MR. CROWE. Was.
CARNABY. There's a good enemy!
MR. CROWE. Get out of my road . . lawyer Smallpeice.
CARNABY. Leave enough of him living to attend to my business.
MR. SMALLPEICE. [_wriggling a bow at_ CARNABY.] Oh . . dear sir!
SIR GEORGE LEETE. [_Disgustedly to_ MR. SMALLPEICE.] You!
MR. SMALLPEICE. Employed in a small matter . . as yet.
CARNABY. [_To_ CROWE.] I hope you spoke your mind of me.
MR. CROWE. Not behind your back, sir.
MRS. GEORGE LEETE _leads_ LADY LEETE _from the dining-room_. LADY LEETE
_is a very old, blind and decrepit woman_. DOLLY _is a buxom young
mother; whose attire borders on the gaudy_.
CARNABY. [_With some tenderness._] Well . . Mother . . dear?
MR. CROWE. [_Bumptiously to_ SIR GEORGE LEETE.] Did my speech offend
you, my lord?
SIR GEORGE LEETE. [_Sulkily._] I'm a baronet.
LADY LEETE. Who's this here?
CARNABY. Carnaby.
DOLLY. Step down . . grandmother.
LADY LEETE. Who did ye say you were?
DOLLY. Mrs. George Leete.
LADY LEETE. Take me to the fire-side.
_So_ CARNABY _and_ DOLLY _lead her slowly to a chair by the fire where
they carefully bestow her_.
MR. SMALLPEICE. [_To_ FARMER CROWE.] He's leaving Markswayde, you know . .
and me agent.
LADY LEETE. [_Suddenly bethinking her._] Grace was not said. Fetch my
chaplain . . at once.
MR. SMALLPEICE. I will run.
_He runs into the dining-room._
DOLLY. [_Calling after with her country accent._] Not parson Remnant . .
t'other one.
LADY LEETE. [_Demanding._] Snuff.
CARNABY. [_To his father._] Sir . . my hand is a little unsteady.
SIR GEORGE _and_ CARNABY _between them give_ LADY LEETE _her snuff_.
MR. CROWE. Dolly . . ought those children to be left so long?
DOLLY. All right, father . . I have a maid.
LADY LEETE _sneezes_.
SIR GEORGE LEETE. She'll do that once too often altogether.
LADY LEETE. I'm cold.
DOLLY. I'm cold . . I lack my shawl.
CROWE. Call out to your man for it.
DOLLY. [_Going to the dining-room door._] Will a gentleman please ask
Mr. George Leete for my Cache-y-mire shawl?
MR. CROWE. [_To_ CARNABY.] And I drank to the health of our grandson.
CARNABY. Now suppose George were to assume your name, Mr. Crowe?
MR. TOZER _comes out of the dining-room. Of the worst type of eighteenth
century parson, for which one may see Hogarth's 'Harlot's Progress.' He
is very drunk._
SIR GEORGE LEETE. [_In his wife's ear._] Tozer!
LADY LEETE. When . . why!
SIR GEORGE LEETE. To say grace.
LADY LEETE _folds her withered hands_.
MR. TOZER. [_through his hiccoughs._] Damn you all.
LADY LEETE. [_Reverently, thinking it is said._] Amen.
MR. TOZER. Only my joke.
CARNABY. [_Rising to the height of the occasion._] Mr. Tozer, I am
indeed glad to see you, upon this occasion so delightfully drunk.
MR. TOZER. Always a gen'elman . . by nature.
SIR GEORGE LEETE. Lie down . . you dog.
GEORGE _comes out carrying the cashmere shawl_.
GEORGE. [_To his father._] Dolly wants her father to rent Markswayde,
sir.
MR. CROWE. Not me, my son. You're to be a farmer-baronet.
SIR GEORGE. Curse your impudence!
CARNABY. My one regret in dying would be to miss seeing him so.
GEORGE _goes back into the dining-room_.
MR. CROWE. I am tickled to think that the man marrying your daughter
wasn't good enough for mine.
CARNABY. And yet at fisticuffs, I'd back John Abud against our son
George.
DR. REMNANT _has come out of the dining-room_. TOZER _has stumbled
towards him and is wagging an argumentative finger_.
MR. TOZER. . . Marriage means enjoyment!
DR. REMNANT. [_Controlling his indignation._] I repeat that I have found
in my own copy of the prayer book no insistence upon a romantic passion.
MR. TOZER. My 'terpretation of God's word is 'bove criticism.
MR. TOZER _reaches the door and falls into the dining-room_.
CARNABY. [_Weakly to_ DR. REMNANT.] Give me your arm for a moment.
DR. REMNANT. I think Lady Cottesham has Mrs. John Abud prepared to
start, sir.
CARNABY. I trust Ann will take no chill walking through the mud.
DR. REMNANT. Won't you sit down, sir?
CARNABY. No.
_For some moments_ CROWE _has been staring indignantly at_ SIR GEORGE.
_Now he breaks out._
MR. CROWE. The front door of this mansion is opened to a common gardener
and only then to me and mine!
SIR GEORGE LEETE. [_Virulently._] Damn you and yours and damn them . .
and damn you again for the worse disgrace.
MR. CROWE. Damn _you_, sir . . have you paid him to marry the girl?
_He turns away, purple faced and_ SIR GEORGE _chokes impotently_. ABUD
_and_ MR. PRESTIGE _come out talking. He is younger and less assertive
than_ FARMER CROWE.
MR. PRESTIGE. [_Pathetically._] All our family always has got drunk at
weddings.
ABUD. [_In remonstrance._] Please, uncle.
CARNABY. Mr. Crowe . . I have been much to blame for not seeking you
sooner.
MR. CROWE. [_Mollified._] Shake hands.
CARNABY. [_Offering his with some difficulty._] My arm is stiff . .
from an accident. This is a maid's marriage, I assure you.
MR. PRESTIGE. [_Open mouthed to_ DR. REMNANT.] One =could= hang bacon
here!
DOLLY. [_Very high and mighty._] The family don't.
CARNABY. [_To his father._] And won't you apologise for your remarks to
Mr. Crowe, sir?
LADY LEETE. [_Demanding._] Snuff!
CARNABY. And your box to my mother, sir.
SIR GEORGE _attends to his wife_.
DOLLY. [_Anxiously to_ DR. REMNANT.] Can a gentleman change his name?
MR. CROWE. Parson . . once noble always noble, I take it.
DR. REMNANT. Certainly . . but I hope you have money to leave them, Mr.
Crowe.
DOLLY. [_To_ ABUD.] John.
ABUD. Dorothy.
DOLLY. You've not seen my babies yet.
LADY LEETE _sneezes_.
SIR GEORGE LEETE. Carnaby . . d'ye intend to murder that Crowe fellow . .
or must I?
MR. SMALLPEICE _skips from the dining-room_.
MR. SMALLPEICE. Mr. John Abud . .
MR. CROWE. [_To_ DR. REMNANT _as he nods towards_ CARNABY.] Don't tell
me he's got over that fever yet.
MR. SMALLPEICE. . . The ladies say . . are you ready or are you not?
MR. PRESTIGE. I'll get thy cloak, John.
MR. PRESTIGE _goes for the cloak_. CARNABY _has taken a pistol from the
mantel-piece and now points it at_ ABUD.
CARNABY. He's fit for heaven!
GEORGE LEETE _comes from the dining-room and noticing his father's
action says sharply_ . .
GEORGE. I suppose you know that pistol's loaded.
_Which calls everyone's attention._ DOLLY _shrieks_.
CARNABY. What if there had been an accident!
_And he puts back the pistol._ ABUD _takes his cloak from_ PRESTIGE.
ABUD. Thank you, uncle.
MR. PRESTIGE. I'm a proud man. Mr. Crowe . .
CARNABY. Pride!
GEORGE. [_Has a sudden inspiration and strides up to_ ABUD.] Here ends
the joke, my good fellow. Be off without your wife.
ABUD _stares, as do the others. Only_ CARNABY _suddenly catches_
REMNANT'S _arm_.
MR. PRESTIGE. [_Solemnly._] But it's illegal to separate them.
GEORGE. [_Giving up._] Mr. Prestige . . you are the backbone of England.
CARNABY. [_To_ REMNANT.] Where are your miracles?
MRS. PRESTIGE _comes out. A motherly farmer's wife, a mountain of a
woman._
MRS. PRESTIGE. John . . kiss your aunt.
ABUD _goes to her, and she obliterates him in an embrace_.
GEORGE. [_To his father._] Sense of humour . . Sense of humour!
LADY LEETE. Snuff.
_But no one heeds her this time._
CARNABY. It doesn't matter.
GEORGE. Smile. Let's be helpless gracefully.
CARNABY. There are moments when I'm not sure.
GEORGE. It's her own life.
TOZER _staggers from the dining-room drunker than ever. He falls against
the baluster and waves his arms._
MR. TOZER. Silence there for the corpse!
MR. CROWE. You beast!
MR. TOZER. Respect my cloth . . Mr. Prestige.
MR. CROWE. That's not my name.
MR. TOZER. I'll have you to know that I'm Sir George Leete's baronet's
most boon companion and her la'ship never goes nowhere without me. [_He
subsides into a chair._]
LADY LEETE. [_Tearfully._] Snuff.
_From the dining-room comes_ ANN; _her head bent. She is crossing the
hall when_ SARAH _follows, calling her_.
SARAH. Ann!
ANN _turns back to kiss her. The rest of the company stand gazing._ SIR
GEORGE _gives snuff to_ LADY LEETE.
ANN. Good-bye, Sally.
SARAH. [_In a whisper._] Forget us.
GEORGE. [_Relieving his feelings._] Good-bye, everybody . . good-bye,
everything.
ABUD _goes to the front door and opening it stands waiting for her. She
goes coldly, but timidly to her father, to whom she puts her face up to
be kissed._
ANN. Good-bye, Papa.
CARNABY. [_Quietly, as he kisses her cheek._] I can do without you.
SIR GEORGE LEETE. [_Raging at the draught._] Shut that door.
ANN. I'm gone.
_She goes with her husband._ MRS. OPIE _comes hurriedly out of the
dining-room, too late_.
MRS. OPIE. Oh!
DR. REMNANT. Run . . Mrs. Opie.
CARNABY. There has started the new century!
MRS. OPIE _opens the front door to look after them_.
SIR GEORGE LEETE. [_With double energy._] Shut that door.
LADY LEETE _sneezes and then chokes. There is much commotion in her
neighbourhood._
SIR GEORGE. Now she's hurt again.
DOLLY. Water!
MR. CROWE. Brandy!
SARAH. [_Going._] I'll fetch both.
GEORGE. We must all die . . some day.
MR. TOZER. [_Who has struggled up to see what is the matter._] And go
to--
DR. REMNANT. Hell. You do believe in that, Mr. Toper.
MRS. OPIE. [_Fanning the poor old lady._] She's better.
CARNABY. [_To his guests._] Gentlemen . . punch.
PRESTIGE _and_ SMALLPEICE; MRS. PRESTIGE, GEORGE _and_ DOLLY _move
towards the dining-room_.
MR. PRESTIGE. [_To_ SMALLPEICE.] You owe all this to me.
MR. CROWE. Dolly . . I'm going.
MRS. PRESTIGE. [_To her husband as she nods towards_ CARNABY.] Nathaniel
. . look at 'im.
GEORGE. [_To his father-in-law._] Must we come too?
MRS. PRESTIGE. [_As before._] I can't help it . . a sneerin' carpin'
cavillin' devil!
MRS. OPIE. Markswayde is to let . . as I hear . . Mr. Leete?
CARNABY. Markswayde is to let.
_He goes on his way to the dining-room meeting_ SARAH _who comes out
carrying a glass of water and a decanter of brandy_. SIR GEORGE LEETE
_is comfortably warming himself at the fire_.
* * * * *
_The living room of_ JOHN ABUD'S _new cottage has bare plaster walls and
its ceilings and floor are of red brick; all fresh looking but not new.
In the middle of the middle wall there is a latticed window, dimity
curtained; upon the plain shelf in front are several flower-pots._
_To the right of this, a door, cross beamed and with a large lock to it
besides the latch._
_Against the right hand wall, is a dresser, furnished with dishes and
plates: below it is a common looking grandfather clock; below this a
small door which when opened shows winding stairs leading to the
room above. In the left hand wall there is a door which is almost hidden
by the fireplace which juts out below it. In the fireplace a wood fire
is laid but not lit. At right angles to this stands a heavy oak settle
opposite a plain deal table; just beyond which is a little bench. On
either side of the window is a Windsor armchair. Between the window and
the door hangs a framed sampler._
_In the darkness the sound of the unlocking of a door and of_ ABUD
_entering is heard. He walks to the table, strikes a light upon a
tinder-box and lights a candle which he finds there._ ANN _is standing
in the doorway_. ABUD _is in stocking feet_.
ABUD. Don't come further. Here are your slippers.
_He places one of the Windsor chairs for her on which she sits while he
takes off her wet shoes and puts on her slippers which he found on the
table. Then he takes her wet shoes to the fireplace. She sits still.
Then he goes to the door and brings in his own boots from the little
porch and puts them in the fireplace too. Then he locks the door and
hangs up the key beside it. Then he stands looking at her; but she does
not speak, so he takes the candle, lifts it above his head and walks to
the dresser._
ABUD. [_Encouragingly._] Our dresser . . Thomas Jupp made that. Plates
and dishes. Here's Uncle Prestige's clock.
ANN. Past seven.
ABUD. That's upstairs. Table and bench, deal. Oak settle . . solid.
ANN. Charming.
ABUD. Windsor chairs . . Mother's sampler.
ANN. Home.
ABUD. Is it as you wish? I have been glad at your not seeing it until
to-night.
ANN. I'm sinking into the strangeness of the place.
ABUD. Very weary? It's been a long nine miles.
_She does not answer. He goes and considers the flower-pots in the
window._
ANN. I still have on my cloak.
ABUD. Hang it behind the door there . . no matter if the wet drips.
ANN. . . I can wipe up the puddle.
_She hangs up her cloak. He selects a flower-pot and brings it to her._
ABUD. Hyacinth bulbs for the spring.
ANN. [_After a glance._] I don't want to hold them.
_He puts back the pot, a little disappointed._
ABUD. Out there's the scullery.
ANN. It's very cold.
ABUD. If we light the fire now that means more trouble in the morning.
_She sits on the settle._
ANN. Yes, I am very weary.
ABUD. Go to bed.
ANN. Not yet. [_After a moment._] How much light one candle gives! Sit
where I may see you.
_He sits on the bench. She studies him curiously._
ANN. Well . . this is an experiment.
ABUD. [_With reverence._] God help us both.
ANN. Amen. Some people are so careful of their lives. If we fail
miserably we'll hold our tongues . . won't we?
ABUD. I don't know . . I can't speak of this.
ANN. These impossible things which are done mustn't be talked of . .
that spoils them. We don't want to boast of this, do we?
ABUD. I fancy nobody quite believes that we are married.
ANN. Here's my ring . . real gold.
ABUD. [_With a sudden fierce throw up of his head._] Never you remind me
of the difference between us.
ANN. Don't speak to me so.
ABUD. Now I'm your better.
ANN. My master . . The door's locked.
ABUD. [_Nodding._] I know that I must be . . or be a fool.
ANN. [_After a moment._] Be kind to me.
ABUD. [_With remorse._] Always I will.
ANN. You are master here.
ABUD. And I've angered you?
ANN. And if I fail . . I'll never tell you . . to make a fool of you.
And you're trembling. [_She sees his hand, which is on the table,
shake._]
ABUD. Look at that now.
ANN. [_Lifting her own._] My white hands must redden. No more dainty
appetite . . no more pretty books.
ABUD. Have you learned to scrub?
ANN. Not this floor.
ABUD. Mother always did bricks with a mop. Tomorrow I go to work.
You'll be left for all day.
ANN. I must make friends with the other women around.
ABUD. My friends are very curious about you.
ANN. I'll wait to begin till I'm seasoned.
ABUD. Four o'clock's the hour for getting up.
ANN. Early rising always was a vice of mine.
ABUD. Breakfast quickly . . . and I take my dinner with me.
ANN. In a handkerchief.
ABUD. Hot supper, please.
ANN. It shall be ready for you.
_There is silence between them for a little. Then he says timidly._
ABUD. May I come near to you?
ANN. [_In a low voice._] Come.
_He sits beside her, gazing._
ABUD. Wife . . I never have kissed you.
ANN. Shut your eyes.
ABUD. Are you afraid of me?
ANN. We're not to play such games at love.
ABUD. I can't help wanting to feel very tender towards you.
ANN. Think of me . . not as a wife . . but as a mother of your children
. . if it's to be so. Treat me so.
ABUD. You are a part of me.
ANN. We must try and understand it . . as a simple thing.
ABUD. But shall I kiss you?
ANN. [_Lowering her head._] Kiss me.
_But when he puts his arms round her she shrinks._
ANN. No.
ABUD. But I will. It's my right.
_Almost by force he kisses her. Afterwards she clenches her hands and
seems to suffer._
ABUD. Have I hurt you?
_She gives him her hand with a strange little smile._
ANN. I forgive you.
ABUD. [_Encouraged._] Ann . . we're beginning life together.
ANN. Remember . . work's enough . . no stopping to talk.
ABUD. I'll work for you.
ANN. I'll do my part . . something will come of it.
_For a moment they sit together hand in hand. Then she leaves him and
paces across the room. There is a slight pause._
ANN. Papa . . I said . . we've all been in too great a hurry getting
civilised. False dawn. I mean to go back.
ABUD. He laughed.
ANN. So he saw I was of no use to him and he's penniless and he let me
go. When my father dies what will he take with him? . . . for you do
take your works with you into Heaven or Hell, I believe. Much wit. Sally
is afraid to die. Don't you aspire like George's wife. I was afraid to
live . . and now . . I am content.
_She walks slowly to the window and from there to the door against which
she places her ear. Then she looks round at her husband._
ANN. I can hear them chattering.
_Then she goes to the little door and opens it._ ABUD _takes up the
candle_.
ABUD. I'll hold the light . . the stairs are steep.
_He lights her up the stairs._