Five Little Plays | Page 5

touching her hair._] We were only just in time.
WALTER. [_Eagerly, as he bends across the table._] You're
splendid--you are--splendid!
BETTY. Yes. All very nice and comfortable for you--isn't it? [_She

puts the mirror back into the bag._]
WALTER. [_Coaxingly._] Betty.
BETTY. To-morrow you'll go to her--or to-night perhaps--
WALTER. To-night--ridiculous! At this hour!
BETTY. She's a deceitful little cat. I saw her last week--she never told
me--
WALTER. I don't think she knew. I only proposed to-day.
BETTY. [_Flinging herself back in her chair, and opening wide eyes._]
You--proposed--to-day!
WALTER. [_Very embarrassed._] Yes--I mean--
BETTY. You--proposed--to-day! And waited till she had accepted
you--to tell _me_--
WALTER. [_Eagerly._] Don't be so silly--come, come, he'll be back in
a minute.... And, believe me, I'm not worth making a fuss about!
BETTY. [_Looking contemptuously at him._] That's true.
WALTER. Yes, it is, worse luck! I deserve all you've said to me. And
you'll be ... much better ... without me.
BETTY. Better?
WALTER. Yes, better, better--any way you choose to put it! I'm a--but
never mind that!--Look here--you'd like me to stop?
BETTY. He wants to play bridge.
WALTER. Don't you think that I--
BETTY.[Hearing HECTOR _coming._] Sh.
[HECTOR _comes in--she is idly tossing the cards about._ HECTOR
_has put on a smoking-jacket--he comes in, very jolly, fussing around,
rubbing his hands, so glad to be home. He sits, to the right of_ BETTY.
HECTOR. Now for a game!
[_He seizes a pack, and spreads out the cards._
BETTY. [_Leaning back._] Not sure that I want to play.
HECTOR. Don't be disagreeable, Betty! Why?
BETTY. [_Listlessly, as she rises and moves across the room._] No fun,
being three.
HECTOR. Good practice for you. Come on.
BETTY. [_Leaning against the other table, and turning and facing
them._] Besides, he has something to tell you.
HECTOR. Walter?
BETTY. Yes.

HECTOR. [Looking inquiringly at WALTER.] To tell _me?_ What is
it?
BETTY. That he's engaged.
HECTOR. [_Shouting, as he leans across the table._] Never! Walter!
Engaged? You?
WALTER. [_Nervously._] Yes.
HECTOR. [_Noisily and affectionately._] You old scoundrel! You
rascal and villain! Engaged--and you don't come and tell me first! Well
I--am--damned!
WALTER. [_Trying to take it gaily._] I knew you'd chaff me about it.
HECTOR. Chaff you! Silly old coon! why I'm glad! Of course we shall
miss you--but marriage--it's the only thing, my boy--the only thing!
Who is she? Do I know her?
WALTER. [_Mumbling, as he fingers the cards._] A friend of
Betty's--I fancy you've met her--
HECTOR. Who?
BETTY. Mary Gillingham. We're the first to know--he only proposed
to-day.
HECTOR. Gillingham, Gillingham.... Oh yes, I've seen her, just seen
her, but I don't remember.... I say, not the daughter of the sealing-wax
man?
WALTER. Yes.
HECTOR. Then there's lots of tin! Fine! Oh you artful old dodger! Is
she pretty?
WALTER. So-So.
BETTY. [_Still leaning against the table, and looking at them both._]
She's excessively pretty. She has yellow hair and blue eyes.
HECTOR. [_Chuckling._] And she has caught old Wallie. The cynical
old Wallie who sniffed at women! Though perhaps it's the money--
BETTY. No. He's in love with her.
HECTOR. That's good. I'm glad. And I congratulate you--heartily, my
boy. [He seizes WALTER'S _hand, and wrings it._] We must drink to it!
[_He gets up, goes to the side-table, and pours some whiskey into a
tumbler._] Charge your glass, Walter! [WALTER _rises and goes to
the side-table._] Ladies and gentlemen. I give you the bride and
bridegroom! [He fills the glass from the syphon and passes it to
WALTER, _then proceeds to fill his own._] Betty, you must join us.

BETTY. [_Quietly._] No.
HECTOR. You can't toast him in water, of course. Has she cleared
away yet? I'll get you some Hock.
[_He puts his glass down and moves to the door at back._
BETTY. Don't be so silly. I won't drink at all.
HECTOR. [_Amazed._] Not to old Walter?
BETTY. [_Steadily._] No.
HECTOR. Why?
BETTY. [_Almost jeeringly._] Because--old Walter--has been my
lover.
HECTOR. [_Stopping, and staring at her._] What?
BETTY. [_Calmly, looking full at him._] My lover ... these last two
years.
HECTOR. [_Staring stupidly at her._] He has been--
BETTY. [_Impatiently, as she taps the floor with her foot._] Yes, yes.
How often must I tell you? My lover--don't you know what that means?
Why do you stare at me with those fat goggle-eyes of yours? He has
been my lover--and now he has fallen in love with this girl and means
to marry her. That's all.
HECTOR. [Turning towards WALTER, _who hasn't stirred from the
side-table._] What? You?
[WALTER _remains motionless and silent._
HECTOR. [_In muffled tones, scarcely able to speak._] You! It's true
what this woman says?
BETTY. [_Contemptuously._] This woman! Don't be so melodramatic!
Have you forgotten my name?
HECTOR. [_Turning fiercely to her, roaring madly._] Silence, Jezebel!