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.

     Dancy comes in.

Dancy. [With a smile] Very good of you to have come.

Margaret.  Yes.  We’re just going.  Oh!  Ronny, this is quite too—­ [But his face dries her up; and sidling past, she goes].

Lady A. Charles sent his-love—­[Her voice dwindles on the word, and she, too, goes].

Dancy. [Crossing to his wife] What have they been saying?

Mabel.  Ronny!  Why didn’t you tell me?

Dancy.  I wanted to see De Levis again first.

Mabel.  That wretch!  How dare he?  Darling! [She suddenly clasps and kisses him.  He does not return the kiss, but remains rigid in her arms, so that she draws away and looks at him] It’s hurt you awfully, I know.

Dancy.  Look here, Mabel!  Apart from that muck—­this is a ghastly tame-cat sort of life.  Let’s cut it and get out to Nairobi.  I can scare up the money for that.

Mabel. [Aghast] But how can we?  Everybody would say—­

Ronny.  Let them!  We shan’t be here.

Mabel.  I couldn’t bear people to think—­

Dancy.  I don’t care a damn what people think monkeys and cats.  I never could stand their rotten menagerie.  Besides, what does it matter how I act; if I bring an action and get damages—­if I pound him to a jelly—­ it’s all no good!  I can’t prove it.  There’ll be plenty of people unconvinced.

Mabel.  But they’ll find the real thief.

Dancy. [With a queer little smile] Will staying here help them to do that?

Mabel. [In a sort of agony] Oh!  I couldn’t—­it looks like running away.  We must stay and fight it!

Dancy.  Suppose I didn’t get a verdict—­you never can tell.

Mabel.  But you must—­I was there all the time, with the door open.

Dancy.  Was it?

Mabel.  I’m almost sure.

Dancy.  Yes.  But you’re my wife.

Mabel. [Bewildered] Ronny, I don’t understand—­suppose I’d been accused of stealing pearls!

Dancy. [Wincing] I can’t.

Mabel.  But I might—­just as easily.  What would you think of me if I ran away from it?

Dancy.  I see. [A pause] All right!  You shall have a run for your money.  I’ll go and see old Twisden.

Mabel.  Let me come! [Dancy shakes his head] Why not?  I can’t be happy a moment unless I’m fighting this.

     Dancy puts out his hand suddenly and grips hers.

Dancy.  You are a little brick!

Mabel. [Pressing his hand to her breast and looking into his face]
Do you know what Margaret called you?

Ronny.  No.

Mabel.  A desperate character.

Dancy.  Ha!  I’m not a tame cat, any more than she.

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