The Gibson Upright | Page 9

ample shrubberies. A gravelled path leads from the gate to the porch, or sun-room, where are broad steps. Upon the lawn are a white garden bench, a table, and a great green-and-white-striped sun umbrella, with several white garden chairs.
Autumn has come, and the foliage is beginning to turn; but the scene is warm and sunlit.
After a moment a young housemaid brings out a tray with a chocolate pot, wafers, and one cup and saucer and a lace-edged napkin. She places the tray on the table, moves a chair to it, looks at the tray thoughtfully, turns, starts toward the house--when GIBSON comes out. He wears a travelling suit and is bareheaded.
ELLA: The cook thought you might like a cup of chocolate after a long trip like that--just getting off the train and all, Mr. Gibson.
GIBSON: Thank you, Ella, I should.
ELLA: I'll bring your mail right out.
[She goes into the house and returns with a packet of letters.]
GIBSON: Thanks, Ella!
ELLA: Everything is there that's come since you sent the telegram not to forward any more.
GIBSON: It's pleasant to find the house and everything just as I left it.
ELLA: My, Mr. Gibson, we pretty near thought you wasn't never coming back. Those June roses in that bed round yonder lasted pretty near up into August this year, Mr. Gibson. For that matter it's such mild weather even yet some say we won't have any fall till Thanksgiving.
GIBSON: Yes, it's extraordinary.
ELLA: Shall I leave the tray?
GIBSON: No; you can take it. [She moves to do so.] Wait a minute. Here's a letter from John Riley, up at the factory. Don't I remember his son Tom coming here to see you quite a good deal?
ELLA: Yes, sir; Tom's one of the factory truckmen like his father. He still comes to see me quite a good deal, sir. There isn't anything about that in the letter, is there, sir? [She knows there isn't.]
GIBSON [absently]: No, no! [With faint irony.] He only wants to know about where to get a stock of truck parts that had been ordered before I broke connections with the factory. He thinks four months is a long time for them to be on the way and doesn't know where to write.
ELLA: He's a terrible active man, Mr. Riley. Always pushing.
GIBSON: So Tom comes round more than ever, does he?
ELLA [coyly]: He does, sir!
GIBSON: I'm not going to lose you, am I, Ella?
ELLA: Well, sir, up to the time of that change in the factory we hadn't expected we could get married for maybe two years yet, but the way things are now--not that I want to leave here, sir--but it does look like going right ahead with the wedding!
GIBSON: Tom feels that prosperous, does he?
ELLA: I guess he is prosperous, sir!
GIBSON [gravely digesting this]: Well, I suppose I'm glad to hear it.
ELLA: Yes, sir; everybody's glad these days up at the factory, sir. I don't mean about just Tom and me, they're glad.
GIBSON: You mean they're all in a glad condition?
ELLA: Oh, are they, sir! Even the Commiskeys got an automobile last month!
GIBSON: Well, I suppose that's splendid.
ELLA: Didn't you know about it, sir?
GIBSON: No, not a word. I've been pretty deep up in the Maine woods this summer. Have you been over to the factory at all yourself, Ella?
ELLA: Yes, sir; visitors can go round just as they like to. They're glad to have you.
GIBSON: When you've been over there, Ella--you know which one is Miss Gorodna, don't you?
ELLA: Oh, yes, sir! She's one of the best in managing, Miss Gorodna.
GIBSON: You--did you--have you happened to see her?
ELLA: Yes, sir, once or twice.
GIBSON: Did she--ah--did she look overworked?
ELLA: Oh, I shouldn't say so, sir.
GIBSON: She looked well, then?
ELLA: Yes, indeed, sir! Everybody's so happy up there; I don't suppose none of 'em could look happier than she is, sir!
GIBSON: They are all happy, then?
ELLA [laughing joyfully]: You never see such times in your life, sir! [A bell rings in the house.] I'll answer the bell.
GIBSON: I've finished this, Ella.
ELLA: Yes, sir. [She takes the tray and goes into the house. GIBSON opens another letter, reads it. ELLA returns.]
ELLA: It's Mr. Mifflin, sir.
GIBSON: All right.
[MIFFLIN, beaming and bubbling, more radiant than in Act 1, but dressed as then except for a change of tie, comes from the house. He carries his umbrella and hat and the same old magazines and a newspaper.]
MIFFLIN: Ah, Mr. Gibson, you couldn't stay away any longer!
GIBSON: How de do! Sit down!
MIFFLIN [effervescing, as they sit]: It's glorious! I heard from your household you were expected back this Sunday. Now confess! You couldn't stay away! You had to come and watch it!
GIBSON: Well, I've not had to come and watch it for four months. I don't expect to watch it much, now.
MIFFLIN: You don't mean to sit