Plays By John Galsworthy Volume Ii Part 17

CHRISTINE. It's ridiculous--monstrous! It's fantastic!

HAROLD. [Holding up his hand] There's his horse going round. He's in!

They turn from listening to the sound, to see LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE coming from the billiard-room. She is very pale. They all rise and DOT puts an arm round her; while KEITH pushes forward his chair. JOAN and LATTER too have come stealing back.

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. Thank you, Ronny!

[She sits down.]

DOT. Mother, you're s.h.i.+vering! Shall I get you a fur?

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. No, thanks, dear!

DOT. [In a low voice] Play up, mother darling!

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. [Straightening herself] What sort of a run, Ronny?

KEITH. Quite fair, M'm. Brazier's to Caffyn's d.y.k.e, good straight line.

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. And the young horse?

KEITH. Carries his ears in your mouth a bit, that's all. [Putting his hand on her shoulder] Cheer up, Mem-Sahib!

CHRISTINE. Mother, must anything be said to father? Ronny thinks it all depends on her. Can't you use your influence? [LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE shakes her head.]

CHRISTINE. But, mother, it's desperate.

DOT. Shut up, Chris! Of course mother can't. We simply couldn't beg her to let us off!

CHRISTINE. There must be some way. What do you think in your heart, mother?

DOT. Leave mother alone!

CHRISTINE. It must be faced, now or never.

DOT. [In a low voice] Haven't you any self-respect?

CHRISTINE. We shall be the laughing-stock of the whole county. Oh!

mother do speak to her! You know it'll be misery for both of them.

[LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE bows her head] Well, then? [LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE shakes her head.]

CHRISTINE. Not even for Bill's sake?

DOT. Chris!

CHRISTINE. Well, for heaven's sake, speak to Bill again, mother! We ought all to go on our knees to him.

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. He's with your father now.

HAROLD. Poor old Bill!

CHRISTINE. [Pa.s.sionately] He didn't think of us! That wretched girl!

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. Chris!

CHRISTINE. There are limits!

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. Not to self-control.

CHRISTINE. No, mother! I can't I never shall--Something must be done! You know what Bill is. He rushes at things so, when he gets his head down. Oh! do try! It's only fair to her, and all of us!

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. [Painfully] There are things one can't do.

CHRISTINE. But it's Bill! I know you can make her give him up, if you'll only say all you can. And, after all, what's coming won't affect her as if she'd been a lady. Only you can do it, mother: Do back me up, all of you! It's the only way!

Hypnotised by their private longing for what CHRISTINE has been urging they have all fixed their eyes on LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE, who looks from, face to face, and moves her hands as if in physical pain.

CHRISTINE. [Softly] Mother!

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE suddenly rises, looking towards the billiard-room door, listening. They all follow her eyes. She sits down again, pa.s.sing her hand over her lips, as SIR WILLIAM enters.

His hunting clothes are splashed; his face very grim and set.

He walks to the fore without a glance at any one, and stands looking down into it. Very quietly, every one but LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE steals away.

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. What have you done?

SIR WILLIAM. You there!

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. Don't keep me in suspense!

SIR WILLIAM. The fool! My G.o.d! Dorothy! I didn't think I had a blackguard for a son, who was a fool into the bargain.

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. [Rising] If he were a blackguard he would not be what you call a fool.

SIR WILLIAM. [After staring angrily, makes her a slight bow] Very well!

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. [In a low voice] Bill, don't be harsh. It's all too terrible.

SIR WILLIAM. Sit down, my dear.

[She resumes her seat, and he turns back to the fire.]

SIR WILLIAM. In all my life I've never been face to face with a thing like this. [Gripping the mantelpiece so hard that his hands and arms are seen shaking] You ask me to be calm. I am trying to be.

Be good enough in turn not to take his part against me.

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. Bill!

SIR WILLIAM. I am trying to think. I understand that you've known this--piece of news since this morning. I've known it ten minutes.

Give me a little time, please. [Then, after a silence] Where's the girl?

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. In the workroom.