed aside by the SHIRRAH, who shakes hands. He tries it again and SIR HENRY pushes him aside. He then succeeds.’)

      MEIKLE. Mr and Mrs. Menzies — the Misses Cranston — the Fiscal.

      (These enter.)

      BAILIE (WHO HAS BEEN GAZING AT PAUL AS AT THE OUTSIDE OF a CIRCUS). I am far from wishing to seem inquisitive, sir, but may I ask you what your income is?

      ARMITAGE. Do you think my man looks fit, Miss Innes?

      MISS INNES. Ah, one can never tell.

      PROVOST. And that is true, Miss Innes. There was Mr. Carmichael, our grocer, a bold man at a bargain, and yet on his marriage day when he should have been standing by his bride’s side he — where was it they found him hiding, Sarah? (TO HIS WIFE) Was it in the cellar, or beneath the counter?

      PAUL. Thank you, Provost; very encouraging.

      MEIKLE. Lady Janet Dunwoodie.

      (ENTER lady janet.)

      MRS TEVIOT. I remember one wedding I was at. The bridegroom was a soldier, but when he should have said ‘I do,’ he burst into tears.

      PAUL. Oh, I promise you I shall say it fast enough.

      MEIKLE. Lady Fenton, Lady Alice Fenton — Gordon of the Whaups — Mrs. Grieg and the Misses Grieg.

      (THEY ENTER; fairbairn GOES OUT.)

      ARMITAGE (TO lady janet). I say, Lady Janet, they are trying to frighten my man.

      LADY JANET. And he is quite sufficiently frightened as it is. Have you heard, Mrs. Teviot, that he and Margaret are not to remain for the wedding breakfast? They are to run away immediately after the ceremony.

      SEVERAL. Oh, shame!

      PAUL. Margaret’s wish, I assure you, ladies — not mine.

      MRS TEVIOT. And where do you go?

      PAUL. Only to the Dower House for the first fortnight.

      LADY JANET. Margaret will not even wait to change her dress.

      MRS TEVIOT. Oh! But as the Dower House is so near — we can all call on them! (THERE IS SOME LAUGHTER AT THIS.)

      MEIKLE (coming into centre of room, impressively). H’sh! The minister!

      (The talking suddenly ceases. Enter rev mr gibson, a sweet old gentleman. He is dressed in ordinary outdoor dress of a clergyman.)

      MR GIBSON (whispering to MEIKLE). Which is the bridegroom?

      MEIKLE. This, sir. (TO PAUL) Mr. Gibson, sir!

      MR GIBSON (SHAKING HANDS WITH PAUL). Ah! Mr. Digby, what shall we do without our Margaret?

      PAUL. I am thankful to say, Mr. Gibson, that her father has already found a bright side. You are to drop in frequently and play draughts with him.

      MR GIBSON (SMILING). The worst of it is, Fairbairn gets so angry when I win — and I usually win!

      (Solemn music as of organ begins, BLANCHE runs off. All look expectant, mr gibson and MEIKLE whisper — mr.

      gibson points out in dumb show how he wants guests to stand and then reads certificates to himself while MEIKLE puts guests in their places. Margaret’s maid hurries in excitedly, looks about for train and exits despairing. MR.

      gibson and MEIKLE stare after her BLANCHE rushes in and looks for train. She whispers to MEIKLE and mr.

      GIBSON. The three whisper with their heads close together PAUL joins them — whispering. He signs to armitage who joins them — whispering, armitage nods and complacently produces bundle and gives it to BLANCHE. To his surprise she is in agony. She weeps, then with withering disdain exits with bundle, PAUL, mr gibson, and MEIKLE signify their contempt for armitage — he is crushed, mr gibson paces floor, measuring off the exact distance from bride and bridegroom atwhichheisto stand. Hesigns to MEIKLE MEIKLE then beckons and the servants come in. He places them.

      MEIKLE and mr gibson take last look round; they nod to each other, MEIKLE signs to guests that the moment has arrived. Then he goes out. Enter mr fairbairn with MARGARET on his arm, followed by BLANCHE and other bridesmaids (two of them children). They take up position beside PAUL Music ceases MEIKLE brings mrs.

      ommaney IN AND SHE STANDS LISTLESSLY BEHIND SERVANTS, NOT LOOKING AT WHAT IS GOING ON. ALL LOOK AT Paul AND MARGARET, SMILING AND INTERESTED EXCEPT THE MINISTER IS EXAMINING PAPERS IN HIS HAND.)

      MR GIBSON (REFERRING TO PAPER). It is here certified that Paul Digby, bachelor, of the parish of Chelsea, London, and Margaret Fairbairn, of this parish, have been duly proclaimed according to the laws of their respective churches and we are now met together to solemnise the marriage.

      (All bow and there is a slight pause to indicate prayer by the minister. At the words ‘Paul Digby,’ MRS. OMMANEY has started and gazes transfixed at PAUL. All others looking at the couple, she is not observed, PAUL and MARGARET are looking down. СКАЧАТЬ