Plays: Lady Frederick, The Explorer, A Man of Honor Part 113

My maiden aunt sent you a woollen comforter, but I'm not aware that in return you ever made her a proposal of marriage.

BASIL.

And so in one way and another I came to know Jenny rather well. She appeared to get rather fond of me--and I couldn't help seeing it.

JOHN.

But she always pretended to be engaged to that scrubby little chap with false teeth who used to hang about the bar and make sheep's eyes at her over innumerable Scotch-and-sodas.

BASIL.

He made a scene because I took her out on one of her off-nights, and she broke it off. I couldn't help knowing it was on my account.

JOHN.

Well, and after that?

BASIL.

After that I got into the habit of taking her to the play, and so on.

And finally ...!

JOHN.

How long has this been going on?

BASIL.

Several months.

JOHN.

And then?

BASIL.

Well, the other day she wired for me. I found her in the most awful state. She was simply crying her eyes out, poor thing. She'd been seedy and gone to the doctor's. And he told her ...

JOHN.

What you might really have foreseen.

BASIL.

Yes.... She was quite hysterical. She said she didn't know what to do nor where to go. And she was in an awful funk about her people. She said she'd kill herself.

JOHN.

[_Drily._] Naturally she was very much upset.

BASIL.

I felt the only thing I could do was to ask her to marry me. And when I saw the joy that came into her poor, tear-stained face I _knew_ I'd done the right thing.

[_There is a pause._ JOHN _walks up and down, then stops suddenly and turns to_ BASIL.

JOHN.

Have you thought that you, who've never needed to economise, will have to look at every s.h.i.+lling you spend? You've always been careless with your money, and what you've had you've flung about freely.

BASIL.

[_Shrugging his shoulders._] If I have to submit to nothing worse than going without a lot of useless luxuries, I really don't think I need complain.

JOHN.

But you can't afford to keep a wife and an increasing family.

BASIL.

I suppose I can make money as well as other men.

JOHN.

By writing books?

BASIL.

I shall set to work to earn my living at the Bar. Up till now I've never troubled myself.

JOHN.

I don't know any man less fit than you for the dreary waiting and the drudgery of the Bar.

BASIL.

We shall see.

JOHN.

And what d'you think your friends will say to your marrying--a barmaid?

BASIL.

[_Contemptuously._] I don't care two straws for my friends.

JOHN.