Complete Plays of John Galsworthy Novel Chapters
List of most recent chapters published for the Complete Plays of John Galsworthy novel. A total of 379 chapters have been translated and the release date of the last chapter is Apr 02, 2024
Latest Release: Chapter 1 : The Project Gutenberg Plays of John Galsworthy.by John Galsworthy.FIRST SERIES: THE SILV
The Project Gutenberg Plays of John Galsworthy.by John Galsworthy.FIRST SERIES: THE SILVER BOX A COMEDY IN THREE ACTS
PERSONS OF THE PLAY JOHN BARTHWICK, M.P., a wealthy Liberal MRS. BARTHWICK, his wife JACK BARTHWICK, their son ROPER, their solicitor MR
- 279 [The ENGLISHMAN suddenly utters a profound "Ha, Ha!" and disappears behind his paper. And that paper and the one opposite are seen to shake, and little sguirls and squeaks emerge.]GERMAN. And you haf got her bundle, and her baby. Ha! [He cackles drily.]
- 278 LITTLE MAN. I'm afraid I'm nothing particular. My father was half-English and half-American, and my mother half-German and half-Dutch.AMERICAN. My! That's a bit streaky, any old way. [The POLICEMAN pa.s.ses again] Now, I don't believe we've much use
- 277 [The ENGLISH make faint motions with their chins and avert their eyes.][To the WAITER, who is standing at the door of the buffet]Waiter! Flash of beer--jump, now!WAITER. 'Komm' gleich'!GERMAN. 'Cigarren'! WAITER. 'Schon'![He disappears.]AMERICAN. [
- 276 ENGLISHWOMAN. [In a Cambridge voice] One.AMERICAN TRAVELLER. [With field-gla.s.ses and a pocket camera from another table] Waiter, I'd like to have you get my eggs. I've been sitting here quite a while.WAITER. Yes, sare.GERMAN TRAVELLER. 'Kellner, beza
- 275 LARRY. [Looking up] It's all here--I've confessed. [Reading]"Please bury us together.""LAURENCE DARRANT."January 28th, about six p.m."They'll find us in the morning. Come and have supper, my dear love. [The girl creeps forward. He rises, puts his
- 274 WANDA. Yes--but now! What will he do? That poor man!KEITH. A graveyard thief--a ghoul!WANDA. Perhaps he was hungry. I have been hungry: you do things then that you would not. Larry has thought of him in prison so much all these weeks. Oh! what shall we do
- 273 LARRY. Good night!KEITH goes. LARRY Sits down on the couch sand stares at the fire. The girl steals up and slips her arms about him.LARRY. An innocent man!WANDA. Oh, Larry! But so are you. What did we want--to kill that man? Never! Oh! kiss me![LARRY turn
- 272 KEITH. Exactly!LARRY. Well, what's the sentence, brother? Transportation for life and then to be fined forty pounds'?KEITH. So you can joke, can you?LARRY. Must.KEITH. A boat leaves for the Argentine the day after to-morrow; you must go by it. LARRY. [P
- 271 Suddenly she bends and kisses his hand. KEITH draws his hand away, and she recoils a little humbly, looking up at him again.Suddenly she stands rigid, listening.[In a whisper] Listen! Someone--out there!She darts past him and turns out the light. There is
- 270 WANDA. Yes; oh, yes! Awful--it is awful!KEITH. [Staring round him again.] In this room?WANDA. Just where you are standing. I see him now, always falling.KEITH. [Moved by the gentle despair in her voice] You--look very young. What's your name?WANDA. Wanda
- 269 [LARRY nods.]Spending most of his time abroad, I suppose.LARRY. I think so.KEITH. Can you say if he was known to the police?LARRY. I've never heard. KEITH turns away and walks up and down; then, stopping at LARRY's chair, he speaks.KEITH. Now listen, La
- 268 LARRY. [Sighing it out] Yes. KEITH. This Walenn--was it his first reappearance after an absence? LARRY. Yes. KEITH. How did he find out where she was? LARRY. I dont know. KEITH. [Brutally] How drunk were you? LARRY. I was not drunk. KEITH. How much had
- 267 KEITH. Did you take anything from the-body? LARRY. [Drawing au envelope from his pocket] This dropped out while we were struggling. KEITH. [s.n.a.t.c.hing it and reading] "Patrick Walenn"--Was that his name? "Simons Hotel, Farrier Street, London." [St
- 266 [Staring] Are you ill?LARRY stands still again and heaves a deep sigh.KEITH. [Rising, with his back to the fire, and staring at his brother] What is it, man? [Then with a brutality born of nerves suddenly ruffled] Have you committed a murder that you stan
- 265 MRS. H. [Approaching] What is it? HILLCRIST. Hypocrite! [JILL comes running in at the window.] JILL. Dodo, shes moved; shes spoken. It may not be so bad. HILLCRIST. Thank G.o.d for that! [FELLOWS enters, Left.] FELLOWS. The Jackmans, maam. HILLCRIST. Wh
- 264 CHARLES. Gentle? A woman who--who---- HILLCRIST. A most unhappy creature. Come!CHARLES. d.a.m.n your sympathy![He goes out into the moonlight, pa.s.sing away.]JILL. Dodo, we ought to look for her; I'm awfully afraid. HILLCRIST. I saw her there--listening
- 263 HILLCRIST. This morning, I believe, Jill?JILL. Yes, she came this morning.CHARLES. [staring at her] I know that--now, I mean?JILL. No.[HILLCRIST shakes has head.] CHARLES. Tell me what was said this morning.HILLCRIST. I was not here this morning.CHARLES.
- 262 You see, my father went bankrupt, and I was in a shop---- HILLCRIST. [Soothingly, and to prevent disclosures] Yes, yes; Yes, yes!CHLOE. I never gave a man away or did anything I was ashamed of--at least--I mean, I had to make my living in all sorts of way
- 261 CHLOE. Go away.ROLF. What's the matter? Tell me!CHLOE. Go away, and don't say anything. Oh! The roses! [She has put her nose into some roses in a bowl on a big stand close to the window] Don't they smell lovely?ROLF. What did Jill want this afternoon?C
- 260 MRS. H. Very well; here is a Bible.[She takes a small Bible from the bookshelf.]DAWKER. [Spreading doc.u.ment on bureau] This is a short conveyance of the Centry and Longmeadow--recites sale to you by Miss Mulling, of the first, John Hillcrist of the seco
- 259 HORNBLOWER. [Looking at CHLOE] That's enough. Take them out.Leave me alone with her.[DAWKER takes them out Right. MRS. HILLCRIST pa.s.ses HORNBLOWER and goes out at the window. HORNBLOWER moves down a step or two towards CHLOE.]HORNBLOWER. My G.o.d!CHLOE
- 258 Hornblower?HORNBLOWER. [Taken aback] No, I'm not. That is-----.MRS. H. Well, you know that misconduct is required. And I suppose you've heard that cases are arranged.HORNBLOWER. I know it's all very shocking--what about it?MRS. H. When cases are arrang
- 257 That's the winner--hands down. Goodbye!ROLF. Jill! Jill!JILL. [Putting her hands behind her back, hums]-- "If auld acquaintance be forgot And days of auld lang syne"---- ROLF. Don't![With a pained gesture he goes out towards Left, through the French w
- 256 CURTAIN ACT III SCENE I HILLCRISTS study next morning. JILL coming from Left, looks in at the open French window. JILL. [Speaking to ROLF, invisible] Come in here. Theres no one. [She goes in. ROLF joins her, coming from the garden.] ROLF. Jill, I just
- 255 CHARLES. [Sitting on the arm of the sofa and caressing her] Feel better, dear?CHLOE. Yes, better, Charlie.CHARLES. That's right. Would you like some soup?CHLOE. [With a shudder] No.CHARLES. I say-what gives you these heads? You've been very on and off a
- 254 HORNBLOWER. [Crossing to the door] Lie ye down, and get a sleep.I'll tell them not to disturb ye; and I hope ye'll be all right to-morrow. Good-night, Chloe.CHLOE. Good-night. [He goes out.][After a feverish turn or two, CHLOE returns to the open window
- 253 CHLOE. [Going to the window and opening it] This way, Rolf. If you don't come back I shall know he's coming. Put your watch by mine. [Looking at his watch] It's a minute fast, see!ROLF. Look here, Chloe CHLOE. Don't wait; go on.[She almost pushes him
- 252 [She goes firmly up the steps and out.]DAWKER. [To the STRANGER, with a wink] The Squire's squeamish--too much of a gentleman. But he don't count. The grey mare's all right. You wire to Henry. I'm off to our solicitors. We'll make that old rhinoceros
- 251 DAWKER. The threat's enough! J.P.--Chapel--Future member for the const.i.tuency----.HILLCRIST. [A little more doubtfully] To use a piece of knowledge about a woman--it's repugnant. I--I won't do it.[Mrs. H. If you had a son tricked into marrying such a
- 250 HORNBLOWER. Why! Chloe! What's the matter?CHLOE. I don't know; I'm not well to-day.[She pulls herself together with a great, effort.]MRS. H. [Who has exchanged a nod with DAWKER and the STRANGER] Mr.Hornblower, you build at your peril. I warn you. HORN
- 249 HILLCRIST. Phew! What a squeak! I was clean out of my depth. A mercy the Duke chipped in again.MRS. H. [Looking at ROLF and CHLOE, who are standing up as if about to go] Take care; they can hear you. Find DAWKER, Jack.[Below, the AUCTIONEER and SOLICITOR
- 248 HILLCRIST. [Muttering] Low! Heavens!AUCTIONEER. Any advance on six thousand? Come, gen'lemen, we haven't dried up? A little spirit. Six thousand? For six thousand? For six thousand pounds? Very well, I'm selling. For six thousand once--[He taps] For si
- 247 JILL. [Sighing] Oh, h.e.l.l!HILLCRIST. Jill!JILL. Sorry, Dodo. I was only thinking. Look! Here he is!Phew!--isn't he----?MRS. H. 's.h.!.+ The AUCTIONEER comes in Left and goes to the table. He is a square, short, brown-faced, common looking man, with cl
- 246 ROLF. Down there; see?[He points down to stage Right of the room.]CHLOE. [Drawing back in her seat with a little gasp] Oh!ROLF. [Not noticing] Who's that next him, looking up here?CHLOE. I don't know. [She has raised her auction programme suddenly, and
- 245 [He turns to go.]JILL. [Just as he is vanis.h.i.+ng--softly] Enemy?ROLF. [Turning] Yes, enemy.JILL. Before the battle--let's shake hands.[They move from the lintels and grasp each other's hands in the centre of the French window.] CURTAIN ACT II SCENE I
- 244 MRS. H. Excuse me, I shall keep my thoughts to myself at present.[She looks coldly at JILL, and goes out through the French window.]HILLCRIST. You've thoroughly upset your mother, Jill.JILL. It's something Dawker's told her; I saw them. I don't like D
- 243 JILL. [Quite softly] Mr. Hornblower!HILLCRIST. [From the window] Jill!JILL. [Impatiently] Well, what's the good of it? Life's too short for rows, and too jolly!ROLF. Bravo!HORNBLOWER. [Who has shown a sign of weakening] Now, look here! I will not have r
- 242 HORNBLOWER. What's that, in Heaven's name? Ye needn' wrap it up in long words now your good lady's gone.HILLCRIST. [With dignity] I'm not going in for a slanging match.I resent your conduct much too deeply.HORNBLOWER. Look here, Hillcrist, I don't o
- 241 she'll get her price, whatever it is.HILLCRIST. [With deep anger] If that isn't a skin game, Mr.Hornblower, I don't know what is.HORNBLOWER. Ah! Ye've got a very nice expression there. "Skin game!" Well, bad words break no bones, an' they're wonde
- 240 [His voice has a curious blend in its tone of bra.s.s and oil, and an accent not quite Scotch nor quite North country.]Haven't seen ye for a long time, Hillcrist.HILLCRIST. [Who has risen] Not since I sold you Longmeadow and those cottages, I believe.HOR
- 239 HILLCRIST. Turning people out that have been there thirty years. I won't have it. It's a breach of faith.MRS. H. Do you suppose this Hornblower will care two straws about that Jack?HILLCRIST. He must, when it's put to him, if he's got any decent feeli
- 238 FELLOWS. The wrist I draw corks with.HILLCRIST. [With a cackle] You'd have had more than a twinge if you'd lived with my father. H'm!FELLOWS. Excuse me, sir--Vichy water corks, in my experience, are worse than any wine.HILLCRIST. [Ironically] Ah! The c
- 237 HILLCRIST. Since Elizabeth, anyway.JILL. [Looking at his foot] It has its drawbacks. D'you think Hornblower had a father? I believe he was spontaneous. But, Dodo, why all this--this att.i.tude to the Hornblowers?[She purses her lips and makes a gesture a
- 236 HILLCRIST. A self-a.s.sertive fellow, without a sense of other people.JILL. Well, Old Hornblower I'll give you.HILLCRIST. I wouldn't take him.JILL. Well, you've got him. Now, Charlie--Chearlie--I say--the importance of not being Charlie---- HILLCRIST.
- 235 LORD W. But what is it?LEMMY. Wot is it? [His eyes are fearfully fixed on LADY WILLIAM] I fought everybody knew 'em.LADY W. Mr. Lemmy, you must clear this up, please.LEMMY. [TO LORD WILLIAM, With his eyes still held On LADY WILLIAM-- mysteriously] Wiv ly
- 234 LORD W. I was born with this beastly great house, and money, and goodness knows what other entanglements--a wife and family---- VOICE. Born with a wife and family![Jeers and laughter.]LORD W. I feel we're all in the same boat, and I want to pull my weigh
- 233 PRESS. [Writing furiously] "Lady William stood like a statue at bay."LORD W. Got one of those lozenges on you, Nell?[But LADY WILLIAM has almost nothing on her.]LEMMY. [Producing a paper from his pocket] 'Ave one o' my gum drops?[He pa.s.ses it to LOR
- 232 LORD W. [Rather desperately] I know--hunger and all the rest of it!And here am I, a rich man, and don't know what the deuce to do.LEMMY. Well, I'll tell yer. Throw yer cellars open, an' while the populyce is gettin' drunk, sell all yer 'ave an' go a
- 231 JAMES. Do you want him in or out, me Lord?LEMMY. I sy, you've divided the Press; 'e was unanimous.[The FOOTMEN let THE PRESS through.]LORD W. [To THE PRESS] I'm so sorry.LEMMY. Would yer like me to see to 'is gas? LORD W. So you're my friend of the c
- 230 [POULDER blocks LEMMY'S way, with CHARLES and HENRY behind him.]POULDER. James, watch it; I'll report.[He moves away, following THE PRESS through the door. JAMES between table and window. THOMAS has gone to the door. HENRY and CHARLES remain at the entr
- 229 [She takes LITTLE AIDAS hand.] JAMES. [Between the pillars] Tommy, ketch em! [THOMAS retains them by the skirts.] L. ANNE. [Feigning indifference] All right, then! [To LITTLE AIDA] Have you ever seen a bomb? L. AIDA. Nao. L. ANNE. [Going to the table an
- 228 POULDER. Look here, James! I cant go on in this revolutionary spirit; either you or I resign. JAMES. Crisis in the Cabinet! POULDER. I give you your marchin orders. JAMES. [Ineffably] Whats that you give me? POULDER. Thomas, remove James! [THOMAS grins.
- 227 MISS S. The Church is too busy, Poulder.POULDER. Ah! That "Purity an' Future o' the Race Campaign." I'll tell you what I thinks the danger o' that, Miss. So much purity that there won't be a future race. [Expanding] Purity of 'eart's an excellent
- 226 [He moves towards the doors, the three workers follow.]MRS. ANN. [Stopping before JAMES] You 'yn't one, I suppose?[JAMES stirs no muscle.]POULDER. Now please. [He opens the doors. The Voice of LORD WILLIAM speaking is heard] Pa.s.s in.[THE THREE WORKERS
- 225 LADY W. Of course--first quiet moment.POULDER. I'll bring it up, and have a watch put on it here, my lady.[LORD WILLIAM comes through the double doom followed by JAMES.POULDER retires.]LORD W. Can't you come, Nell? LADY W. Oh! Bill, your Dad wants to sp
- 224 PRESS. [Looking at his watch] Ah! and Mrs. Lemmy. There's an Anti-Sweating Meeting going on at a house in Park Lane. We can get there in twenty minutes if we shove along. I want you to tell them about the trouser-making. You'll be a sensation!LEMMY. [To
- 223 PRESS. [Writing] "Sews." Yes?MRS. L. [Holding up her unfinished pair of trousers] I putt in the b.u.t.ton'oles, I stretches the flies, I lines the crutch, I putt on this bindin', [She holds up the calico that binds the top] I sews on the b.u.t.tons, I
- 222 PRESS. Well now--the future. [Writing] "He prophesies."LEMMY. It's syfer, 'yn't it? [He winks] No one never looks back on prophecies. I remembers an editor spring o' 1916 stykin' his reputytion the war'd be over in the follerin' October. Increase
- 221 LEMMY. [Dubiously] Wat-oh!PRESS. Mr. Lemmy?LEMMY. The syme.PRESS. I'm from the Press.LEMMY. Blimy. PRESS. They told me at your place you wens very likely here.LEMMY. Yus I left Downin' Street a bit early to-dy! [He tw.a.n.gs the feddle-strings pompously
- 220 LEMMY. [Leaning out] I sy--you 'yn't tykin' the body, are yer?VOICE. Nao.LEMMY. Did she die o' starvytion O.K.?VOICE. She bloomin' well did; I know 'er brother.LEMMY. Ah! That'll do us a bit o' good! VOICE. Cheerio!LEMMY. So long!VOICE. So long![T
- 219 MRS. L. Well; go yu, then, and get a breath o' fresh air in yore chakes. I'll sune 'a feneshed.L. AIDA. [Solemnly] I'm goin' to be a dancer, I am.She rushes suddenly to the door, pulls it open, and is gone.MRS. L. [Looking after her, and talking to h
- 218 LADY W. [Staring] My dear boy, I really don't think you ought to see the Press; it always upsets you.LORD W. Well! Why should you and I be going to eat ourselves silly to improve the condition of the sweated, when---- LADY W. [Calmly] When they're going
- 217 PRESS. As a man or a Press man?LORD W. Is there any difference?PRESS. Is there any connection?LORD W. Well, as a man.PRESS. As a man, I think it's rotten. LORD W. [Jotting] "Rotten." And as a pressman?PRESS. [Smiling] Prime.LORD W. What! Like a Stilton
- 216 PRESS. [Nodding] I see--I see! Get Society interested in the Sweated, through the dinner. I have the menu here. [He produces it.]LORD W. Good G.o.d, man--more than that! I want to show the people that we stand side by side with them, as we did in the tren
- 215 POULDER. [Looking at his watch] 'Enry, leave the cooler, and take up the wine; tell Thomas to lay it out; get the champagne into ice, and 'ave Charles 'andy in the 'all in case some literary bounder comes punctual.[HENRY takes up the wine and goes.]PR
- 214 POULDER. [Barring the way] Not so! James, put him up in that empty 'ock bin. We can't have dinner disturbed in any way.JAMES. [Putting his hands on THE PRESS'S shoulders] Look here--go quiet! I've had a grudge against you yellow newspaper boys ever si
- 213 JAMES. Hallo!POULDER. What's all this?JAMES. Bomb!POULDER. Miss Anne, off you go, and don't you---- L. ANNE. Come back again! I know! [She flies.] JAMES. [Extending his hand with the pipe in it] See!POULDER. [Severely] You've been at it again! Look her
- 212 JAMES. Well--that's the same thing.L. ANNE. It isn't--it's the opposite. What is cla.s.s hatred, James?JAMES. [Wisely] Ah! A lot o' people thought when the war was over there'd be no more o' that. [He sn.i.g.g.e.rs] Used to amuse me to read in the p
- 211 JAMES. Poulder. Butlers think they're the Almighty. [Gloomily]But his name's Bartholomew.L. ANNE. Bartholomew Poulder? It's rather jolly.JAMES. It's hidjeous.L. ANNE. Which do you like to be called--John or James? JAMES. I don't give a darn.L. ANNE.
- 210 STRANGWAY. I don't know, Tibby.VOICE OF MERCY. [Distant and cautious] Tibby! Tibby! Where are yu?STRANGWAY. Mercy calling; run to her![TIBBY starts off, turns back and lifts her face. He bends to kiss her, and flinging her arms round his neck, she gives
- 209 STRANGWAY. [Going to her quickly] It's me, Tibby--Tib only me!TIBBY. I seed a ghosty.STRANGWAY. [Taking her up] No, no, my bird, you didn't! It was me.TIBBY. [Burying her face against him] I'm frighted. It was a big one. [She gives tongue again] O-o-oh
- 208 MERCY. 'E shuld'n' 'a let my skylark go.CLYST. [Out of sheer contradictoriness] Ya-as, 'e shude, then.What du yu want with th' birds of the air? They'm no gude to yu.IVY. [Mournfully] And now he's goin' away.CLYST. Ya-as; 'tes a pity. He's the
- 207 MRS. BRADMERE. Ah! [With finality] You must see a doctor.[Seeing that the look on his face does not change, she opens the door, and hurries away into the moonlight.][STRANGWAY crosses the room to where his wife's picture hangs, and stands before it, his
- 206 about 'is wife like this. He'm a proud man tu, I think. 'Tes a funny business altogether!MRS. BRADMERE. Horrible! Poor fellow! Now, come! Do your best, Burlacombe![BURLACOMBE touches his forelock and goes. MRS. BRADMERE stands quite still, thinking. Th
- 205 SCENE I In the BURLACOMBES' hall-sitting-room the curtains are drawn, a lamp burns, and the door stands open. BURLACOMBE and his wife are hovering there, listening to the sound of mingled cheers and groaning.MRS. BURLACOMBE. Aw! my gudeness--what a thing
- 204 VOICE OF GLADYS. Tim Clyst I giv' it a little push, meself.VOICE OF CONNIE. Oh!VOICE of GLADYS. Tim Clyst's gone in!ANOTHER VOICE. O-o-o-h!VOICE of MERCY. Whu else is there, tu? VOICE OF GLADYS. Ivy's there, an' Old Mrs. Potter, an' tu o' the maids
- 203 FREMAN. [Mollified] We'll 'ave that zet down, then, while we're electin' the chairman o' the next meetin'.[A silence. ]TRUSTAFORD. Well then, seein' this is the praaper old meetin' for carryin' the resolution about the curate, I purpose Mr. Sol P
- 202 SCENE II The same-in daylight dying fast. A lamp is burning on the bar.A chair has been placed in the centre of the room, facing the bench under the window, on which are seated from right to left, G.o.dLEIGH, SOL POTTER the village shopman, TRUSTAFORD, BU
- 201 FREMAN. He bides in yure house; 'tes natural for yu to stand up for un; I'll wager Mrs. Burlacombe don't, though. My missis was fair shocked. "Will," she says, "if yu ever make vur to let me go like that, I widden never stay wi' yu," she says.TRUS
- 200 CLYST. Pa.s.sin' down the lane on my bike. Wonderful sorrowful-fine music 'e played. The ponies they did come round 'e--yu cud zee the tears rennin' down their chakes; 'twas powerful sad. 'E 'adn't no 'at on.FREMAN. [Jeering] No; 'e 'ad a bird
- 199 BURLACOMBE. [Acidly] Never asked to see my missis. Pa.s.sed me in the yard like a stone.TRUSTAFORD. 'Tes a little bit rumoursome lately about 'er doctor.G.o.dLEIGH. Ah! he's the favourite. But 'tes a dead secret; Mr.Trustaford. Don't yu never repate
- 198 ACT II SCENE I About seven o'clock in the taproom of the village inn. The bar, with the appurtenances thereof, stretches across one end, and opposite is the porch door on to the green. The wall between is nearly all window, with leaded panes, one wide-op
- 197 BEATRICE. No. It was--I--alone. But--he loves me.STRANGWAY. One does not easily know love, it seems.[But her smile, faint, mysterious, pitying, is enough, and he turns away from her.]BEATRICE. It was cruel to come, I know. For me, too. But I couldn't wri
- 196 IVY. [Nodding] I'm fourteen now.BEATRICE. Well, then--, I don't want anybody but Mr. Strangway to know I've been here; n.o.body, not even your mother. D'you understand?IVY. [Troubled] No. Only, I can keep a secret.BEATRICE. Mind, if anybody hears, it
- 195 MRS. BURLACOMBE. 'Tis funny rest an' 'e comin' 'ere for quiet after that tearin' great London paris.h.!.+ 'E'm terrible absent-minded tu --don't take no interest in 'is fude. Yesterday, goin' on for one o'clock, 'e says to me, "I expect 'ti
- 194 STRANGWAY. My-ah! Yes. Thank you; yes.MRS. BURLACOMBE. But I'll goo over an' get the buke for yu.'T won't take me 'alf a minit.[She goes out on to the green. JIM BERE has come in.]STRANGWAY. [Gently] Well, Jim? JIM. My cat's lost.STRANGWAY. Lost?JIM
- 193 IVY. She might have.GLADYS. He'll p'raps take my squirrel, tu.IVY. The bird sang--I 'eard it! Right up in the sky. It wouldn't have sanged if it weren't glad.GLADYS. Well, Mercy cried.IVY. I don't care. GLADYS. 'Tis a shame! And I know something. M
- 192 IVY. 'Tis like about Orpheus, that yu told us.STRANGWAY. Ah! But St. Francis was a Christian, and Orpheus was a Pagan.IVY. Oh!STRANGWAY. Orpheus drew everything after him with music; St.Francis by love. IVY. Perhaps it was the same, really.STRANGWAY. [lo
- 191 SCENE I. STRANGWAY'S rooms.SCENE II. BURLACOMBE'S barn.A BIT O' LOVE ACT I It is Ascension Day in a village of the West. In the low panelled hall-sittingroom of the BURLACOMBE'S farmhouse on the village green, MICHAEL STRANGWAY, a clerical collar roun
- 190 A VOICE. You've always that.[ANOTHER VOICE raises a donkey's braying.]MORE. You--Mob--are the most contemptible thing under the sun. When you walk the street--G.o.d goes in.CHIEF STUDENT. Be careful, you--sir.VOICES. Down him! Down with the beggar! MORE
- 189 MORE. This is madness, Kit--Kit!KATHERINE. Last night I was ready. You couldn't. If you couldn't then, you never can. You are very exalted, Stephen. I don't like living--I won't live, with one whose equal I am not. This has been coming ever since you
- 188 [Then, seeing that KATHERINE is quivering with emotion, he strokes her hand.]SIR JOHN. My dear! Death is in many houses!KATHERINE. I must go to Helen. Tell Stephen, Father. I can't.SIR JOHN. If you wish, child.[She goes out, leaving SIR JOHN to his grave
- 187 MENDIP. Ah! So you actually are flesh and blood.MORE. Yes!MENDIP. Take off the martyr's s.h.i.+rt, Stephen. You're only flouting human nature.MORE. So--even you defend the mob!MENDIP. My dear fellow, you're up against the strongest common instinct in t
- 186 She draws away from him a little, and after looking long at her, he sits down at the dressing-table and begins turning over the brushes and articles of toilet, trying to find words.MORE. Never look forward. After the time I've had--I thought-- tonight--i
- 185 HELEN too is in a wrapper, with a piece of lace thrown over her head. Her face is scared and miserable, and she runs into KATHERINE's arms.KATHERINE. My dear, what is it?HELEN. I've seen--a vision!KATHERINE. Hss.h.!.+ You'll wake Olive!HELEN. [Staring
- 184 KATHERINE. Just a few people go to hear him, and then a great crowd comes and breaks in; or they wait for him outside, and throw things, and hoot.OLIVE. Poor Daddy! Is it people on our side who throw things?KATHERINE. Yes, but only rough people.OLIVE. Why
- 183 A VOICE. Don't stand there like a stuck pig.A ROUGH. Let's 'ave 'im dahn off that!Under cover of the applause that greets this, he strikes MORE across the legs with a belt. STEEL starts forward. MORE, flinging out his arm, turns him back, and resumes
- 182 A ROUGH GIRL. Don't frighten the poor feller![A girl beside her utters a shrill laugh.]STEEL. [Tugging at MORE's arm] Come along, sir.MORE. [Shaking his arm free--to the crowd] Well, what do you want?A VOICE. Speech. MORE. Indeed! That's new.ROUGH VOIC
- 181 HOME. [In a strange, almost threatening voice] It won't do, Mr.More. Give us your word, to hold your peace!SHELDER. Come! More.WACE. Yes, indeed--indeed!BANNING. We must have it. MORE. [Without lifting his head] I--I---- The drum-tap of a regiment marchi
- 180 [There is silence, and they all look at MORE.]SHELDER. There are very excellent reasons for the Government's policy.MORE. There are always excellent reasons for having your way with the weak.SHELDER. My dear More, how can you get up any enthusiasm for th