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.

Clare.  Everything has a beginning, hasn’t it?

     [She drinks.  The young man stares at her]

Young man. [Floundering in these waters deeper than he had bargained for] I say—­about things having beginnings—­did you mean anything?

     [Clare nods]

Young man.  What!  D’you mean it’s really the first——?

     Clare nods.  The champagne has flicked her courage.

Young man.  By George! [He leans back] I’ve often wondered.

Arnaud. [Again filling the glasses] Monsieur finds——­

Young man. [Abruptly] It’s all right.

     He drains his glass, then sits bolt upright.  Chivalry and the
     camaraderie of class have begun to stir in him.

Young man.  Of course I can see that you’re not—­I mean, that you’re a—­a lady. [Clare smiles] And I say, you know—­if you have to—­ because you’re in a hole—­I should feel a cad.  Let me lend you——?

Clare. [Holding up her glass] ‘Le vin est tire, il faut le boire’!

She drinks.  The French words, which he does not too well understand, completing his conviction that she is a lady, he remains quite silent, frowning.  As Clare held up her glass, two gentlemen have entered.  The first is blond, of good height and a comely insolence.  His crisp, fair hair, and fair brushed-up moustache are just going grey; an eyeglass is fixed in one of two eyes that lord it over every woman they see; his face is broad, and coloured with air and wine.  His companion is a tall, thin, dark bird of the night, with sly, roving eyes, and hollow cheeks.  They stand looking round, then pass into the further room; but in passing, they have stared unreservedly at Clare.

Young man. [Seeing her wince] Look here!  I’m afraid you must feel me rather a brute, you know.

Clare.  No, I don’t; really.

Young man.  Are you absolute stoney? [Clare nods] But [Looking at her frock and cloak] you’re so awfully well——­

Clare.  I had the sense to keep them.

Young man. [More and more disturbed] I say, you know—­I wish you’d let me lend you something.  I had quite a good day down there.

Clare. [Again tracing her pattern on the cloth—­then looking up at him full] I can’t take, for nothing.

Young man.  By Jove!  I don’t know-really, I don’t—­this makes me feel pretty rotten.  I mean, it’s your being a lady.

Clare. [Smiling] That’s not your fault, is it?  You see, I’ve been beaten all along the line.  And I really don’t care what happens to me. [She has that peculiar fey look on her face now] I really don’t; except that I don’t take charity.  It’s lucky for me it’s you, and not some——­

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