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.

Young man.  A peach?

     [Arnaud brings peaches to the table]

Clare. [Smiling] Thank you.

     [He fills their glasses and retreats]

Clare. [Raising her glass] Eat and drink, for tomorrow we—­Listen!

     From the supper-party comes the sound of an abortive chorus: 
     “With a hey ho, chivy, hark forrard, hark forrard, tantivy!”
     Jarring out into a discordant whoop, it sinks.

Clare.  “This day a stag must die.”  Jolly old song!

Young man.  Rowdy lot! [Suddenly] I say—­I admire your pluck.

Clare. [Shaking her head] Haven’t kept my end up.  Lots of women do!  You see:  I’m too fine, and not fine enough!  My best friend said that.  Too fine, and not fine enough. [She laughs] I couldn’t be a saint and martyr, and I wouldn’t be a soulless doll.  Neither one thing nor the other—­that’s the tragedy.

Young man.  You must have had awful luck!

Clare.  I did try. [Fiercely] But what’s the good—­when there’s nothing before you?—­Do I look ill?

Young man.  No; simply awfully pretty.

Clare. [With a laugh] A man once said to me:  “As you haven’t money, you should never have been pretty!” But, you see, it is some good.  If I hadn’t been, I couldn’t have risked coming here, could I?  Don’t you think it was rather sporting of me to buy these [She touches the gardenias] with the last shilling over from my cab fare?

Young man.  Did you really?  D—–­d sporting!

Clare.  It’s no use doing things by halves, is it?  I’m—­in for it—­ wish me luck! [She drinks, and puts her glass down with a smile] In for it—­deep! [She flings up her hands above her smiling face] Down, down, till they’re just above water, and then—­down, down, down, and —­all over!  Are you sorry now you came and spoke to me?

Young man.  By Jove, no!  It may be caddish, but I’m not.

Clare.  Thank God for beauty!  I hope I shall die pretty!  Do you think I shall do well?

Young man.  I say—­don’t talk like that!

Clare.  I want to know.  Do you?

Young man.  Well, then—­yes, I do.

Clare.  That’s splendid.  Those poor women in the streets would give their eyes, wouldn’t they?—­that have to go up and down, up and down!  Do you think I—­shall——­

     The young man, half-rising, puts his hand on her arm.

Young man.  I think you’re getting much too excited.  You look all—­ Won’t you eat your peach? [She shakes her head] Do!  Have something else, then—­some grapes, or something?

Clare.  No, thanks.

     [She has become quite calm again]

Young man.  Well, then, what d’you think?  It’s awfully hot in here, isn’t it?  Wouldn’t it be jollier drivin’?  Shall we—­shall we make a move?

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