The Return of Peter Grimm | Page 8

trifle careless in his dress. After a pause, he goes back into the office, leaving the door ajar. Presently CATHERINE enters. In spite of her youth and girlish appearance, she is a good, thrifty housekeeper. She wears a simple summer gown, and carries a bunch of gay tulips and an old silver pitcher, from which she presently pours water into the Harlequin Delft vase on PETER GRIMM'S desk. She peeps into the office, retreating, with a smile on her lips, as JAMES appears.
CATHERINE. Did I disturb you, James?
JAMES. [On the threshold.] No indeed.
CATHERINE. Do you like your new work?
JAMES. Anything to get back to the gardens, Catherine. I've always done outside work and I prefer it; but I would shovel dirt rather than work for any one else.
CATHERINE. [Amused.] James!
JAMES. It's true. When the train reached the Junction, and a boy presented the passengers with the usual flower and the "compliments of Peter Grimm"--it took me back to the time when that was my job; and when I saw the old sign, "Grimm's Botanic Gardens and Nurseries"--I wanted to jump off the train and run through the grounds. It seemed as though every tulip called "hello" to me.
CATHERINE. Too bad you left college! You had only one more year.
JAMES. Poor father! He's very much disappointed. Father has worked in the dirt in overalls--a gardener--all his life; and, of course, he over-estimates an education. He's far more intelligent than most of our college professors.
CATHERINE. I understand why you came back. You simply must live where things grow, mustn't you, James? So must I. Have you seen our orchids?
JAMES. Orchids are pretty; but they're doing wonderful things with potatoes these days. I'd rather improve the breed of a squash than to have an orchid named after me. Wonderful discovery of Luther Burbank's-- creating an edible cactus. Sometimes I feel bitter thinking what I might have done with vegetables, when I was wasting time studying Greek.
CATHERINE. [Changing suddenly.] James: why don't you try to please Uncle Peter Grimm?
JAMES. I do; but he is always asking my opinion, and when I give it, he blows up.
CATHERINE. [Coaxingly.] Don't be quite so blunt. Try to be like one of the family.
JAMES. I'm afraid I shall never be like one of this family.
CATHERINE. Why not? I'm no relation at all; and yet--
JAMES. [Making a resolution.] I'll do my best to agree with him. [Offering his hand.] It's a promise. [They shake hands.
CATHERINE. Thank you, James.
JAMES. [Still holding her hand.] It's good to be back, Catherine. It's good to see you again.
He is still holding her hand when FREDERIK GRIMM enters. He is the son of PETER'S dead sister, and has been educated by PETER to carry on his work. He is a graduate of Amsterdam College, Holland, and, in appearance and manner, suggests the foreign student. He has managed to pull through college creditably, making a specialty of botany. PETER has given him the usual trip through Europe, and FREDERIK has come to his rich uncle to settle down and learn his business. He has been an inmate of the household for a few months. He poses as a most industrious young man, but is, at heart, a shirker.
FREDERIK. Where's Uncle?
JAMES. Good-morning, Frederik. Your uncle's watching father spray the plum trees. The black knot's after them again.
FREDERIK. I can hardly keep my eyes open. Uncle wakes me up every morning at five--creaking down the old stairs. [Eyeing CATHERINE admiringly.] You're looking uncommonly pretty this morning, Kitty. [CATHERINE edges away and runs upstairs to her room.
FREDERIK. Hartman!
JAMES. Yes?
FREDERIK. Miss Catherine and you and I are no longer children--our positions are altered--please remember that. I'm no longer a student home for the holidays from Amsterdam College. I'm here to learn the business which I am expected to carry on. Miss Catherine is a young lady now, and my uncle looks upon her as his daughter. You are here as my uncle's secretary. That's how we three stand in this house. Don't call me "Frederik," and hereafter be good enough to say, "Miss Grimm."
JAMES. [Amiably.] Very well.
FREDERIK. James: there's a good opportunity for a young man like you in our Florida house. I think that if I spoke for you--
JAMES. Why do you wish to ship me off to Florida?
FREDERIK. I don't understand you, Hartman. I don't wish to ship you off. I am merely thinking of your future. You seem to have changed since--
JAMES. We've all grown up, as you just said. [JAMES has laid some mail on the desk, and is about to leave the room, when FREDERIK speaks again, but in a more friendly manner.
FREDERIK. The old man's aging; do you notice it?
JAMES. Your uncle's mellowing, yes; but that's only to be expected. He's changing foliage with the years.
FREDERIK. He's growing as old-fashioned as his hats.