Green Stockings Part 27

CELIA. (_To_ SMITH) I'm quite sure that Mr. Steele and Mr. Raleigh will be happy to drop you at the station on their way home.

STEELE. Delighted!

CELIA. (_To_ RALEIGH, _shaking hands_) So sorry to hurry you away.

RALEIGH. Oh, I shall see you to-morrow, Miss Faraday.

CELIA. Yes, do. (_Nods good-night to_ STEELE.)

AUNT IDA. (_Who is still at desk, her head resting wearily on her hands. Sleepily_) Everybody going?

CELIA. (_Crosses_ L.) Yes, dear, Colonel _Vavasour_ is. (_Crosses to_ AUNT IDA.)

SMITH. Is there nothing left unsaid? Is there nothing left for me to say but good-bye?

CELIA. (_Over her shoulder_) Nothing.

SMITH. (_Bows. Speaks in a brisk, matter-of-fact way, as he crosses_ C.D.) Well, since you two fellows are kind enough to offer me a lift.

(_Exits, followed by_ RALEIGH _and_ STEELE, _who go off, chatting ad lib. and closing door_.)

(_WARN Electrician for lights out_.)

CELIA. (_Tearing off her black shawl, waving it in the air, and throwing herself in the chair_ L. _of table, her back to the audience, disclosing her gay and decollete bodice_) Oh--h-h-h-h! Oh--h-h-h-h!

Oh--h-h-h-h! Oh--h-h-h-h!

AUNT IDA. (_Going to_ CELIA) Celia, what have you been up to now?

CELIA. Oh, when I think of it, Aunt Ida! "The Arab dhows riding at their anchors," and how I told him---- Oh, Heavens--how I told him he ought to marry. Oh--h-h-h-h! Oh--h-h-h-h!

AUNT IDA. Celia Faraday! (_Goes up to her and catches her by both shoulders_) Are you mad? I vow I've a great mind to shake you.

CELIA. I wish you would, Aunt Ida. I wish you would. (_Looking toward door_ R.) I don't believe it. I don't believe it. I don't believe what I do believe. For Heaven's sake, dear, go and fetch me the army list, so that I may make sure of what an awful fool I've been, and if what I believe is true, let me sit like this in the dark. (_Goes up and presses switch and sits in chair_ L. _of door. Lights out_.) --All the rest of my life and blush and blush and blush until my cheeks drop off from blus.h.i.+ng.

(AUNT IDA _comes_ L. _of_ CELIA'S _chair. There is only the moonlight now in the morning room, with a shaft of moonlight s.h.i.+ning through window_ R. _on_ CELIA. _The library, seen through the wide open doors, is lit up by the glow from the fire_.)

AUNT IDA. Are you mad? (_Starts to exit to get army list. Sees_ SMITH _and draws away_ R.) Hush--sh-sh-s.h.!.+

(SMITH _in an ulster is seen to cross cautiously at back to table. He lights two or three matches at once and looks through book-slide for army list. Finding this, he takes it and smiles in a satisfied manner, and holding the match to the list, moves off stage_ R. CELIA _and_ AUNT IDA _peer after him. A flicker is seen on the walls and furniture of the room off stage, as of the book burning. After a pause_, CELIA _rises and stands_ C. _in doorway, facing audience_.)

CELIA. The army list!

AUNT IDA. Now _he's_ thrown the army list into the fire. (_Ready motor horn_.) Celia--has Colonel Vavasour gone mad too?

CELIA. So! He thinks he can prevent my finding out, does he? That I can't be absolutely sure until to-morrow? Well (_Rushes off_ R.)

AUNT IDA. Perhaps we are all mad--mad as hatters. (_Goes_ R. _and presses light switch_.)

(_LIGHTS Up_.)

CELIA. (_Off stage_) Army lists don't burn as suddenly as that, I know. (_At door_) I have burned too many of them. (_Reappears, carrying the partly burned army list in tongs. She comes in blowing at the burning book_) Blow, Aunt Ida, blow! (AUNT IDA _joins her. They both blow to put out the sparks_.) Only the A's are burnt, Aunt Ida, only the A's. (_Goes down_ L. _of table, drops book on table, and hands the tongs to_ AUNT IDA.)

AUNT IDA. (_Waving the tongs_) Only the A's! Ha! Ha! Only the A's!

(_Motor horn is heard off_ R.3.)

CELIA. What's that, Aunt Ida, what's that?

AUNT IDA. It's Mr. Raleigh's motor.

CELIA. (_With an outburst of relief_) Well, then, he's gone, isn't he, he's gone.

AUNT IDA. Yes, he's gone, he's gone!

CELIA. (_Picks up book and runs through it_) V-V-V-V-V-- Vallance--Valpey--Vanderfeldt--Varley--not a Vavasour.

AUNT IDA. Celia!

CELIA. (_Throwing down book_) Not one in the whole army list. No? Not the tiniest little bit of a one.

AUNT IDA. (_Flouris.h.i.+ng tongs more wildly_) Then who is he? What did he come here for?

CELIA. I don't know, but he's gone now, isn't he? _He's gone!_

AUNT IDA. I know he's gone, but what did he come here for? (CELIA _looks at her. A light breaks over her_.) Celia Faraday! That man--had your letter--in his pocket. He told Phyllis he had your letter! I thought it strange! Then Colonel Vavasour isn't Colonel Vavasour.

(_Sits_ R. _of_ C. _table_.)

CELIA. No!

AUNT IDA. _He's Colonel Smith_.

CELIA. Yes.

AUNT IDA. He's----

CELIA. (_In the smallest possible voice_) --Mr. Wobbles! (_Enter_ FARADAY R.IE.) Father, dear, has Colonel Vavasour gone?

FARADAY. No, my dear.

CELIA. What!!!!

FARADAY. I was fortunate enough to catch him at the door.