The Gay Lord Quex | Page 9

don't blame you. [Laying her hand upon SOPHY'S _arm, kindly._] So you're Miss Eden's foster-sister, eh?
SOPHY.
I've that honour, my lady.
LADY OWBRIDGE.
You look a little thin. Come down to Fauncey Court to-day as soon as your duties will release you. Spend as many hours there as you can.
SOPHY.
Oh, my lady!
LADY OWBRIDGE.
Run about the grounds--go wherever you please; and get the air into your lungs. [_With gracious formality._] Remember, I invite you.
MURIEL.
[_Innocently._] How good of you, Lady Owbridge!
SOPHY.
Thank you, my lady.
[FRAYNE _returns--accompanied by_ MISS MOON, _who carries a neat package--and settles an account with_ MISS LIMBIRD _at the desk._
LADY OWBRIDGE.
[To SOPHY.] You shall be well looked after.
[She shakes hands with FRAYNE.
MURIEL.
[Kissing SOPHY.] We shall meet by-and-by.
LADY OWBRIDGE.
Muriel--young people--
[MURIEL joins LADY OWBRIDGE; _they go out together._
MRS. EDEN.
[Nodding to SOPHY.] This evening, Sophy.
SOPHY.
[_In a flutter of simple pleasure._] Yes, Mrs. Eden.
MRS. EDEN.
[Shaking hands with FRAYNE.] Till dinner--
[_She goes out._
QUEX.
[To SOPHY.] Good-bye, Miss Fullgarney.
SOPHY.
[_Tripping across the room._] Good-day, my lord.
QUEX.
[Joining FRAYNE.] Are you coming, Chick?
FRAYNE.
[Taking the parcel from MISS MOON, and turning to QUEX, _rather bitterly._] I say, that gal has made me buy something I don't want. They stick you here frightfully--
QUEX.
Ha, ha, ha, ha!
[_They go out together._
SOPHY.
[_Adjusting her hair at the mirror._] Come, girls! look alive! no more work for me to-day! I'm off home to change my frock. I've got an invite down to Richmond. My hat and coat!
[_The door-gong sounds._ MISS MOON _disappears at the door in the partition._ MISS HUDDLE _enters._
SOPHY.
Miss Hud-delle, please run next door, and ask Mr. Valma to step this way for a moment.
MISS HUDDLE.
He's on the leads, Miss Fullgarney, smoking a cigarette.
SOPHY.
[_Running across to the window._] Get my bag of tools ready! sharp! [MISS HUDDLE and MISS LIMBIRD _go out;_ SOPHY _opens the window and calls._] Valma! Valma! Valma!
[MISS MOON returns with SOPHY'S _hat, coat, gloves and umbrella._
MISS MOON.
Your things, Miss Fullgarney.
SOPHY.
[_Taking them from her._] Send for a hansom--a smart one.
[MISS MOON runs out as VALMA _enters at the window._
SOPHY.
[_Breathlessly._] Valma--Valma, love! I've got an invite down to Richmond--Lady Owbridge--she's asked me specially! I'm going home to my place to smarten-up. Isn't it jolly? [_In an outburst._] Oh, love, you might give-up for to-day, and take me down!
VALMA.
May I?
SOPHY.
May you! Your hat--get your hat! you'll find me outside in a cab.
[_He hurries away._
MISS LIMBIRD, _carrying a leather bag, enters, followed by_ MISS CLARIDGE and MISS HUDDLE.
SOPHY.
[_As she, with the aid of her girls, pins on her hat and scrambles into her coat._] You know, girls, many a silly person's head would be turned at being asked to a place like Fauncey Court--as a guest, bear in mind. But there, the houses I've been in!--it's nothing to me. Still, specially invited by the Countess of Owbridge herself--! [_Putting her feet in turn upon a chair and hitching up her stockings._] I shall just make rather a favour of manicuring Mrs. Jack. One doesn't go visiting to cut Mrs. Jack's claws. Gloves! Thank goodness, the evenings are long! they say it's simply heavenly at Fauncey Court--simply heaven--[_She breaks off abruptly, staring straight before her. Under her breath._] Oh--! Fauncey Court--Lord Quex--!
MISS CLARIDGE.
What's the matter, Miss Fullgarney.
SOPHY.
N--n--nothing.
MISS MOON.
[_Entering._] Cab, Miss Fullgarney!
SOPHY.
[_In an altered voice._] Bag. [She takes her bag from MISS LIMBIRD _and walks away, rather slowly, with her head down. Quietly, without turning._] See you in the morning, girls.
THE FOUR GIRLS.
Good afternoon, Miss Fullgarney.
[SOPHY _goes out._
END OF THE FIRST ACT.

THE SECOND ACT
_The scene represents a portion of an English garden laid out in Italian fashion. At the extreme back--upon ground slightly raised--two dense cypress-hedges, about sixteen feet high, form an alley running from right to left. In the centre of the hedge which is nearer the spectator there is an opening, and at this opening are three or four steps connecting the higher with the lower level. Beyond the alley nothing is seen but the sky and some tree-tops. In advance is an enclosure formed by a dwarf cypress-hedge, about four feet in height, also broken in the centre by an opening, and running off right and left at a sharp angle. On the outside of the dwarf hedge is a walk; and beyond, on the right and left, are trees. Within the enclosure, on the left, is a small fountain; facing the fountain, on the right, a piece of old, broken sculpture. Other bits of antique sculpture are placed in different parts of the garden. In the foreground, on the right towards the centre, stands a stone bench, on the left of which is a table upon which are the remains of "afternoon tea," with a garden chair. A similar stone bench stands opposite._
_The light is that of a very fine evening._
[LADY OWBRIDGE _is in the garden-chair, asleep, an open book in her lap._ QUEX and MURIEL _stand, talking together, by the fountain. On the right-hand stone