Five Little Plays | Page 3

he breaks away, goes across the room to the fireplace and stands for a moment looking into the fire. She has remained where she was, her eyes following him wonderingly. Suddenly he stamps his foot violently._
WALTER. Damn it! DAMN it!
BETTY. [_Moving towards him in alarm._] What's the matter?
WALTER. [_With a swift turn towards her._] I'm going to get married.
BETTY. [_Stonily, stopping by the round table._] You ...
WALTER. [_Savagely._] Going to get married, yes. Married, married!
[_She stands there and doesn't stir--doesn't speak or try to speak; merely stands there, and looks at him, giving no sign. Her silence irritates him; he becomes more and more violent, as though to give himself courage._
WALTER. You're wonderful, you women--you really are. Always contrive to make us seem brutes, or cowards! I've wanted to tell you this a dozen times--I've not had the pluck. Well, to-day I must. Must, do you hear that?... Oh, for Heaven's sake, say something.
BETTY. [_Still staring helplessly at him._] You ...
WALTER. [_Feverishly._] Yes, I, I! Now it's out, at least--it's spoken! I mean to get married, like other men--fooled, too, I dare say, like the others--at least I deserve it! But I'm tired, I tell you--tired--
BETTY. Of me?
WALTER. Tired of the life I lead--the beastly, empty rooms--the meals at the Club. And I'm thirty-eight--it's now or never.
BETTY. [_Slowly._] And how about--me?
WALTER. You?
BETTY. [_Passionately._] Yes. Me. Me!
WALTER. You didn't think this would last for ever?
BETTY. [_Nodding her head._] I did--yes--I did. Why shouldn't it?
WALTER. [_Working himself into a fury again._] Why? You ask that? Why? Oh yes, it's all right for _you_--you've your home and your husband--I'm there as an--annexe. To be telephoned to, when I'm wanted, at your beck and call, throw over everything, come when you whistle. And it's not only that--I tell you it makes me feel--horrid. After all, he's my--friend.
BETTY. He has been that always. You didn't feel--horrid--before.... Who is she?
WALTER. [_Shortly, as he turns back to the fire._] That doesn't matter.
BETTY. Yes, it does. Who?
WALTER. [_Fretfully._] Oh, why should we--
BETTY. I want to know--I'm entitled to know.
WALTER. [_Still with his back to her._] Mary Gillingham.
BETTY. Mary Gillingham!
WALTER. [_Firmly, swinging round to her._] Yes.
BETTY. That child, that chit of a girl!
WALTER. She's twenty-three.
BETTY. Whom I introduced you to--my own friend?
WALTER. [_Grumbling._] What has that to do with it? And besides ... [_He suddenly changes his tone, noticing how calm she has become--he takes a step towards her, and stands by her side, at the back of the table, his voice becomes gentle and affectionate._] But I say, really, you're taking it awfully well--pluckily. I knew you would--I knew I was an ass to be so--afraid.... And look here, we'll always be pals--the very best of pals. I'll ... never forget--never. You may be quite sure ... of that. I want to get married--I do--have a home of my own, and so forth--but you'll still be--just the one woman I really have loved--the one woman in my life--to whom I owe--everything.
BETTY. [_With a mirthless laugh._] Do you tell all that--to Mary Gillingham?
WALTER. [_Pettishly, as he moves away._] Do I--don't be so absurd.
BETTY. You tell her she is the only girl you have loved.
WALTER. [_Moving back to the fire, with his back to her._] I tell her--I tell her--what does it matter what I tell her? And one girl or another--she or someone else--
BETTY. But you haven't answered my question--what's to become of me?
WALTER. [_Angrily, facing her._] Become of you! Don't talk such nonsense. Because it is--really it is. You'll be as you were. And Hector's a splendid chap--and after all we've been frightfully wrong--treating him infernally badly--despicably. Oh yes, we have--and you know it. Lord, there've been nights when I have--but never mind that--that's all over! In future we can look him in the face without feeling guilty--we can--
BETTY. [_Quietly._] You can.
WALTER. What do you mean?
BETTY. You can, because of this girl. Oh, I know, of course! You'll come here three or four times--then you'll drop off--you'll feel I'm not quite the woman you want your wife to know.
WALTER. [_With genuine feeling, as he impulsively steps towards her._] Betty, Betty, what sort of cad do you take me for? What sort of cad, or bounder? Haven't I told you I'd never forget--never? And you think you'll pass out of my life--that I want you to? Why, good Heaven, I'll be your best friend as long as I live. Friend--yes--what I always should have been--meant to be! And Hector. Why, Betty, I tell you, merely talking to-night, as I've done, has made me feel--different--sort of--lifted--a load. Because I've always had it--somewhere deep down in me--when I've thought of--him.
BETTY. [_Calmly._] Liar.
WALTER. [_Falling back._] Betty!
BETTY. Liar--yes. Why these stupid, silly lies? "Always, deep down in me!" Where was it, this beautiful feeling, when you got me to go to your rooms?
WALTER.