HALL-MARKED

A SATIRIC TRIFLE

CHARACTERS

Herself. 
Lady Ella. 
The Squire. 
The maid. 
Maud. 
The Rector. 
The doctor. 
The cabman. 
Hannibal and Edward

HALL-MARKED

     The scene is the sitting-room and verandah of her bungalow.

The room is pleasant, and along the back, where the verandah runs, it seems all window, both French and casement.  There is a door right and a door left.  The day is bright; the time morning.

[Herself, dripping wet, comes running along the verandah, through the French window, with a wet Scotch terrier in her arms.  She vanishes through the door left.  A little pause, and lady Ella comes running, dry, thin, refined, and agitated.  She halts where the tracks of water cease at the door left.  A little pause, and Maud comes running, fairly dry, stolid, breathless, and dragging a bull-dog, wet, breathless, and stout, by the crutch end of her ’en-tout-cas’].

Lady Ella.  Don’t bring Hannibal in till I know where she’s put Edward!

Maud. [Brutally, to Hannibal] Bad dog!  Bad dog!

     [Hannibal snuffles.]

Lady Ella.  Maud, do take him out!  Tie him up.  Here! [She takes out a lace handkerchief ] No—­something stronger!  Poor darling Edward! [To Hannibal] You are a bad dog!

     [Hannibal snuffles.]

Maud.  Edward began it, Ella. [To Hannibal] Bad dog!  Bad dog!

     [Hannibal snuffles.]

Lady Ella.  Tie him up outside.  Here, take my scarf.  Where is my poor treasure? [She removes her scarf] Catch!  His ear’s torn; I saw it.

Maud. [Taking the scarf, to Hannibal] Now!

     [Hannibal snuffles.]

     [She ties the scarf to his collar]

He smells horrible.  Bad dog—­getting into ponds to fight!

Lady Ella.  Tie him up, Maud.  I must try in here.

     [Their husbands, the Squire and the Rector, come hastening along
     the verandah.]

Maud. [To the Rector] Smell him, Bertie! [To the Squire] You might have that pond drained, Squire!

     [She takes Hannibal out, and ties him to the verandah.  The
     Squire and Rector Come in.  Lady Ella is knocking on the door
     left.]

Her voice.  All right!  I’ve bound him up!

Lady Ella.  May I come in?