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.

Lady Ella.  I must get the Vet. to Edward. [To the Squire] Tommy, do exert yourself!

     [Maud re-enters.]

The Squire.  All right! [Exerting himself] Here’s a bell!

Her voice. [Through the door] The bleeding’s stopped.  Shall I send him in to you?

Lady Ella.  Oh, please!  Poor darling!

     [They listen.]

[Lady Ella, prepares to receive EdwardThe Squire and Rector stand transfixed.  The door opens, and a bare arm gently pushes Edward forth.  He is bandaged with a smooth towel.  There is a snuffle—­Hannibal has broken the scarf, outside.]

Lady Ella. [Aghast] Look!  Hannibal’s loose!  Maud—­Tommy. [To the Rector] You!

     [The three rush to prevent Hannibal from re-entering.]

Lady Ella. [To Edward] Yes, I know—­you’d like to!  You shall bite him when it’s safe.  Oh! my darling, you do——­[She sniffs].

     [Maud and the Squire re-enter.]

Have you tied him properly this time?

Maud.  With Bertie’s braces.

Lady Ella.  Oh! but——­

Maud.  It’s all right; they’re almost leather.

     [The Rector re-enters, with a slight look of insecurity.]

Lady Ella.  Rector, are you sure it’s safe?

The Rector. [Hitching at his trousers] No, indeed, lady Ella—­I——­

Lady Ella.  Tommy, do lend a hand!

The Squire.  All right, Ella; all right!  He doesn’t mean what you mean!

Lady Ella. [Transferring Edward to the Squire] Hold him, Tommy. 
He’s sure to smell out Hannibal!

The Squire. [Taking Edward by the collar, and holding his own nose] Jove!  Clever if he can smell anything but himself.  Phew!  She ought to have the Victoria Cross for goin’ in that pond.

     [The door opens, and herself appears; a fine, frank, handsome
     woman, in a man’s orange-coloured motor-coat, hastily thrown on
     over the substrata of costume.]

She.  So very sorry—­had to have a bath, and change, of course!

Lady Ella.  We’re so awfully grateful to you.  It was splendid.

Maud.  Quite.

The Rector. [Rather holding himself together] Heroic!  I was just myself about to——­

The Squire. [Restraining Edward] Little beast will fight—­must apologise—­you were too quick for me——­

     [He looks up at her.  She is smiling, and regarding the wounded
     dog, her head benevolently on one side.]

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