Plays By John Galsworthy Volume Ii Part 5

SIR WILLIAM. [Following] And look here! Just understand this [He too goes out....]

BILL, lighting a cigarette, has approached the writing-table.

He looks very glum. The billiard-room door is flung open.

MABEL LANFARNE appears, and makes him a little curtsey.

MABEL. Against my will I am bidden to bring you in to pool.

BILL. Sorry! I've got letters.

MABEL. You seem to have become very conscientious.

BILL. Oh! I don't know.

MABEL. Do you remember the last day of the covert shooting?

BITS. I do.

MABEL. [Suddenly] What a pretty girl Freda Studdenham's grown!

BILL. Has she?

MABEL. "She walks in beauty."

BILL. Really? Hadn't noticed.

MABEL. Have you been taking lessons in conversation?

BILL. Don't think so.

MABEL. Oh! [There is a silence] Mr. Ches.h.i.+re!

BILL. Miss Lanfarne!

MABEL. What's the matter with you? Aren't you rather queer, considering that I don't bite, and was rather a pal!

BILL. [Stolidly] I'm sorry.

Then seeing that his mother has came in from the billiard-room, he sits down at the writing-table.

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. Mabel, dear, do take my cue. Won't you play too, Bill, and try and stop Ronny, he's too terrible?

BILL. Thanks. I've got these letters.

MABEL taking the cue pa.s.ses back into the billiard-room, whence comes out the sound of talk and laughter.

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. [Going over and standing behind her son's chair]

Anything wrong, darling?

BILL. Nothing, thanks. [Suddenly] I say, I wish you hadn't asked that girl here.

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. Mabel! Why? She's wanted for rehearsals. I thought you got on so well with her last Christmas.

BILL. [With a sort of sullen exasperation.] A year ago.

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. The girls like her, so does your father; personally I must say I think she's rather nice and Irish.

BILL. She's all right, I daresay.

He looks round as if to show his mother that he wishes to be left alone. But LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE, having seen that he is about to look at her, is not looking at him.

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. I'm afraid your father's been talking to you, Bill.

BILL. He has.

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. Debts? Do try and make allowances. [With a faint smile] Of course he is a little----

BILL. He is.

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. I wish I could----

BILL. Oh, Lord! Don't you get mixed up in it!

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. It seems almost a pity that you told him.

BILL. He wrote and asked me point blank what I owed.

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. Oh! [Forcing herself to speak in a casual voice]

I happen to have a little money, Bill--I think it would be simpler if----

BILL. Now look here, mother, you've tried that before. I can't help spending money, I never shall be able, unless I go to the Colonies, or something of the kind.

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. Don't talk like that, dear!

BILL. I would, for two straws!

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. It's only because your father thinks such a lot of the place, and the name, and your career. The Ches.h.i.+res are all like that. They've been here so long; they're all--root.

BILL. Deuced funny business my career will be, I expect!

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. [Fluttering, but restraining herself lest he should see] But, Bill, why must you spend more than your allowance?

BILL. Why--anything? I didn't make myself.

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. I'm afraid we did that. It was inconsiderate, perhaps.

BILL. Yes, you'd better have left me out.

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. But why are you so--Only a little fuss about money!