The Second Series Plays

The Second Series Plays,
Complete

*** [Contains: Eldest Son, Little Dream, Justice] *** #40 in our series
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Title: The Second Series Plays, Complete
Author: John Galsworthy
Release Date: February, 2004 [EBook #5056] [Yes, we are more than
one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on April 11,
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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE
SECOND SERIES PLAYS BY GALSWORTHY ***
This eBook was produced by David Widger

THE SECOND SERIES PLAYS, Complete
By John Galsworthy
Contents: The Eldest Son The Little Dream Justice

THE ELDEST SON
By John Galsworthy

PERSONS OF THE PLAY
SIR WILLIAM CHESHIRE, a baronet LADY CHESHIRE, his wife
BILL, their eldest son HAROLD, their second son RONALD
KEITH(in the Lancers), their son-in-law CHRISTINE (his wife), their
eldest daughter DOT, their second daughter JOAN, their third daughter
MABEL LANFARNE, their guest THE REVEREND JOHN LATTER,
engaged to Joan OLD STUDDENHAM, the head-keeper FREDA
STUDDENHAM, the lady's-maid YOUNG DUNNING, the
under-keeper ROSE TAYLOR, a village girl JACKSON, the butler
CHARLES, a footman
TIME: The present. The action passes on December 7 and 8 at the
Cheshires' country house, in one of the shires.
ACT I SCENE I. The hall; before dinner. SCENE II. The hall; after
dinner.
ACT II. Lady Cheshire's morning room; after breakfast.
ACT III. The smoking-room; tea-time.
A night elapses between Acts I. and II.

ACT I

SCENE I
The scene is a well-lighted, and large, oak-panelled hall, with an air of
being lived in, and a broad, oak staircase. The dining-room,
drawing-room, billiard-room, all open into it; and under the staircase a
door leads to the servants' quarters. In a huge fireplace a log fire is
burning. There are tiger-skins on the floor, horns on the walls; and a
writing-table against the wall opposite the fireplace. FREDA
STUDDENHAM, a pretty, pale girl with dark eyes, in the black dress
of a lady's-maid, is standing at the foot of the staircase with a bunch of
white roses in one hand, and a bunch of yellow roses in the other. A
door closes above, and SIR WILLIAM CHESHIRE, in evening dress,
comes downstairs. He is perhaps fifty-eight, of strong build, rather
bull-necked, with grey eyes, and a well-coloured face, whose choleric
autocracy is veiled by a thin urbanity. He speaks before he reaches the
bottom.
SIR WILLIAM. Well, Freda! Nice roses. Who are they for?
FREDA. My lady told me to give the yellow to Mrs. Keith, Sir William,
and the white to Miss Lanfarne, for their first evening.
SIR WILLIAM. Capital. [Passing on towards the drawing-room] Your
father coming up to-night?
FREDA. Yes.
SIR WILLIAM. Be good enough to tell him I specially want to see him
here after dinner, will you?
FREDA. Yes, Sir William.
SIR WILLIAM. By the way, just ask him to bring the game-book in, if
he's got it.
He goes out into the drawing-room; and FREDA stands restlessly
tapping her foot against the bottom stair. With a flutter of skirts
CHRISTINE KEITH comes rapidly down. She is a nice-looking,
fresh-coloured young woman in a low-necked dress.
CHRISTINE. Hullo, Freda! How are YOU?
FREDA. Quite well, thank you, Miss Christine--Mrs. Keith, I mean.
My lady told me to give you these.
CHRISTINE. [Taking the roses] Oh! Thanks! How sweet of mother!
FREDA. [In a quick, toneless voice] The others are for Miss Lanfarne.
My lady thought white would suit her better.
CHRISTINE. They suit you in that black dress.

[FREDA lowers the roses quickly.]
What do you think of Joan's engagement?
FREDA. It's very nice for her.
CHRISTINE. I say, Freda, have they been going hard at rehearsals?
FREDA. Every day. Miss Dot gets very cross, stage-managing.
CHRISTINE. I do hate learning a part. Thanks awfully for unpacking.
Any news?
FREDA. [In the same quick, dull voice] The under-keeper, Dunning,
won't marry Rose Taylor, after all.
CHRISTINE. What