CAPT. G. Anything you please, so long as she'll know me. It's only a
question of--hours, isn't it?
DOCTOR. (Professionally.) While there's life there's hope y'know. But
don't build on it.
CAPT. G. I don't. Pull her together if it's possible. (Aside.) What have
I done to deserve this?
DOCTOR. (Bending over bed.) Now, Mrs. Gadsby! We shall be all right
tomorrow. You must take it, or I sha'n't let Phil see you. It isn't
nasty, is it?
Voice. Medicines! Always more medicines! Can't you leave me alone?
CAPT. G. Oh, leave her in peace, Doc!
DOCTOR. (Stepping back,--aside.) May I be forgiven if I've none wrong.
(Aloud.) In a few minutes she ought to be sensible; but I daren't tell
you to look for anything. It's only--
CAPT. G. What? Go on, man.
DOCTOR. (In a whisper.) Forcing the last rally.
CAPT. G. Then leave us alone.
DOCTOR. Don't mind what she says at first, if you can. They--they-they
turn against those they love most sometimes in this.--It's hard, but--
CAPT. G. Am I her husband or are you? Leave us alone for what time we
have together.
VOICE. (Confidentially.) And we were engaged quite suddenly, Emma. I
assure you that I never thought of it for a moment; but, oh, my little
Me!--I don't know what I should have done if he hadn't proposed.
CAPT. G. She thinks of that Deercourt girl before she thinks of me.
(Aloud.) Minnie!
VOICE. Not from the shops, Mummy dear. You can get the real leaves from
Kaintu, and (laughing weakly) never mind about the blossoms--Dead white
silk is only fit for widows, and I won't wear it. It's as bad as a
winding sheet. (A long pause.)
CAPT. G. I never asked a favor yet. If there is anybody to listen to me,
let her know me--even if I die too!
VOICE. (Very faintly.) Pip, Pip dear.
CAPT. G. I'm here, darling.
VOICE. What has happened? They've been bothering me so with medicines
and things, and they wouldn't let you come and see me. I was never ill
before. Am I ill now?
CAPT. G. You--you aren't quite well.
VOICE. How funny! Have I been ill long?
CAPT. G. Some day; but you'll be all right in a little time.
VOICE. Do you think so, Pip? I don't feel well and--Oh! what have they
done to my hair?
CAPT. G. I d-d-on't know.
VOICE. They've cut it off. What a shame!
CAPT. G. It must have been to make your head cooler.
VOICE. Just like a boy's wig. Don't I look horrid?
CAPT. G. Never looked prettier in your life, dear. (Aside.) How am I to
ask her to say good-bye?
VOICE. I don't feel pretty. I feel very ill. My heart won't work.
It's nearly dead inside me, and there's a funny feeling in my eyes.
Everything seems the same distance--you and the almirah and the table
inside my eyes or miles away. What does it mean, Pip?
CAPT. G. You're a little feverish, Sweetheart--very feverish. (Breaking
down.) My love! my love! How can I let you go?
VOICE. I thought so. Why didn't you tell me that at first?
CAPT. G. What?
VOICE. That I am going to--die.
CAPT. G. But you aren't! You sha'n't.
AYAH to punkah-coolie. (Stepping into veranda after a glance at the bed.
). Punkah chor do! (Stop pulling the punkah.)
VOICE. It's hard, Pip. So very, very hard after one year--just one year.
(Wailing.) And I'm only twenty. Most girls aren't even married at
twenty. Can't they do anything to help me? I don't want to die.
CAPT. G. Hush, dear. You won't.
VOICE. What's the use of talking? Help me! You've never failed me yet.
Oh, Phil, help me to keep alive. (Feverishly.) I don't believe you wish
me to live. You weren't a bit sorry when that horrid Baby thing died. I
wish I'd killed it!
CAPT. G. (Drawing his hand across his forehead.) It's more than a man's
meant to bear--it's not right. (Aloud.) Minnie, love, I'd die for you if
it would help.
VOICE. No more death. There's enough already. Pip, don't you die too.
CAPT. G. I wish I dared.
VOICE. It says: “Till Death do us part.” Nothing after that--and so it
would be no use. It stops at the dying. Why does it stop there? Only
such a very short life, too. Pip, I'm sorry we married.
CAPT. G. No! Anything but that, Mm!
VOICE. Because you'll forget and I'll forget. Oh, Pip, don't forget! I
always loved you, though I was cross sometimes. If I ever did anything
that you didn't like, say you forgive me now.
CAPT. G. You never did, darling. On my soul and honor you never did. I
haven't a thing to forgive you.
VOICE. I sulked for a whole week about those petunias. (With a laugh.)
What a little wretch I was, and how grieved you were! Forgive me that,
Pp.
CAPT. G. There's nothing to forgive. It was my fault. They were too near
the drive. For God's sake don't talk so, Minnie! There's such a lot to
say and so little time to say it in.
VOICE. Say that you'll always love me--until the end.
CAPT. G. Until the end. (Carried away.) It's a lie. It must be, because
we've loved each other. This isn't the end.
VOICE. (Relapsing into semi-delirium.) My Church-service has an
ivory-cross on the back, and it says so, so it must be true. “Till Death
do us part.”--but that's a lie. (With a parody of G.'s manner.) A damned
lie! (Recklessly.) Yes, I can swear as well as a Trooper, Pip. I can't
make my head think, though. That's because they cut off my hair. How can
one think with one's head all fuzzy? (Pleadingly.) Hold me, Pip! Keep me
with you always and always. (Relapsing.) But if you marry the Thorniss
girl when I'm dead, I'll come back and howl under our bedroom window all
night. Oh, bother! You'll think I'm a jackall. Pip, what time is it?
CAPT. G. A little before the dawn, dear.
VOICE. I wonder where I shall be this time to-morrow?
CAPT. G. Would you like to see the Padre?
VOICE. Why should I? He'd tell me that I am going to heaven; and that
wouldn't be true, because you are here. Do you recollect when he upset
the cream-ice all over his trousers at the Gassers' tennis?
CAPT. G. Yes, dear.
VOICE. I often wondered whether he got another pair of trousers; but
then his are so shiny all over that you really couldn't tell unless you
were told. Let's call him in and ask.
CAPT. G. (Gravely.) No. I don't think he'd like that. 'Your head comfy,
Sweetheart?'
VOICE. (Faintly with a sigh of contentment.) Yeth! Gracious, Pip, when
did you shave last? Your chin's worse than the barrel of a musical
box.--No, don't lift it up. I like it. (A pause.) You said you've never
cried at all. You're crying all over my cheek.
CAPT. G. I--I--I can't help it, dear.
VOICE. How funny! I couldn't cry now to save my life. (G. shivers.) I
want to sing.
CAPT. G. Won't it tire you? 'Better not, perhaps.