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.

     [Murmurs from the crowd, at Whom Mrs. Lemmy is blandly smiling.]

You cawn’t git below ’er—­impossible!  She’s the foundytions of the country—­an’ rocky ’yn’t the word for ’em.  Worked ’ard all ’er life, brought up a family and buried ’em on it.  Twelve bob a week, an’ given when ’er fingers goes, which is very near.  Well, naow, this torf ‘ere comes to me an’ says:  “I’d like to do somefin’ for yer muvver.  ’Ow’s ten bob a week?” ’e says.  Naobody arst ’im—­quite on ’is own.  That’s the sort ’e is. [Sinking his voice confidentially] Sorft.  You bring yer muvvers ’ere, ’e’ll do the syme for them.  I giv yer the ’int.

Voice. [From the crowd] What’s ’is nyme?

Lemmy.  They calls ’im Bill.

Voice.  Bill What?

L. Anne.  Dromondy.

Lady W. Anne!

Lemmy.  Dromedary ’is nyme is.

Voice. [From the crowd] Three cheers for Bill Dromedary.

Lemmy.  I sy, there’s veal an’ ‘am, an’ pork wine at the back for them as wants it; I ‘eard the word passed.  An’ look ’ere, if yer want a flag for the revolution, tyke muvver’s trahsers an’ tie ’em to the corfin.  Yer cawn’t ‘ave no more inspirin’ banner.  Ketch! [He throws the trousers out] Give Bill a double-barrel fast, to show there’s no ill-feelin’.  Ip, ’ip!

     [The crowd cheers, then slowly passes away, singing at a hoarse
     version of the Marseillaise, till all that is heard is a faint
     murmuring and a distant barrel-organ playing the same tune.]

Press. [Writing] “And far up in the clear summer air the larks were singing.”

Lord W. [Passing his heard over his hair, and blinking his eyes] James!  Ready?

James.  Me Lord!

L. Anne.  Daddy!

Lady W. [Taking his arm] Bill!  It’s all right, old man—­all right!

Lord W. [Blinking] Those infernal larks!  Thought we were on the Somme again!  Ah!  Mr. Lemmy, [Still rather dreamy] no end obliged to you; you’re so decent.  Now, why did you want to blow us up before dinner?

Lemmy.  Blow yer up? [Passing his hand over his hair in travesty]
“Is it a dream?  Then wykin’ would be pyne.”

Mrs. Lemmy.  Bo-ob!  Not so saucy, my boy!

Lemmy.  Blow yet up?  Wot abaht it?

Lady W. [Indicating the bomb] This, Mr. Lemmy!

     [Lemmy looks at it, and his eyes roll and goggle.]

Lord W. Come, all’s forgiven!  But why did you?

Lemmy.  Orl right!  I’m goin’ to tyke it awy; it’d a-been a bit ork’ard for me.  I’ll want it to-mower.

Lord W. What!  To leave somewhere else?

Lemmy.  ’Yus, of course!

Lord W. No, no; dash it!  Tell us what’s it filled with?

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