The Silver Shield Part 22

NED. But suppose _d.i.c.k_ says----

ALMA. Tell him he dreamt it.

NED. But if he shows your letter?

ALMA. Tear it to pieces--laugh at him! Oh, I know how to manage d.i.c.k.

Leave that to me. This happens once a week. (_crosses to R._ )

NED. (_getting hat and stick_) Then I shall see you at rehearsal?

ALMA. Yes. (_crosses to table_)

NED. Good-bye----

ALMA. Send Susan up to me.

NED. And thank you very much. (_Exit, L.C._)

ALMA. (_sits L. of table; leaves part on table_) d.i.c.k took it out of me this morning; I must take it out of him this afternoon. He wouldn't give me five pounds a week more. All right. He'll have to give me ten.

Mr. d.i.c.k must be taught his position. (_Re-enter SUSAN, L.C._) Susan, the brush and comb, and brush out my hair. (_Exit SUSAN, R.C._) Susan, bring the powder-puff. Susan, the powder-puff. (_Re-enter SUSAN, L.C., with brush and comb_) Susan, have you seen that girl in the attic?

SUSAN. (_back of table_) No, miss; but Mrs. Pritchard says she looks so ill, and never eats a morsel. She wishes you would speak to her; she seems so lonely.

ALMA. Do you mean Miss Carlton?

SUSAN. Yes. Mrs. Pritchard thinks----

ALMA. Never mind what Mrs. Pritchard thinks!

SUSAN. She says she's always crying.

ALMA. What do I care what Mrs. Pritchard says? I asked you if you'd seen her.

SUSAN. No, Miss Blake.

ALMA. Then go and see her now.

SUSAN. Yes, Miss Blake.

ALMA. I'll do my hair myself. Don't mention any name--Mr. d.i.c.k's given her my part to play, and she mightn't care to see me. Say that the lady on the first floor wants to speak to her on business connected with the theatre.

SUSAN. Yes, Miss Blake. (_crosses at back to L.C._)

ALMA. Bring her down with you.

SUSAN. If she'll come, I will.

ALMA. (_turns_) Bring her down with you, whether she'll come or not, or take a month's warning. (_SUSAN laughs_) What are you laughing at?

SUSAN. That's the third time to-day you've given me warning.

ALMA. (_lifting hair-brush_) I'll give you something else, if you're not quick. (_Exit SUSAN, L.C._) I feel quite curious to see this girl d.i.c.k thinks is good enough to play my part. Some greenhorn at a pound or two a week, or d.i.c.k wouldn't have engaged her. No, she can't be a greenhorn. She doesn't eat: greenhorns do. And what did Susan say?

She's always crying. Humph! She must be married. The old tale, I suppose. And yet people go on getting married. (_rises; looks for puff_) It's a funny world. What has that Susan done with the powder-puff? Hang the girl! I'll give her warning again as soon as she comes down. If I had a husband, I believe I should give _him_ warning to-day. Brutes, all of 'em. (_Exit, R.C._)

SUSAN. (_outside_) Mind how you turn the corner, they're such awkward stairs, and it's so dark up here. This is the way. Take a seat, please.

_Re-enter SUSAN, L.C., followed by LUCY._

LUCY. (_sits sofa_) You're very kind. (_looking full at Susan; starts_)

SUSAN. If it's not----

LUCY. Susan!

SUSAN. Mrs. Chetwynd!

LUCY. Hus.h.!.+ What are you doing here?

SUSAN. We live here, m'm.

LUCY. We! Who? (_Re-enter ALMA, R.C., with powder-puff_) Who sent for me? (_rises_)

ALMA. I sent for you, Miss Carlton. (_puffing her face_)

LUCY. Mrs. Blake! (_ALMA drops hand, then turns and signals SUSAN to go. Exit SUSAN, running, L.C._) I didn't know who you were or I should not have come. What can you want with me?

ALMA. (_crosses to LUCY_) To tell the truth, I didn't know it _was_ you when I sent for you. I thought it was only somebody who had been trying to supplant me in my business.

LUCY. And if I had, it would only be just. Haven't you supplanted me in my home?

ALMA. It wasn't my fault that you left your home. You left because you were suspicious of your husband.

LUCY. I had reason to be.

ALMA. Oh, probably enough! Men are a bad lot, and he's one of them.

LUCY. Ned wasn't bad!

ALMA. Why did you leave him then? (_turning on her quickly_) You love him? (_thrusting her on sofa, and kneeling down beside her_) Yes, you do, or you wouldn't resent the way I spoke of him; and loving him, you should have trusted him.

LUCY. To be deceived!

ALMA. Better to trust and be deceived, than to suspect and deceive _yourself_. You're a fond, foolish girl, who've done your best to wreck your own life and your husband's too. You've done me a great wrong, and now I'm going to have my revenge.

LUCY. What wrong have I done _you?_

ALMA. You think I love your husband, but I don't. I never loved any man but one--my own. You think your husband loves _me,_ but he doesn't. n.o.body loves me--not even my own.

LUCY. You say so.