Belinda | Page 9

Robinson.
BELINDA (taking DELIA'S arm and moving with her to below deck-
chair). Well, let's go and see what they're like.
(DELIA moves up R.C. to below the porch, accompanied by BAXTER

on her R. and DEVENISH, who follows her on her L. They all move
towards the porch.)
Mr. Baxter, just a moment.
BAXTER (apologizing to DELIA and moving in front of the others to
back of deck-chair.) Yes?
(DELIA gathers a daffodil from a vase R. and places it in
DEVENISH'S buttonhole.)
BELINDA (secretly). Not a word to her about Mr. Robinson. It must be
a surprise for her.
BAXTER. Quite so, I understand.
BELINDA. That's right. (BAXTER rejoins DELIA. Raising her voice.)
Oh, Mr. Devenish.
(DEVENISH, who is evidently much attracted by DELIA, apologizes
to her and goes back between tree and hammock to L. of BELINDA.)
DEVENISH. Yes, Mrs. Tremayne?
BELINDA (secretly). Not a word to her about Mr. Robinson. It must be
a surprise for her.
DEVENISH. Of course! I shouldn't dream----(Indignantly.) Robinson!
What an unsuitable name!
(BAXTER and DELIA are just going into the house.)
BELINDA (dismissing DEVENISH). All right, I'll catch you up.
(DEVENISH goes after the other two.)
(Left alone, BELINDA laughs happily to herself, and then begins to
look rather aimlessly about her. She picks up her sunshade and opens it.
She comes to the hammock, picks out her handkerchief, says, "Ah, there
you are!" and puts it away. She goes slowly towards the house.

TREMAYNE enters from L. and with his back to the audience tries
latch of imaginary gate below scenic painted gateway L. BELINDA
turns her head, hearing imaginary click of the garden gate L. She
comes slowly back R.C.)
BELINDA (seeing TREMAYNE). Have you lost yourself, or
something? No; the latch is this side. ... Yes, that's right.
(TREMAYNE comes in. He has been knocking about the world for
eighteen years, and is very much a man, though he has kept his
manners. His hair is greying a little at the sides, and he looks the
forty-odd that he is. Without his moustache and beard he is very
different from the boy BELINDA married.)
TREMAYNE ( with his hat in his hand ). I'm afraid I'm trespassing.
BELINDA (winningly, moving down R. a little ). But it's such a pretty
garden (turns away, dosing her parasol), isn't it?
(TREMAYNE, half recognizing her, moves to back of hammock and
leans across to obtain a better view of her.)
TREMAYNE (rather confused). I-I beg your pardon, I-er--- (He is
wondering if it can possibly be she. BELINDA thinks his confusion is
due to the fact that he is trespassing, and hastens to put him at his
ease.)
BELINDA. I should have done the same myself, you know.
TREMAYNE (pulling himself together). Oh, but you mustn't think I
just came in because I liked the garden---
BELINDA (clapping her hands). No; but say you do like it, quick.
TREMAYNE. It's lovely and--- (He hesitates.)
BELINDA (hopefully). Yes?
TREMAYNE (with conviction). Yes, it's lovely. BELINDA (with that

happy sigh of hers). O-oh! ... Now tell me what really did happen?
TREMAYNE. I was on my way to Marytown---
BELINDA. To where?
TREMAYNE. Marytown.
BELINDA. Oh, you mean Mariton.
TREMAYNE. Do I?
BELINDA. Yes; we always call it Mariton down here. (Earnestly.) You
don't mind, do you?
TREMAYNE (smiling). Not a bit.
BELINDA. Just say it--to see if you've got it right.
TREMAYNE. Mariton.
BELINDA (shaking her head). Oh no, that's quite wrong. Try it again
(With a rustic accent.) Mariton.
TREMAYNE. Mariton.
BELINDA. Yes, that's much better .... (As if it were he who had
interrupted.) Well, do go on.
TREMAYNE. I'm afraid it isn't much of an apology really. I saw what
looked like a private road (points L.), but what I rather hoped wasn't,
and--well, I thought I'd risk it. I do hope you'll forgive me.
BELINDA. Oh, but I love people seeing my garden. Are you staying in
Mariton?
TREMAYNE. I think so. Oh yes, decidedly.
BELINDA. Well, perhaps the next time the road won't feel so private.

TREMAYNE. How charming of you! (He feels he must know. A piano
is heard off playing "Belinda." The tune is continued until the fall of the
curtain.) Are you Mrs. Tremayne by any chance?
BELINDA. Yes.
TREMAYNE (nodding to himself). Yes.
BELINDA. How did you know?
TREMAYNE (hastily inventing, moving down L. below the hammock).
They use you as a sign-post in the village. Past Mrs. Tremayne'a house
and then bear to the left--
BELINDA. And you couldn't go past it?
TREMAYNE. I'm afraid I couldn't. Thank you so much for not
minding. (Going up to the L. of her.) Well, I must be getting on, I have
trespassed quite enough.
BELINDA (regretfully). And you haven't really seen the garden yet.
TREMAYNE. If you