Belinda | Page 4

Mother rather wanted it. (Solemnly.) Delia, never get married because your mother---- Oh, I forgot; I'm your mother.
DELIA. And I don't want a better one ... (They embrace.) And so you left each other?
BELINDA. Yes.
DELIA. But, darling, didn't you tell him there was going to be a Me?
BELINDA. Oh no!
DELIA. I wonder why not?
BELINDA. Well, you see, if I had, he might have wanted to stay.
DELIA. But----
BELINDA (hurt). If he didn't want to stay for me, I didn't want him to stay for you. (Penitently.) Forgive me, darling, but I didn't know you very well then. We've been very happy together, haven't we?
DELIA (going to the hammock, sitting in it and dangling her legs). I should think we have.
BELINDA (leaning back in chair). I don't want to deny you anything, and, of course, if you'd like a stepfather (looking down modestly) or two--
DELIA. Oh, you have been enjoying yourself.
BELINDA. Only you see how awkward it would be if Jack turned up in the middle of the wedding, like--like Eugene Aram.
DELIA. Enoch Arden, darling.
BELINDA. It's very confusing their having the same initials. Perhaps I'd better call them both E. A. in future and then I shall be safe. Well, anyhow it would be awkward, darling, wouldn't it? Not that I should know him from Adam after all these years--except for a mole on his left arm.
DELIA. Perhaps Adam had a mole.
BELINDA. No, darling; you're thinking of Noah. He had two.
DELIA (thoughtfully). I wonder what would happen if you met somebody whom you really did fall in love with?
BELINDA (reproachfully). Now you're being serious, and it's April.
DELIA. Aren't these two--the present two--serious?
BELINDA. Oh no! They think they are, but they aren't a bit, really. Besides, I'm doing them such a lot of good. I'm sure they'd hate to marry me, but they love to think they're in love with me, and--I love it, and--and they love it, and--and we all love it.
DELIA (rising and crossing to BELINDA). You really are the biggest, darlingest baby who ever lived. (Kisses her.) Do say I shan't spoil your lovely times.
BELINDA (surprised). Spoil them? Why, you'll make them more lovely than ever.
DELIA (turning away and sitting on table). Well, but do they know you have a grown-up daughter?
BELINDA (suddenly realizing and sitting up). Oh!
DELIA. It doesn't really matter, because you don't look a day more than thirty.
BELINDA (absently). No. (Hurriedly.) I mean, how sweet of you--only----
DELIA. What!
BELINDA (playing with her rings). Well, one of them, Mr. Baxter-- Harold--(she looks quickly up at DELIA and down again in pretty affectation, but she is really laughing at herself all the time) he writes statistical articles for the Reviews--percentages and all those things. He's just the sort of man, if he knew that I was your mother, to work it out that I was more than thirty. The other one, Mr. Devenish--Claude--(she looks up and down as before) he's rather, rather poetical. He thinks I came straight from heaven--last week.
DELIA (laughing and jumping up and crossing below deck-chair to R. towards house). I think I'd better go straight back to Paris.
BELINDA (jumping up and catching her firmly by the left arm). You will do nothing of the sort. (Pulling DELIA back to centre.) You will take off that hat--(she lets go of the arm and begins to take out the pin) which is a perfect duck, and I don't know why I didn't say so before--(she puts the hat down on the table) and let me take a good look at you (she does so), and kiss you (she does so, then crosses DELIA below her and takes her towards the house), and then we'll go to your room and unpack and have a lovely talk about clothes. And then we'll have tea.
(BETTY comes in and stands up at back.)
And now here's Betty coming in to upset all our delightful plans, just when we'vt made them. (BELINDA and DELIA are now on BETTY'S R.)
DELIA (leaving BELINDA and shaking hands with BETTY). How are you, Betty? I've left school.
BETTY. Very nicely, thank you, miss. (Backing to L. and admiring.) You've grown.
BELINDA (moving to and patting the top of DELIA'S head). I'm much taller than she is... (Crossing to BETTY in front of DELIA.) Well, Betty, what is it?
BETTY. The two gentlemen, Mr. Baxter and Mr. Devenish, have both called together, ma'am.
BELINDA (excited). Oh! How--how very simultaneous of them!
DELIA (eagerly, going towards house). Oh, do let me see them!
BELINDA (stopping her). Darling, you'll see plenty of them before you've finished. (To BETTY in an exaggerated whisper.) What have you done with them?
BETTY. They're waiting in the hall, ma'am, while I said I would see if you were at home.
BELINDA. All right, Betty. Give me two minutes and then show them out here.
BETTY. Yes, ma'am.
(BETTY crosses below BELINDA and DELIA and exits