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.

Mrs. L. [Dryly] Ah!—­Yu’um gwine to be very busy, that’s sartin. 
Can you sew?

L. Aida. [With a Smile] Nao.

Mrs. L. Don’ they tache Yu that, there?

L. Aida. [Blending contempt and a lingering curiosity] Nao.

Mrs. L.  ’Tes wonderful genteel.

L. Aida.  I can sing, though.

Mrs. L. Let’s ’ear yu, then.

L. Aida. [Shaking her head] I can ply the pianner.  I can ply a tune.

Mrs. L. Whose pianner?

L. Aida.  Mrs. Brahn’s when she’s gone aht.

Mrs. L. Well, yu are gettin’ edjucation!  Du they tache yu to love yore neighbours?

L. Aida. [Ineffably] Nao. [Straying to the window] Mrs. Lemmy, what’s the moon?

Mrs. L. The mune?  Us used to zay ‘twas made o’ crame cheese.

L. Aida.  I can see it.

Mrs. L. Ah!  Don’ yu never go wishin’ for it, me dear.

L. Aida.  I daon’t.

Mrs. L. Folks as wish for the mune never du no gude.

L. Aida. [Craning out, brilliant] I’m goin’ dahn in the street. 
I’ll come back for yer trahsers.

Mrs. L. Well; go yu, then, and get a breath o’ fresh air in yore chakes.  I’ll sune ’a feneshed.

L. Aida. [Solemnly] I’m goin’ to be a dancer, I am.

She rushes suddenly to the door, pulls it open, and is gone.

Mrs. L. [Looking after her, and talking to herself.] Ah!  ’Er’ve a-got all ’er troubles before ’er!  “Little lamb, a made’ee?” [Cackling] ’Tes a funny world, tu! [She sings to herself.]

         “There is a green ’ill far away
               Without a city wall,
          Where our dear-Lord was crucified,
               ’U died to save us all.”

The door is opened, and Lemmy comes in; a little man with a stubble of dark moustache and spiky dark hair; large, peculiar eyes he has, and a look of laying his ears back, a look of doubting, of perversity with laughter up the sleeve, that grows on those who have to do with gas and water.  He shuts the door.

Mrs. L. Well, Bob, I ’aven’t a-seen yu this tu weeks.

     Lemmy comes up to his mother, and sits down on a stool, sets a
     tool-bag between his knees, and speaks in a cockney voice.

Lemmy.  Well, old lydy o’ leisure!  Wot would y’ ’ave for supper, if yer could choose—­salmon wivaht the tin, an’ tipsy cyke?

Mrs. L. [Shaking her head and smiling blandly] That’s showy.  Toad in the ’ole I’d ‘ave—­and a glass o’ port wine.

Lemmy.  Providential. [He opens a tool-bag] Wot dyer think I’ve got yer?

Mrs. L. I ’ope yu’ve a-got yureself a job, my son!

Lemmy. [With his peculiar smile] Yus, or I couldn’t ’ave afforded yer this. [He takes out a bottle] Not ’arf!  This’ll put the blood into yer.  Pork wine—­once in the cellars of the gryte.  We’ll drink the ryyal family in this.

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