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.

Colonel. [From the depths, in a high voice.] Well, dash it then! 
What do you want?

Mrs. Gwyn.  Peachey, may I introduce Mr. Lever to you?  Miss Beech, my old governess.

     [They shake each other by the hand.]

Lever.  How do you do? [His voice is pleasant, his manner easy.]

Miss beech.  Pleased to meet you.

     [Her manner is that of one who is not pleased.  She watches.]

Mrs. Gwyn. [Pointing to the tree-maliciously.] This is my uncle and my aunt.  They’re taking exercise, I think.

     [The colonel and Mrs. Hope emerge convulsively.  They are very
     hot.  Lever and Mrs. Gwyn are very cool.]

Mrs. Hope. [Shaking hands with him.] So you ’ve got here!  Are n’t you very hot?—­Tom!

Colonel.  Brought a splendid day with you!  Splendid!

     [As he speaks, Joy comes running with a bunch of roses; seeing
     lever, she stops and stands quite rigid.]

Miss beech. [Sitting in the swing.] Thunder!

Colonel.  Thunder?  Nonsense, Peachey, you’re always imagining something.  Look at the sky!

Miss beech.  Thunder!

     [Mrs. GWYN’s smile has faded. ]

Mrs. Hope. [Turning.] Joy, don’t you see Mr. Lever?

     [Joy, turning to her mother, gives her the roses.  With a forced
     smile, lever advances, holding out his hand.]

Lever.  How are you, Joy?  Have n’t seen you for an age!

Joy. [Without expression.] I am very well, thank you.

     [She raises her hand, and just touches his.  Mrs. Gwyn’s eyes
     are fixed on her daughter.  Miss beech is watching them
     intently.  Mrs. Hope is buttoning the colonel’s coat.]

The curtain falls.

ACT II

It is afternoon, and at a garden-table placed beneath the hollow tree, the colonel is poring over plans.  Astride of a garden-chair, lever is smoking cigarettes.  Dick is hanging Chinese lanterns to the hollow tree.

Lever.  Of course, if this level [pointing with his cigarette] peters out to the West we shall be in a tightish place; you know what a mine is at this stage, Colonel Hope.

Colonel. [Absently.] Yes, yes. [Tracing a line.] What is there to prevent its running out here to the East?

Lever.  Well, nothing, except that as a matter of fact it doesn’t.

Colonel. [With some excitement.] I’m very glad you showed me these papers, very glad!  I say that it’s a most astonishing thing if the ore suddenly stops there. [A gleam of humour visits lever’s face.] I’m not an expert, but you ought to prove that ground to the East more thoroughly.

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