Complete Plays of John Galsworthy eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 1,284 pages of information about Complete Plays of John Galsworthy.

Complete Plays of John Galsworthy eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 1,284 pages of information about Complete Plays of John Galsworthy.

Strangway.  I want you.  Come back to me!  Beatrice, come back!

Beatrice.  It would be torture, now.

Strangway. [Writhing] Oh!

Beatrice.  Whatever’s in your heart—­do!

Strangway.  You’d come back to me sooner than ruin him?  Would you?

Beatrice.  I can’t bring him harm.

Strangway. [Turning away] God!—­if there be one help me! [He stands leaning his forehead against the window.  Suddenly his glance falls on the little bird cage, still lying on the window-seat] Never cage any wild thing! [He gives a laugh that is half a sob; then, turning to the door, says in a low voice] Go!  Go please, quickly!  Do what you will.  I won’t hurt you—­can’t——­But—­go! [He opens the door.]

Beatrice. [Greatly moved] Thank you!

[She passes him with her head down, and goes out quickly.  Strangway stands unconsciously tearing at the little bird-cage.  And while he tears at it he utters a moaning sound.  The terrified mercy, peering from behind the curtain, and watching her chance, slips to the still open door; but in her haste and fright she knocks against it, and Strangway sees her.  Before he can stop her she has fled out on to the green and away.]

     [While he stands there, paralysed, the door from the house is
     opened, and Mrs. Burlacombe approaches him in a queer, hushed
     way.]

Mrs. Burlacombe. [Her eyes mechanically fixed on the twisted bird-cage in his hands] ’Tis poor Sue Cremer, zurr, I didn’t ’ardly think she’d last thru the mornin’.  An’ zure enough she’m passed away! [Seeing that he has not taken in her words] Mr. Strangway—­ yu’m feelin’ giddy?

Strangway.  No, no!  What was it?  You said——­

Mrs. Burlacombe.  ’Tes Jack Cremer.  His wife’s gone.  ’E’m in a terrible way.  ’Tes only yu, ’e ses, can du ’im any gude.  He’m in the kitchen.

Strangway.  Cremer?  Yes!  Of course.  Let him——­

Mrs. Burlacombe. [Still staring at the twisted cage] Yu ain’t wantin’ that—­’tes all twizzled. [She takes it from him] Sure yu’m not feelin’ yer ’ead?

Strangway. [With a resolute effort] No!

Mrs. Burlacombe. [Doubtfully] I’ll send ’im in, then. [She goes.  When she is gone, Strangway passes his handkerchief across his forehead, and his lips move fast.  He is standing motionless when Cremer, a big man in labourer’s clothes, with a thick, broad face, and tragic, faithful eyes, comes in, and stands a little in from the closed door, quite dumb.]

Strangway. [After a moment’s silence—­going up to him and laying a hand on his shoulder] Jack!  Don’t give way.  If we give way—­we’re done.

Cremer.  Yes, zurr. [A quiver passes over his face.]

Copyrights
Project Gutenberg
Complete Plays of John Galsworthy from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.