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.

Little man.  Poor thing, yes!  What she must be suffering!

     [A gale of laughter shakes the carriage.  The English for a
     moment drop their papers, the better to indulge.  The little man
     smiles a wintry smile.]

American. [In a lull] How did it eventuate?

Little man.  We got there just as the train was going to start; and I jumped, thinking I could help her up.  But it moved too quickly, and—­and left her.

     [The gale of laughter blows up again.]

American.  Guess I’d have thrown the baby out to her.

Little man.  I was afraid the poor little thing might break.

     [The Baby wails; the little man heaves it; the gale of laughter
     blows.]

American. [Gravely] It’s highly entertaining—­not for the baby.  What kind of an old baby is it, anyway? [He sniff’s] I judge it’s a bit—­niffy.

Little man.  Afraid I’ve hardly looked at it yet.

American.  Which end up is it?

Little Mam.  Oh!  I think the right end.  Yes, yes, it is.

American.  Well, that’s something.  Maybe you should hold it out of window a bit.  Very excitable things, babies!

ENGLISHWOMAN. [Galvanized] No, no!

Englishman. [Touching her knee] My dear!

American.  You are right, ma’am.  I opine there’s a draught out there.  This baby is precious.  We’ve all of us got stock in this baby in a manner of speaking.  This is a little bit of universal brotherhood.  Is it a woman baby?

Little man.  I—­I can only see the top of its head.

American.  You can’t always tell from that.  It looks kind of over-wrapped up.  Maybe it had better be unbound.

German.  ‘Nein, nein, nein’!

American.  I think you are very likely right, colonel.  It might be a pity to unbind that baby.  I guess the lady should be consulted in this matter.

ENGLISHWOMAN.  Yes, yes, of course——!

Englishman. [Touching her] Let it be!  Little beggar seems all right.

American.  That would seem only known to Providence at this moment. 
I judge it might be due to humanity to look at its face.

Little man. [Gladly] It’s sucking my’ finger.  There, there—­nice little thing—­there!

American.  I would surmise in your leisure moments you have created babies, sir?

Little man.  Oh! no—­indeed, no.

American.  Dear me!—­That is a loss. [Addressing himself to the carriage at large] I think we may esteem ourselves fortunate to have this little stranger right here with us.  Demonstrates what a hold the little and weak have upon us nowadays.  The colonel here—­a man of blood and iron—­there he sits quite calm next door to it. [He sniffs] Now, this baby is rather chastening—­that is a sign of grace, in the colonel—­that is true heroism.

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