One Day More | Page 3

you don't know what's
going on at home. (Insinuating.) There's nothing anywhere on earth as
good as a home, my dear. (Pause.) With a good husband...
Carvil (Heard from his seat fragmentarily). There they go... jabber,
jabber... mumble, mumble. (With a groaning effort?) Helpless!
Capt. H. (Mutters). Extravagant ham and eggs fellow. (Louder.) Of
course it isn't as if he had a son to make a home ready for. Girls are
different, my dear. They don't run away, my dear, my dear. (Agitated.)
Bessie (Drops her arms wearily). No, Captain Hagberd--they don't.

Capt. H. (Slowly). I wouldn't let my own flesh and blood go to sea. Not
I.
Bessie. And the boy ran away.
Capt. H. (A little vacantly). Yes, my only son Harry. (_Rouses
himself_.) Coming home to-morrow.
Bessie (Speaks softly). Sometimes, Captain Hagberd, a hope turns out
false.
Capt. H. (Uneasy). What's that got to do with Harry's coming back?
Bessie. It's good to hope for something. But suppose
now-------(_Feeling her way_.) Yours is not the only lost son that's
never...
Capt. H. Never what! You don't believe he's drowned. (_Crouches,
glaring and grasping the rails_.)
Bessie (Frightened, drops knitting). Captain Hagberd--don't. (_Catches
hold of his shoulders over the railings?_) Don't--my God! He's going
out of his mind! (Cries.) I didn't mean it! I don't know.
Capt. H. (Has backed away. An affected burst of laughter). What
nonsense. None of us Hagberds belonged to the sea. All farmers for
hundreds of years, (fraternal and cunning?) Don't alarm yourself, my
dear. The sea can't get us. Look at me! I didn't get drowned. Moreover,
Harry ain't a sailor at all. And if he isn't a sailor, he's bound to come
back--to-morrow.
Bessie (Has been facing him; murmurs). No. I give it up. He scares me.
(Aloud, sharply.) Then I would give up that advertising in the papers.
Capt. H. (Surprised and puzzled). Why, my dear? Everybody does it.
His poor mother and I have been advertising for years and years. But
she was an impatient woman. She died.
Bessie. If your son's coming, as--as you say--what's the good of that

expense? You had better spend that half-crown on yourself. I believe
you don't eat enough.
Capt. H. (Confused). But it's the right thing to do. Look at the Sunday
papers. Missing relatives on top page--all proper. (_Looks unhappy_.)
Bessie (Tartly). Ah, well! I declare I don't know what you live on.
Capt. H. Are you getting impatient, my dear? Don't get impatient--like
my poor wife. If she'd only been patient she'd be here. Waiting. Only
one day more. (Pleadingly.) Don't be impatient, my dear.
Bessie. I've no patience with you sometimes.
Capt. H. (Flash of lucidity). Why? What's the matter? (Sympathetic.)
You're tired out, my dear, that's what it is.
Bessie. Yes, I am. Day after day. (_Stands listless, arms hanging
down_.)
Capt. H. (Timidly). House dull?
Bessie (Apathetic). Yes.
Capt. H. (As before). H'm. Wash, cook, scrub. Hey?
Bessie (As before). Yes.
Capt. H. (Pointing stealthily at the sleeping Carvil). Heavy?
Bessie. (In a dead voice). Like a millstone.
(A silence.)
Capt. H. (Burst of indignation). Why don't that extravagant fellow get
you a servant?
Bessie. I don't know.

Capt. H. (Cheerily). Wait till Harry comes home. He'll get you one.
Bessie (Almost hysterical; laughs). Why, Captain Hagberd, perhaps
your son won't even want to look at me--when he comes home.
Capt. H. (In a great voice). What! (Quite low.) The boy wouldn't dare.
(Rising choler.) Wouldn't dare to refuse the only sensible girl for miles
around. That stubborn jackanapes refuse to marry a girl like you!
(Walks about in a fury.) You trust me, my dear, my dear, my dear. I'll
make him. I'll--I'll -------- (Splutters.) Cut him off with a shilling.
Bessie. Hush! (Severe.) You mustn't talk like that. What's this? More of
your tantrums?
Capt. H. (Quite humble). No, no--this isn't my tantrums--when I don't
feel quite well in my head. Only I can't stand this... I've grown as fond
of you as if you'd been the wife of my Harry already.
And to be told-------- (Cant restrain himself; shouts.)
Jackanapes!
Bessie. Sh--------! Don't you worry! (Wearily.)
I must give that up too, I suppose. (Aloud.) I didn't mean it, Captain
Hagberd.
Capt. H. It's as if I were to have two children to-morrow. My son
Harry--and the only sensible girl--------. Why, my dear, I couldn't get
on without you. We two are reasonable together. The rest of the people
in this town are crazy. The way they stare at you. And the grins--they're
all on the grin. It makes me dislike to go out. (Bewildered.) It seems as
if there was something wrong about--somewhere. My dear, is there
anything wrong--you who are sensible.. .
Bessie (Soothingly tender). No, no, Captain Hagberd. There is nothing
wrong about you