The Americans Part 45

MRS. ORR.

(_Aside_)

How horrible!

MRS. EGERTON.

Harry has always been a strange, strange boy; So different from the rest. What is it you hear?

MRS. ORR.

Why, nothing, nothing at all. My dear, this is Really ridiculous. If it were old And there were cobwebs here and musty walls And rumors had come down of some old crime But with the timber, every stick of it Fresh from the forest, you might almost say Picked from your very garden, a pure bloom, Fas.h.i.+oned and shaped by your own husband's hand: How any one could fancy such a thing Is past my comprehension.

(_A medley of voices is heard, forward right_)

MRS. EGERTON.

Here they come.

A VOICE.

Cover his eyes, some of you.

MRS. EGERTON.

Let's not be seen.

(_She starts back for the door, centre right_)

MRS. ORR.

But we can't talk in there.

MRS. EGERTON.

I'll slip away.

(_They go out centre right. Amid laughter and a confusion of voices Ralph Ardsley and a fellow-townsman enter forward right leading Governor Braddock, whose eyes are blindfolded. Following these come Donald Egerton, General Chadbourne, Bishop Hardbrooke, members of the Governor's staff in uniform, and other guests_)

GOVERNOR BRADDOCK.

You'll pay for this, gentlemen, you'll pay for this.

RALPH ARDSLEY.

Further, Great Master?

(_Egerton points back toward the centre of the hall. Himself and the group about him remain more in the foreground_)

EGERTON.

That will do.

(_They remove the handkerchief from the Governor's eyes_)

GOVERNOR BRADDOCK.

Hi yi!

RALPH ARDSLEY.

You see you wake in Paradise.

FIRST GUEST.

Didn't expect it?

(_Laughter_)

BISHOP HARDBROOKE.

Your incorruptible administration.

FIRST STAFF MEMBER.

You mean to tell us that you planned all this?

EGERTON.

No, I conceived it, Weston; it's alive As I hope to show you. But more of that anon.

(_Calls back to the Governor_)

Does it meet your expectations?

STAFF MEMBERS.

(_Who have gone rear_)

Splendid! Splendid!

FELLOW-TOWNSMAN.

And in the second story he's got his mill.

SECOND STAFF MEMBER.

(_To Egerton_)