The Fourth Series Plays | Page 6

some of
these good people a rare rap over the knuckles for their want of charity.
For all they look as if butter wouldn't melt in their mouths, they're an
un-Christian lot. [Looking very directly at Mrs. BURLACOMBE] It's
lucky we've some hold over the village. I'm not going to have scandal. I

shall speak to Sir Herbert, and he and the Rector will take steps.
MRS. BURLACOMBE. [With covert malice] Aw! I du hope 'twon't
upset the Rector, an' 'is fute so poptious!
MRS. BRADMERE. [Grimly] His foot'll be sound enough to come
down sharp. By the way, will you send me a duck up to the Rectory?
MRS. BURLACOMBE. [Glad to get away] Zurely, m'm; at once. I've
some luv'ly fat birds.
[She goes into the house.]
MRS. BRADMERE. Old puss-cat!
[She turns to go, and in the doorway encounters a very little,
red-cheeked girl in a peacock-blue cap, and pink frock, who curtsies
stolidly.]
MRS. BRADMERE. Well, Tibby Jarland, what do you want here?
Always sucking something, aren't you?
[Getting no reply from Tibby JARLAND, she passes out. Tibby comes
in, looks round, takes a large sweet out of her mouth, contemplates it,
and puts it back again. Then, in a perfunctory and very stolid fashion,
she looks about the floor, as if she had been told to find something.
While she is finding nothing and sucking her sweet, her sister MERCY
comes in furtively, still frowning and vindictive.]
MERCY. What! Haven't you found it, Tibby? Get along with 'ee, then!
[She accelerates the stolid Tissy's departure with a smack, searches
under the seat, finds and picks up the deserted sixpence. Then very
quickly she goes to the door: But it is opened before she reaches it, and,
finding herself caught, she slips behind the chintz window-curtain. A
woman has entered, who is clearly the original of the large photograph.
She is not strictly pretty, but there is charm in her pale, resolute face,
with its mocking lips, flexible brows, and greenish eyes, whose lids,
square above them, have short, dark lashes. She is dressed in blue, and
her fair hair is coiled up under a cap and motor-veil. She comes in
swiftly, and closes the door behind her; becomes irresolute; then,
suddenly deciding, moves towards the door into the house. MERCY
slips from behind her curtain to make off, but at that moment the door
into the house is opened, and she has at once to slip back again into
covert. It is Ivy who has appeared.]
IVY. [Amazed] Oh! Mrs. Strangway!
[Evidently disconcerted by this appearance, BEATRICE

STRANGWAY pulls herself together and confronts the child with a
smile.]
BEATRICE. Well, Ivy--you've grown! You didn't expect me, did you?
IVY. No, Mrs. Strangway; but I hoped yu'd be comin' soon.
BEATRICE. Ah! Yes. Is Mr. Strangway in?
IVY. [Hypnotized by those faintly smiling lips] Yes--oh, yes! He's
writin' his sermon in the little room. He will be glad!
BEATRICE. [Going a little closer, and never taking her eyes off the
child] Yes. Now, Ivy; will you do something for me?
IVY. [Fluttering] Oh, yes, Mrs. Strangway.
BEATRICE. Quite sure?
IVY. Oh, yes!
BEATRICE. Are you old enough to keep a secret?
IVY. [Nodding] I'm fourteen now.
BEATRICE. Well, then--, I don't want anybody but Mr. Strangway to
know I've been here; nobody, not even your mother. D'you understand?
IVY. [Troubled] No. Only, I can keep a secret.
BEATRICE. Mind, if anybody hears, it will hurt Mr. Strangway.
IVY. Oh! I wouldn't--hurt--him. Must yu go away again? [Trembling
towards her] I wish yu wer goin' to stay. And perhaps some one has
seen yu--They----
BEATRICE. [Hastily] No, no one. I came motoring; like this. [She
moves her veil to show how it can conceal her face] And I came
straight down the little lane, and through the barn, across the yard.
IVY. [Timidly] People du see a lot.
BEATRICE. [Still with that hovering smile] I know, but----Now go and
tell him quickly and quietly.
IVY. [Stopping at the door] Mother's pluckin' a duck. Only, please, Mrs.
Strangway, if she comes in even after vu've gone, she'll know,
because--because yu always have that particular nice scent.
BEATRICE. Thank you, my child. I'll see to that.
[Ivy looks at her as if she would speak again, then turns suddenly, and
goes out. BEATRICE'S face darkens; she shivers. Taking out a little
cigarette case, she lights a cigarette, and watches the puff's of smoke
wreathe shout her and die away. The frightened MERCY peers out,
spying for a chance, to escape. Then from the house STRANGWAY
comes in. All his dreaminess is gone.]

STRANGWAY. Thank God! [He stops at the look on her face] I don't
understand, though. I thought you were still out there.
BEATRICE. [Letting her cigarette fall, and putting her