Green Stockings Part 18

SMITH. Don't go, please. (CELIA _turns back_.) It was your sister who took the card which introduces me. (_He takes up card from table_ L.) See!

(CELIA _advances_ L. _of table_ R. _and takes card_.)

CELIA. "Colonel Smith." But there wasn't any--I _mean_ (_Sits in chair_.) Colonel Vavasour, I am a little overwhelmed.

SMITH. (_Sympathetically_) I was afraid you would be.

CELIA. (_Staring at card_) Colonel Smith!

SMITH. I bring to you his last dying message.

CELIA. You--knew--him!

SMITH. (_Comes to her_) Turn that card over and read the last words written by his failing hand.

(CELIA _turns card over_.)

CELIA. "Good-bye."

SMITH. Yes. (_Sniffs. Very sadly_) "Good-bye."

CELIA. "Be kind to--my friend----"

SMITH. "James Nugent----"

CELIA. "Vavasour----"

SMITH. Col. Smith was my dearest friend. And knowing myself as I do, I can safely say that no one else will ever take his place in my affections.

CELIA. How extraordinary---- (SMITH _looks at her_.) I mean--how very unselfish of you.

SMITH. Ah, yes. He compelled one's love. _I_ can appreciate possibly better than any one else how great must be your grief. (CELIA _agrees mournfully and regards him with ludicrous suspicion. Goes to table_ L.

_and sits_ L. _of it_) Before coming here, I went to see his dear old people. He had never told them of his engagement, but he was always secretive.

CELIA. Yes, very secretive.

SMITH. His dear little Aunt Mary was very fond of him.

CELIA. Oh! Little Aunt Mary!

SMITH. And when I told her of your engagement, she was most anxious to meet you.

CELIA. Yes, that would be very delightful--but not just yet, please--not just yet.

SMITH. Not just yet, of course not just yet. But possibly when time has reconciled you to your loss. She expressed the hope that some day--but not just yet, of course, you and she might journey together to Somaliland with a wreath.

CELIA. Yes. (_Choking and turning away her head_.) That's a very sweet idea. We might go out for the Xmas holidays.

SMITH. Oh, I know. I can gauge, Miss Faraday, the measure of your grief by my own. But there is just one alleviation which I am very glad to bring to you.

CELIA. What is that, please?

SMITH. When Colonel Smith died--of wounds--at Berbera, he died without any pain.

CELIA. (_Rising, alarmed_) It is very good of you, Colonel Vavasour, to have come all the way from London to tell me this. (_Starts as if to exit, holding out her hand to_ SMITH.)

(SMITH _also rises, takes her hand and detains her_ C.)

SMITH. This--and more. I was with him at the last. How well I remember the scene. He used to lie on his sick bed-gazing across the thatched roofs of Berbera to the Arab dhows riding at their anchors in the sea.

(_She turns away_ R.) And he gave into my hands a few small things to bring you. (CELIA _turns away, horrified_.) Trifles which he habitually wore. Here are a few of them. (_Brings out packages containing watch and pin from pockets_.)

CELIA. Heavens!! No!--I couldn't think of taking them.

SMITH. (_In surprise, holding them towards_ CELIA) They were Smith's, and you couldn't _take_ them! Ah, I understand. You had quarreled.

(_Puts things into pockets_.)

CELIA. No, we _never_ quarreled. There was never one harsh word spoken by me to him or by him to me.

SMITH. (L.C. _Standing_) Then why refuse his gifts?

CELIA. (_Goes to table_ R. _At a loss_) Well--you see--he had never given me anything.

SMITH. (_Suddenly smiles and brings out parcels again_) How like Smith! How very like him! Even he had his failings. But we, who knew him so well, can afford to speak of them frankly.

CELIA. I don't think you understand, Colonel Vavasour. Gifts would have been impossible in such an engagement as that which existed between him and me.

SMITH. (_Severely_) Let Smith be the judge of that. (_Goes a step toward her_) Perhaps he is in this room now watching you refuse his gifts. (CELIA _moves_ R., _uneasily looking back over her shoulder.

Sternly_) Watching you with the pain he didn't feel when he died of wounds at Berbera. (_He follows her and forces her to take the watch.

She gingerly takes it and unwraps it, letting the watch fall out and hang by the chain, which she holds. It is a large, heavy gold watch of the "turnip" variety_.) His watch and chain. (_She lifts it up and down to show its weight_.) He bids you wear it always on your bosom.

(_She recoils. Pleadingly_) To please Smith, whom we both loved. (_She looks helplessly about for a moment and then, in essaying to hang the watch about her neck, it slips and falls down inside her dress. They turn away from each other with varying emotions. Turning back_) By Jove! I say that's ripping of you.

CELIA. I beg your pardon, sir!

SMITH. (_Solemnly_) I am thanking you in my dead comrade's name, my dearest friend. (_Bows his head_.)

CELIA. (_Crossing him to_ L.) Oh, I didn't understand.

SMITH. (_Unwraps second parcel and follows her across the stage_) With this, Smith pinned his tie--a curious jewel. He was very fond of it. I trust you will treasure it. (CELIA _tries to refuse pin, but_ SMITH _forces it upon her. Goes through and empties all his pockets, offering cigarette case, knife, keys, etc_.) And here I have a few more things.

CELIA. (_With a gesture of horror, retreats up stage to card room_) No, no, no, no, please! I don't want them. I----