Topping has gone.  Builder sits drawing at his pipe between the firelight and the light from the standard lamp.  He takes the pipe out of his mouth and a quiver passes over his face.  With a half angry gesture he rubs the back of his hand across his eyes.

Builder. [To himself] Pluck!  Pluck! [His lips quiver again.  He presses them hard together, puts his pipe back into his mouth, and, taking the Will, thrusts it into the newly-lighted fire and holds it there with a poker.]

While he is doing this the door from the hall is opened quietly, and Mrs builder enters without his hearing her.  She has a work bag in her hand.  She moves slowly to the table, and stands looking at him.  Then going up to the curtains she mechanically adjusts them, and still keeping her eyes on builder, comes down to the table and pours out his usual glass of whisky toddy.  Builder, who has become conscious of her presence, turns in his chair as she hands it to him.  He sits a moment motionless, then takes it from her, and squeezes her hand.  Mrs builder goes silently to her usual chair below the fire, and taking out some knitting begins to knit.  Builder makes an effort to speak, does not succeed, and sits drawing at his pipe.

The curtain falls.

LOYALTIES

From the 5th Series Plays

By John Galsworthy

PERSONS OF THE PLAY

In the Order of Appearance

Charles Winsor..................  Owner of Meldon Court, near Newmarket
lady Adela......................  His Wife
Ferdinand de Levis..............  Young, rich, and new
Treisure........................  Winsor’s Butler
general Canynge.................  A Racing Oracle
Margaret Orme...................  A Society Girl
captain Ronald dandy, D.S.O.....  Retired
Mabel...........................  His Wife
inspector Dede..................  Of the County Constabulary
Robert..........................  Winsor’s Footman
A constable.....................  Attendant on Dede
Augustus bobbing................  A Clubman
lord st Erth....................  A Peer of the Realm
A footman.......................  Of the Club
major Colford...................  A Brother Officer of Dancy’s
Edward Graviter.................  A Solicitor
A young clerk...................  Of Twisden & Graviter’s
Gilman..........................  A Large Grocer
Jacob Twisden...................  Senior Partner of Twisden & Graviter
Ricardos........................  An Italian, in Wine

Act I.
     Scene I. Charles WINSOR’s dressing-room at Meldon Court, near
                Newmarket, of a night in early October. 
     Scene II.  De Levis’s Bedroom at Meldon Court, a few minutes later.