Complete Plays of John Galsworthy eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 1,284 pages of information about Complete Plays of John Galsworthy.

Complete Plays of John Galsworthy eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 1,284 pages of information about Complete Plays of John Galsworthy.

     Freda has muffled her face.  But bill turns and confronts his
     mother.

Bill.  Don’t say anything against her!

Lady Cheshire. [Tries to speak to him and fails—­then to Freda]
Please-go!

Bill. [Taking FREDA’s arm] No.

     Lady Cheshire, after a moment’s hesitation, herself moves
     towards the door.

Bill.  Stop, mother!

Lady Cheshire.  I think perhaps not.

Bill. [Looking at Freda, who is cowering as though from a blow] It’s a d—–­d shame!

Lady Cheshire.  It is.

Bill. [With sudden resolution] It’s not as you think.  I’m engaged to be married to her.

     [Freda gives him a wild stare, and turns away.]

Lady Cheshire. [Looking from one to the other] I don’t think I—­quite—­understand.

Bill. [With the brutality of his mortification] What I said was plain enough.

Lady Cheshire.  Bill!

Bill.  I tell you I am going to marry her.

Lady Cheshire. [To Freda] Is that true?

     [Freda gulps and remains silent.]

Bill.  If you want to say anything, say it to me, mother.

Lady Cheshire. [Gripping the edge of a little table] Give me a chair, please. [Bill gives her a chair.]

Lady Cheshire. [To Freda] Please sit down too.

     Freda sits on the piano stool, still turning her face away.

Lady Cheshire. [Fixing her eyes on Freda] Now!

Bill.  I fell in love with her.  And she with me.

Lady Cheshire.  When?

Bill.  In the summer.

Lady Cheshire.  Ah!

Bill.  It wasn’t her fault.

Lady Cheshire.  No?

Bill. [With a sort of menace] Mother!

Lady Cheshire.  Forgive me, I am not quite used to the idea.  You say that you—­are engaged?

Bill.  Yes.

Lady Cheshire.  The reasons against such an engagement have occurred to you, I suppose? [With a sudden change of tone] Bill! what does it mean?

Bill.  If you think she’s trapped me into this——­

Lady Cheshire.  I do not.  Neither do I think she has been trapped. 
I think nothing.  I understand nothing.

Bill. [Grimly] Good!

Lady Cheshire.  How long has this-engagement lasted?

Bill. [After a silence] Two months.

Lady Cheshire. [Suddenly] This is-this is quite impossible.

Bill.  You’ll find it isn’t.

Copyrights
Project Gutenberg
Complete Plays of John Galsworthy from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.