The Man from Home | Page 5

DE CHAMPIGNY [waving her parasol]. Enfin! Bravo!
And will she let it be soon?
ALMERIC [sincerely]. I dare say there'll be no row about that; I've
made her aw'fly happy.
HAWCASTLE. On my soul, I believe you're right--and thank God you
are!
[Rises as he speaks and walks up centre. Breaks off short as he sees
HORACE.]
[Illustration: "OH NO! SHE ACCEPTED ME"]
Here's the brother--attention now!
[HORACE enters the hotel. He is a boyish-looking American of
twenty-two, smooth-shaven. He wears white flannels, the coat
double-breasted and buttoned, the tie is light blue "puffing" fastened
with a large pearl. He wears light-yellow chamois gloves, white shoes,
a small, stiff English straw hat with blue-and-white ribbon. When he
speaks it is with a strong "English accent," which he sometimes forgets.
At present he is flushed and almost overcome with happy emotion. As
he comes down the steps MADAME DE CHAMPIGNY rushes toward
him, taking both his hands.]

MADAME DE CHAMPIGNY [excitedly]. Ah, my dear Horace
Granger-Simpson! Has your sister told you?
HORACE [radiant, but almost tearful]. She has, indeed. I assure you
I'm quite overcome.
[MADAME DE CHAMPIGNY, dropping his hands, laughs
deprecatingly, and steps back from him.]
Really, I assure you.
HAWCASTLE [shaking hands with him very heartily]. My dear young
friend, not at all, not at all.
HORACE [fanning himself with his hat and wiping his brow]. I assure
you I am, I assure you I am--it's quite overpowering--_isn't_ it?
MADAME DE CHAMPIGNY. Ah, poor Monsieur Horace!
ALMERIC. I say, don't take it that way, you know. She's very happy.
HORACE [crossing and grasping his hand]. She's worthy of it--she's
worthy of it. I know she is. And when will it be?
MADAME DE CHAMPIGNY. Enchanting.
HAWCASTLE. Oh, the date? I dare say within a year--two years--
[COMTESSE starts to exclaim, but HAWCASTLE checks her.]
HORACE. Oh, but I say, you know! Isn't that putting it jolly far off?
The thing's settled, isn't it? Why not say a month instead of a year?
HAWCASTLE. Oh, if you like, I don't know that there is any real
objection.
HORACE. I do like, indeed. Why not let them marry here in Italy?
HAWCASTLE. Ah, the dashing methods of you Americans! Next

you'll be saying, "Why not here at Sorrento?"
HORACE. Well, and why not, indeed?
HAWCASTLE. And then it will be, "Why not within a fortnight?"
HORACE. And why should it not be in a fortnight?
HAWCASTLE. Ah, you wonderful people, you are whirlwinds, yet I
see no reason why it should not be in a fortnight.
ALMERIC [passively]. Just as you like, Governor, just as you like.
MADAME DE CHAMPIGNY. Enchanting.
HAWCASTLE. My son is all impatience!
ALMERIC [genially]. Quite so!
HAWCASTLE [gayly]. Shall we dispose at once of the necessary little
details, the various minor arrangements, the--the settlement?
[Interrupts himself with a friendly laugh.]
Of course, as a man of the world, of our world, you understand there
are formalities in the nature of a settlement.
HORACE [interrupting eagerly and pleasantly, laughing also]. Quite so,
of course, I know, certainly, perfectly!
HAWCASTLE [heartily]. We'll have no difficulty about that, my boy.
I'll wire my solicitor immediately, and he'll be here within two days. If
you wish to consult your own solicitor you can cable him.
HORACE [with some embarrassment]. Fact is, I've a notion our
solicitor--Ethel's man of business, that is--from Kokomo, Indiana,
where our Governor lived--in fact, a sort of guardian of hers--may be
here almost any time.

HAWCASTLE [taken aback]. A sort of guardian--what sort?
HORACE [apologetically]. I really can't say. Never saw him that I
know of. You see, we've been on this side so many years, and there's
been no occasion for this fellow to look us up, but he's never opposed
anything Ethel wrote for; he seems to be an easygoing old chap.
HAWCASTLE [anxiously]. But would his consent to your sister's
marriage--or the matter of a settlement--be a necessity?
HORACE [easily]. Oh, I dare say; but if he has the slightest sense of
duty toward my sister, he'll be the first to welcome the alliance, won't
he?
HAWCASTLE [reassured]. Then when my solicitor comes, he and
your man can have an evening over a lot of musty papers and the thing
will be done. Again, my boy [taking HORACE'S hand], I welcome you
to our family. God bless you!
HORACE. I'm overpowered, you know--really overpowered.
[Fans himself again and wipes his forehead.]
HAWCASTLE. Come, Almeric.
[Aside to MADAME DE CHAMPIGNY, whom he joins for a
moment.]
Let him know it's a hundred and fifty thousand pounds.
[Exit into hotel, followed immediately by ALMERIC.]
[HORACE turns toward MADAME DE CHAMPIGNY; she gives him
both hands.]
MADAME DE CHAMPIGNY [smiling]. My friend, I am happy for
you.
HORACE [joyously]. Think of it, at the most a fortnight, and