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.

American. [Jumping on to a trunk—­with enthusiasm] Bully!

     [The English clap their hands; the Dutch youth laughs.  The
     official is muttering, greatly incensed.]

American.  What does that body-snatcher say?

German.  He say this man use the baby to save himself from arrest. 
Very smart he say.

American.  I judge you do him an injustice. [Showing off the little man with a sweep of his arm.] This is a white man.  He’s got a black baby, and he won’ leave it in the lurch.  Guess we would all act noble that way, give us the chance.

[The little man rises, holding out the baby, and advances a step or two.  The half-moon at once gives, increasing its size; the American climbs on to a higher trunk.  The little man retires and again sits down.]

American. [Addressing the official] Guess you’d better go out of business and wait for the mother.

Official. [Stamping his foot] Die Mutter sall ’rested be for taking out baby mit typhus.  Ha! [To the little man] Put ze baby down!

     [The little man smiles.]

Do you ’ear?

American. [Addressing the official] Now, see here.  ’Pears to me you don’t suspicion just how beautiful this is.  Here we have a man giving his life for that old baby that’s got no claim on him.  This is not a baby of his own making.  No, sir, this is a very Christ-like proposition in the gentleman.

Official.  Put ze baby down, or ich will goummand someone it to do.

American.  That will be very interesting to watch.

Official. [To policeman] Dake it vrom him.

     [The policeman mutters, but does not.]

American. [To the German] Guess I lost that.

German.  He say he is not his officier.

American.  That just tickles me to death.

Official. [Looking round] Vill nobody dake ze Bub’?

ENGLISHWOMAN. [Moving a step faintly] Yes—­I——­

Englishman. [Grasping her arm].  By Jove!  Will you!

Official. [Gathering himself for a great effort to take the baby, and advancing two steps] Zen I goummand you—­[He stops and his voice dies away] Zit dere!

American.  My!  That’s wonderful.  What a man this is!  What a sublime sense of duty!

     [The Dutch youth laughs.  The official turns on him, but as he
     does so the mother of the Busy is seen hurrying.]

Mother.  ‘Ach!  Ach!  Mei’ Bubi’!

     [Her face is illumined; she is about to rush to the little man.]

Official. [To the policeman] ‘Nimm die Frau’!

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