Complete Project Gutenberg John Galsworthy Works eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 6,432 pages of information about Complete Project Gutenberg John Galsworthy Works.

Complete Project Gutenberg John Galsworthy Works eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 6,432 pages of information about Complete Project Gutenberg John Galsworthy Works.

Hillcrist. Dawker, have the goodness!  Hornblower, in the presence of what may be death, with all my heart I’m sorry.

Hornblower.  Ye hypocrite!

     [He passes them with a certain dignity, and goes out at the
     window, following to his car.]

     [Hillcrist who has stood for a moment stock-still, goes slowly
     forward and sits in his swivel chair.]

Mrs. H. Dawker, please tell Fellows to telephone to Dr. Robinson to go round to the Hornblowers at once.

     [Dawker, fingering the deed, and with a noise that sounds like
     “The cur!” goes out, Left.]

     [At the fireplace]

Jack!  Do you blame me?

Hillcrist. [Motionless] No.

Mrs. H. Or Dawker?  He’s done his best.

Hillcrist. No.

Mrs. H. [Approaching] What is it?

Hillcrist. Hypocrite!

     [Jill comes running in at the window.]

Jill.  Dodo, she’s moved; she’s spoken.  It may not be so bad.

Hillcrist. Thank God for that!

     [Fellows enters, Left.]

Fellows.  The Jackmans, ma’am.

Hillcrist. Who?  What’s this?

     [The Jackmans have entered, standing close to the door.]

Mrs. J. We’re so glad we can go back, sir—­ma’am, we just wanted to thank you.

     [There is a silence.  They see that they are not welcome.]

Thank you kindly, sir.  Good night, ma’am.

     [They shuffle out. ]

Hillcrist. I’d forgotten their existence. [He gets up] What is it that gets loose when you begin a fight, and makes you what you think you’re not?  What blinding evil!  Begin as you may, it ends in this —­skin game!  Skin game!

Jill. [Rushing to him] It’s not you, Dodo; it’s not you, beloved Dodo.

Hillcrist. It is me.  For I am, or should be, master in this house!

Mrs. H. I don’t understand.

Hillcrist. When we began this fight, we had clean hands—­are they clean’ now?  What’s gentility worth if it can’t stand fire?

CURTAIN

FROM THE SERIES OF SIX SHORT PLAYS

Contents: 

          The First and The Last
          The Little Man
          Hall-marked
          Defeat
          The Sun
          Punch and Go

THE FIRST AND THE LAST

A DRAMA IN THREE SCENES

PERSONS OF THE PLAY

Keith Darrant, K.C. 
Larry Darrant, His Brother. 
Wanda.

Scene I. Keith’s Study.

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Complete Project Gutenberg John Galsworthy Works from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.