The Skin Game | Page 6

Well, but when I sold Longmeadow and the cottages, it
was on the express understanding that there was to be no disturbance of
tenancies:
MRS. J. Yes, sir; but we've all got to go. Mrs. 'Arvey, and the Drews,
an' us, and there isn't another cottage to be had anywhere in Deepwater.
HILLCRIST. I know; I want one for my cowman. This won't do at all.
Where do you get it from?
JACKMAN. Mr. 'Ornblower, 'imself, air. Just an hour ago. He come
round and said: "I'm sorry; I want the cottages, and you've got to clear."
MRS. J. [Bitterly] He's no gentleman, sir; he put it so brisk. We been
there thirty years, and now we don't know what to do. So I hope you'll
excuse us coming round, sir.
HILLCRIST. I should think so, indeed! H'm! [He rises and limps
across to the fireplace on his stick. To himself] The cloven hoof. By
George! this is a breach of faith. I'll write to him, Jackman. Confound it!
I'd certainly never have sold if I'd known he was going to do this.
MRS. J. No, sir, I'm sure, sir. They do say it's to do with the potteries.
He wants the cottages for his workmen.
HILLCRIST. [Sharply] That's all very well, but he shouldn't have led
me to suppose that he would make no change.
JACKMAN. [Heavily] They talk about his havin' bought the Centry to
gut up more chimneys there, and that's why he wants the cottages.
HINT. The Centry! Impossible!
[Mrs. J. Yes, air; it's such a pretty spot-looks beautiful from here. [She
looks out through the window] Loveliest spot in all Deepwater, I

always say. And your father owned it, and his father before 'im. It's a
pity they ever sold it, sir, beggin' your pardon.]
HILLCRIST. The Centry! [He rings the bell.]
Mrs. J. [Who has brightened up] I'm glad you're goin' to stop it, sir. It
does put us about. We don't know where to go. I said to Mr.
Hornblower, I said, "I'm sure Mr. Hillcrist would never 'eve turned us
out." An' 'e said: "Mr. Hillcrist be----" beggin' your pardon, sir. "Make
no mistake," 'e said, "you must go, missis." He don't even know our
name; an' to come it like this over us! He's a dreadful new man, I think,
with his overridin notions. And sich a heavyfooted man, to look at.
[With a sort of indulgent contempt] But he's from the North, they say.
[FELLOWS has entered, Left.]
HILLCRIST. Ask Mrs. Hillcrist if she'll come.
FELLOWS. Very good, sir.
HILLCRIST. Is Dawker here?
FELLOWS. Not yet, sir.
HILLCRIST. I want to see him at once.
[FELLOWS retires.]
JACKMAN. Mr. Hornblower said he was comin' on to see you, sir. So
we thought we'd step along first.
HILLCRIST. Quite right, Jackman.
MRS. J. I said to Jackman: "Mr. Hillcrist'll stand up for us, I know.
He's a gentleman," I said. "This man," I said, "don't care for the
neighbourhood, or the people; he don't care for anything so long as he
makes his money, and has his importance. You can't expect it, I
suppose," I said; [Bitterly] "havin' got rich so sudden." The gentry don't
do things like that.
HILLCRIST. [Abstracted] Quite, Mrs. Jackman, quite! [To himself]
The Centry! No!
[MRS. HILLCRIST enters. A well-dressed woman, with a firm,
clear-cut face.]
Oh! Amy! Mr. and Mrs. Jackman turned out of their cottage, and Mrs.
Harvey, and the Drews. When I sold to Hornblower, I stipulated that
they shouldn't be.
MRS. J. Our week's up on Saturday, ma'am, and I'm sure I don't know
where we shall turn, because of course Jackman must be near his work,
and I shall lose me washin' if we have to go far.

HILLCRIST. [With decision] You leave it to me, Mrs. Jackman. Good
morning! Morning, Jackman! Sorry I can't move with this gout.
MRS. J. [For them both] I'm sure we're very sorry, sir. Good morning,
sir. Good morning, ma'am; and thank you kindly. [They go out.]
HILLCRIST. Turning people out that have been there thirty years. I
won't have it. It's a breach of faith.
MRS. H. Do you suppose this Hornblower will care two straws about
that Jack?
HILLCRIST. He must, when it's put to him, if he's got any decent
feeling.
MRS. H. He hasn't.
HILLCRIST. [Suddenly] The Jackmans talk of his having bought the
Centry to put up more chimneys.
MRS. H. Never! [At the window, looking out] Impossible! It would
ruin the place utterly; besides cutting us off from the Duke's. Oh, no!
Miss Mullins would never sell behind our backs.
HILLCRIST. Anyway I must stop his turning these people out.
Mrs. H. [With a little smile, almost contemptuous] You might have
known he'd do something of the sort. You will imagine