(_A Story in Scenes._)
SCENE IV.--_An Up-platform at Clapham Junction._ TIME--_Monday
afternoon._
_Curphew_ (_to himself, as he paces up and down with a pre-occupied
air_). I ought to have been up at the Hilarity rehearsing hours ago.
Considering all that depends on that play of mine--but there'll be
time enough to pull _Flattery_ together before Saturday. And this is
the only chance I have of seeing ALTHEA for days. Her mother hinted
last night that she was obliged to let her travel up to Waterloo
alone, and if I _did_ happen to be going up about this time--and
of course I _do_ happen to be. I _must_ tell ALTHEA; I can't go on
playing a part any longer. I felt such a humbug last night over that
confounded Eldorado business. But if I'd revealed myself then as
"Walter Wildfire, Comedian and Vocalist," those puritanical parents of
hers would probably have both had a fit on the floor, and have kicked
me out of the house as soon as they were sufficiently recovered!
That's the worst of becoming intimate with a serious Evangelical
family in the character of a hard-working journalist. I ought to have
undeceived them, I suppose, but it was such a blessing to sink the
shop--and besides, I'd seen ALTHEA. It would have been folly to speak
until--but she must know now, I'll have no more false pretences. After
all, there's no disgrace in being a music-hall singer. I've no reason
to be ashamed of the means by which I've got my reputation. Ah! but
she won't understand that--the name will be enough for her! And I
can't blame her if she fails to see the glory of bringing whisky
and water nightly to the eyes of an enraptured audience by singing
serio-comic sentiment under limelight through clouds of tobacco-smoke.
Heaven knows _I'm_ sick enough of it, and if _Flattery_ only makes
a hit, I'd cut the profession at once. If I could only hear her say
she--there she is--at last--and alone, thank goodness! I wish I didn't
feel so nervous--I'm not likely to get a better opportunity. (_Aloud,
as he meets_ ALTHEA.) Mrs. TOOVEY said I might--can I get your ticket,
or see after your luggage, or anything?
_Althea._ Oh, thank you, Mr. CURPHEW, but PH[OE]BE is doing all that.
_Curph._ (_to himself, his face falling_). That's the maid; then she's
_not_ alone! I must get this over now, or not at all. (_Aloud._) Miss
TOOVEY, I--I've something I particularly want to say to you; shall we
walk up to the other end of the platform?
_Alth._ (_to herself_). It looks more serious than ever! Is he
going to give me good advice? It's kind of him to care, but
still----(_Aloud._) Oh, but we shan't have time. See, there's our
train coming up now. Couldn't you say it in the railway carriage?
[_The train runs in._
_Curph._ (_to himself_). For PH[OE]BE'S edification! No, I
don't quite----(_Aloud, desperately._) It--it's something that
concerns--something I can't very well say before anyone else--there'll
be another train directly--would you mind waiting for it?
_Alth._ (_to herself_). It's very mysterious. I _should_ like to
know what it can be! (_Aloud._) I--I hardly know. I think we ought,
perhaps, to--but this doesn't look a very nice train, does it?
_Curph._ (_with conviction_). It's a _beastly_ train! One of the very
worst they run, and full of the most objectionable people. It--it's
quite noted for it.
_Alth._ (_to_ PH[OE]BE, _who hurries up with her hand-bag_). No, never
mind; I'm not going by this train, PH[OE]BE; we'll wait for a more
comfortable one.
_Ph[oe]be._ Very good, Miss. (_To herself, as she retires._) Well,
if that isn't downright barefaced--I don't know what it is! I hope
they'll find a train to suit 'em before long, and not stay here
picking and choosing all day, or I shan't get back in time to lay the
cloth for dinner. But it's the way with all these quiet ones!
_Alth._ Did you want to speak to me about last night, Mr. CURPHEW?
Has my cousin CHARLES been getting into any mischief? I only came in
afterwards; but you were looking so shocked about something. Was it
because he had been to a theatre, and do _you_ think that very wicked
of him?
_Curph._ (_to himself_). I ought to manage to lead up to it now.
(_Aloud._) It was not a theatre exactly--it was--well, it was a
music-hall.
_Alth._ Oh! but is there any difference?
_Curph._ Not much--between a music-hall and some theatres. At
theatres, you see, they perform a regular play, with a connected
plot--at least, some of the pieces have a connected plot. At a
music-hall the entertainment is--er--varied. Songs, conjuring-tricks,
ventriloquism, and--and that kind of thing.
_Alth._ Why, that's just like the Penny Readings at our Athenaeum!
_Curph._ Well, I should hardly have--but I'm not in a position to say.
(_To himself._) I'm further off than ever!
_Alth._ It couldn't be _that_, then; for Papa has presided at Penny
Readings himself. But CHARLES must have told him _something_ that
upset him, for he came down to breakfast looking perfectly haggard
this morning. CHARLES had a long talk in the library with him last
night after you left, and then Papa went to bed.
_Curph._ (_to himself_). I felt sure that fellow spotted me. So he's
let the cat out to old TOOVEY! If I don't tell her now. (_Aloud._) Did
Mr. TOOVEY seem--er--annoyed?
_Alth._ He looked worried, and I believe he wanted to consult _you_.
_Curph._ (_to himself_). The deuce he did! (_Aloud._) He mentioned me?
_Alth._ He talked of going round to see you, but Mamma insisted on his
staying quietly indoors.
_Curph._ (_to himself_). Sensible woman, Mrs. TOOVEY! But I've no time
to lose. (_Aloud._) I think I can explain why he wished to see me. He
has discovered my--my secret.
_Alth._ Have you a secret, Mr. CURPHEW? (_To herself._) He can't mean
_that_, and yet--oh, what _am_ I to say to him?
_Curph._ I have. I always intended to tell him--but--but I wanted
you to know it first. And it was rather difficult to tell. I--I risk
losing everything by speaking.
[Illustration: "He _does_ mean that!"]
_Alth._ (_to herself_). He _does_ mean that! But I won't be proposed
to like this on a railway platform; I don't believe it's proper; and
I haven't even made up my mind! (_Aloud._) If it was difficult before,
it will be harder than ever now--just when another train is coming in,
Mr. CURPHEW.
_Curph._ (_angrily, as the train passes_). Another--already! The
way they crowd the traffic on this line is simply dis----But it's an
express. It isn't going to stop, I assure you it isn't!
_Alth._ It _has_ stopped. And we had better get in.
_Ph[oe]be._ I don't know if you fancy the look of this train, Miss,
but there's an empty first-class in front.
_Curph._ This train stops everywhere. We shall get in just as soon by
the next--sooner in fact.
_Alth._ If you think so, Mr. CURPHEW, wait for it, but we really must
go. Come, PH[OE]BE.
_Ph[oe]be._ I only took a second for myself, Miss, not knowing you'd
require----
_Curph._ (_to himself_). There's a chance still, if I can get a
carriage to ourselves. (_Aloud._) No, Miss TOOVEY, you must let me
come with you. Your mother put you under my care, you know. (_To_
PH[OE]BE.) Here, give me Miss TOOVEY'S bag. Now, Miss TOOVEY, this
way--we must look sharp. (_He opens the door of an empty compartment,
puts_ ALTHEA _in, hands her the bag, and is about to follow when he
is seized by the arm, and turns to find himself in the grasp of_ Mr.
TOOVEY.) How do you do, Mr. TOOVEY? We--we are just off, you see.
_Mr. Toovey_ (_breathlessly_). I--I consider I am very fortunate in
catching you, Mr. CURPHEW. I accidentally learnt from my wife that you
were going up about this time--so I hurried down, on the bare chance
of----
_Curph._ (_impatiently_). Yes, yes, but I'm afraid I can't wait now,
Sir. I--Mrs. TOOVEY asked me to take care of your daughter----
_Mr. Toov._ ALTHEA will be perfectly safe. And I must have a few words
with you at once on a matter which is pressing, Sir, very pressing
indeed. ALTHEA will excuse you.
_Alth._ (_from the window_). Of course. You mustn't think of coming,
Mr. CURPHEW. PH[OE]BE will look after me.
_Curph._ But--but I have an important engagement in Town myself!
_Alth._ (_unkindly_). You will get up quite as soon by the next train,
Mr. CURPHEW, or even sooner--you said so yourself, you know! (_In an
under-tone._) Stay. I'd _rather_ you did--you can tell me your--your
secret when I come back.
_The Guard._ Vauxhall and Waterloo only, this train. Stand back there,
please!
[_He slams the door; the train moves on, leaving_ CURPHEW _on the
platform with_ Mr. TOOVEY.
_Curph._ (_to himself, bitterly_). What luck I have! She's gone
now--and I haven't told her, after all. And I'm left behind, to have
it out with this old pump! (_Aloud._) Well, Sir, you've something to
say to me?
_Mr. Toov._ (_nervously_). I have--yes, certainly--only it--it's of
rather a private nature, and--and perhaps we should be freer from
interruption in the waiting-room here.
_Curph._ (_to himself_). I wish I'd thought of that myself--earlier.
Well, he doesn't seem very formidable; it strikes me I shan't find it
difficult to manage him. (_Aloud._) The waiting-room, by all means.
[_He follows_ Mr. TOOVEY _into the General Waiting-room, and awaits
developments_.