One Day More | Page 3

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 anywhere.
Carvil (Lying back). Bessie! (Sits up.) Get my hat, Bessie.... Bessie, my hat.... Bessie.... Bessie. ...
(_At the first sound Bessie picks up and puts away her knitting. She walks towards him, picks up hat, puts it on his head_).
Bessie, my... (Hat on head; shouting stops.) Bessie. (Quietly). Will you go in, now? Carvil. Help me up. Steady. I'm dizzy. It's the thundery weather. An autumn thunderstorm means a bad gale. Very fierce--and sudden. There will be shipwrecks to-night on our coast.
(_Exit Bessie and Carvil through door of their cottage. It has fallen dusk_.)
Capt. H. (Picks up spade). Extravagant fellow! And all this town is mad--perfectly mad. I found them out years ago. Thank God