THE ELDEST SON

BY JOHN GALSWORTHY

PERSONS OF THE PLAY

Sir William Cheshire, a baronet
lady Cheshire, his wife
Bill, their eldest son
Harold, their second son
Ronald Keith(in the Lancers), their son-in-law
Christine (his wife), their eldest daughter
Dot, their second daughter
Joan, their third daughter
Mabel Lanfarne, their guest
the reverend John latter, engaged to Joan
old Studdenham, the head-keeper
Freda Studdenham, the lady’s-maid
young Dunning, the under-keeper
rose Taylor, a village girl
Jackson, the butler
Charles, a footman

Time:  The present.  The action passes on December 7 and 8 at the
Cheshires’ country house, in one of the shires.

Act I scene I. The hall; before dinner. 
      Scene II.  The hall; after dinner.

Act II.  Lady Cheshire’s morning room; after breakfast.

Act III.  The smoking-room; tea-time.

          A night elapses between Acts I. and II.

ActI

SCENE I

The scene is a well-lighted, and large, oak-panelled hall, with an air of being lived in, and a broad, oak staircase.  The dining-room, drawing-room, billiard-room, all open into it; and under the staircase a door leads to the servants’ quarters.  In a huge fireplace a log fire is burning.  There are tiger-skins on the floor, horns on the walls; and a writing-table against the wall opposite the fireplace.  Freda Studdenham, a pretty, pale girl with dark eyes, in the black dress of a lady’s-maid, is standing at the foot of the staircase with a bunch of white roses in one hand, and a bunch of yellow roses in the other.  A door closes above, and sir William Cheshire, in evening dress, comes downstairs.  He is perhaps fifty-eight, of strong build, rather bull-necked, with grey eyes, and a well-coloured face, whose choleric autocracy is veiled by a thin urbanity.  He speaks before he reaches the bottom.

Sir William.  Well, Freda!  Nice roses.  Who are they for?

Freda.  My lady told me to give the yellow to Mrs. Keith, Sir William, and the white to Miss Lanfarne, for their first evening.

Sir William.  Capital. [Passing on towards the drawing-room] Your father coming up to-night?

Freda.  Yes.

Sir William.  Be good enough to tell him I specially want to see him here after dinner, will you?

Freda.  Yes, Sir William.