Contemporary One-Act Plays Part 77

[BOB _stops short, as_ HILDA _bursts in abruptly, left, and comes to the table_.

HILDA. Aixcuse me, Meeses Aispenhayne, I am so excited.

MOLLIE. [_Anxiously._] Is anything wrong, Hilda?

HILDA. [_Explosively._] Meeses Aispenhayne, Meester Leendquist he say you want to move to Highland Park.

[BOB _and_ MOLLIE _simultaneously drop their knives and forks and look at_ HILDA _in astonishment and wonder_.

MOLLIE. What?

BOB. Who?

HILDA. [_Repeats very rapidly._] Meester Leendquist, he say you look for house on North Sh.o.r.e!

MOLLIE. [_Utterly overcome at_ HILDA'S _knowledge and at a loss for words of denial_.] We move to the North Sh.o.r.e? How ridiculous! Hilda, where did you get such an idea? [_Turns to_ ROBERT.] Robert, did you ever hear anything so laughable? [_She forces a strained laugh._] Ha!

Ha! Ha! [ROBERT _has been looking at_ HILDA _in dumb wonder. At_ MOLLIE'S _question he turns to her in startled surprise. He starts to answer, gulps, swallows hard, and then coughs violently. Very sharply, after waiting a moment for_ BOB _to answer_.] Robert Espenhayne, will you stop that coughing and answer me!

BOB. [_Between coughs, and drinking a gla.s.s of water._] Egh! Egh! Excuse me! Something, eh! egh! stuck in my throat.

MOLLIE. [_Turning to_ HILDA.] Some day we might want to move north, Hilda, but not now! Oh, no, not now!

BOB. Who told you that, Hilda?

HILDA. Meester Leendquist.

MOLLIE. [_Puzzled._] Who is Mr. Lindquist?

HILDA. [_Surprised._] Meester Leendquist--[_Pauses, a trifle embarra.s.sed._] Meester Leendquist ees young man who just speak to me on telephone. He come to see me every Sat.u.r.day.

BOB. Oh, Mr. Lindquist, the--the--Ter----

MOLLIE. [_Interrupting frantically, and waving her hands at_ BOB.] Yes, yes, of course. You know--Mr. Lindquist! [BOB _catches himself just in time and_ MOLLIE _settles back with a sigh of relief, then turns to_ HILDA _with a puzzled air_.] But where did Mr. Lindquist get such an idea?

HILDA. Mrs. Russell tell heem so.

MOLLIE. [_Now entirely bewildered._] What Mrs. Russell?

HILDA. Meeses Russell--your friend.

MOLLIE. [_More and more at sea._] Mrs. Edwin Russell, who comes to see me--every now and then?

HILDA. Yes.

MOLLIE. But how does Mrs. Russell know Mr. Lindquist and why should she tell Mr. Lindquist that we expected to move to the North Sh.o.r.e?

HILDA. Meester Leendquist, he build Meeses Russell's house. That ees hees business. He build houses on North Sh.o.r.e and he sell them and rent them.

[BOB _and_ MOLLIE _look at each other and at_ HILDA, _in wonder and astonishment as the situation slowly filters into their brains. A long pause._]

BOB. [_In awe and astonishment._] You mean that Mr. Lindquist, the young man who comes to see you every--every--every now and then--is the same man who put up the Russell house?

HILDA. Yes, Meester Aispenhayne.

BOB. [_Slowly._] And when Mrs. Espenhayne [_points to_ MOLLIE] wrote to Mrs. Russell [_jerks his thumb to indicate the north_], Mrs. Russell told Mr. Lindquist [_jerks his thumb in opposite direction_] and Mr.

Lindquist telephoned to you?

[_Points to_ HILDA.

HILDA. Yes, Meester Aispenhayne. [_Nodding._

BOB. [_Very thoughtfully and slowly._] H'mm! [_Then slowly resuming his meal and speaking in mock seriousness, in subtle jest at_ MOLLIE, _and imitating her tone of a moment or two back_.] But of course, you understand, Hilda, we don't want to move to the North Sh.o.r.e now! Oh, no, not now!

HILDA. [_Somewhat crestfallen._] Yes, Meester Aispenhayne.

BOB. [_Reflectively._] But, of course, if Mr. Lindquist builds houses, we might look. Yes, we might look.

HILDA. [_In growing confidence and enthusiasm._] Yes, Meester Aispenhayne, and he build such beautiful houses and so cheap. He do so much heemself. Hees father was carpenter and he work hees way through Uneeversity of Mennesota and study architecture and then he go to Uneeversity of Eelenois and study landscape gardening and now he been in business for heemself s.e.x years. And oh, Meeses Aispenhayne, you must see hees own home! You will love eet, eet ees so beautiful. A little house, far back from the road. You can hardly see eet for the trees and the shrubs, and een the summer the roses grow all around eet. Eet is just like the picture book!

MOLLIE. [_In the most perfunctory tone, utterly without interest or enthusiasm._] How charming! [_Pauses thoughtfully, then turns to_ HILDA, _anxiously_.] Then I suppose, Hilda, if we should decide to move up to the North Sh.o.r.e you would go with us?

HILDA. [_Hesitatingly._] Yes, Meeses Aispenhayne. [_Pauses._] But I theenk I must tell you thees spring Meester Leendquist and I aixpect to get married. Meester Leendquist's business ees very good. [_With a quick smile and a glance from one to the other._] You know, I am partner with heem. I put all my money een Meester Leendquist's business too.

[MOLLIE _and_ BOB _gaze at each other in complete resignation and surrender_.

BOB. [_Quite seriously after a long pause._] Hilda, I don't know whether we will move north or not, but the next time Mr. Lindquist comes here I want you to introduce me to him. I'd like to know him. You ought to be very proud of a man like that.

HILDA. [_Radiant with pleasure._] Thank you, Meester Aispenhayne.

MOLLIE. Yes, indeed, Hilda, Mr. Espenhayne has often said what a fine young man Mr. Lindquist seems to be. We want to meet him, and Mr.

Espenhayne and I will talk about the house, and then we will speak to Mr. Lindquist. [_Then weakly._] Of course, we didn't expect to move north for a long time, but, of course, if you expect to get married, and Mr. Lindquist builds houses---- [_Her voice dies out. Long pause._

HILDA. Thank you, Meeses Aispenhayne, I tell Mr. Leendquist.

[HILDA _stands at the table a moment longer, then slowly turns and moves toward door, left_. BOB _and_ MOLLIE _watch her and as she moves away from the table_ BOB _turns to_ MOLLIE. _At this moment_ HILDA _stops, turns suddenly and returns to the table_.

HILDA. Oh, Meeses Aispenhayne, I forget one theeng!

MOLLIE. What now, Hilda?

HILDA. Meester Leendquist say eef you and Meester Aispenhayne want to look at property on North Sh.o.r.e, I shall let heem know and he meet you at station weeth hees automobile.

CURTAIN

A DOLLAR