_The scene represents a spacious drawing-room in a house in Cavendish
Square. The walls are somber in tone, the ceiling dingy, the hangings,
though rich, are faded, and altogether the appearance of the room is
solemn, formal, and depressing. On the right are folding-doors admitting
to a further drawing-room. Beyond these is a single door. The wall on
the left is mainly occupied by three sash-windows. The wall facing the
spectators is divided by two pilasters into three panels. On the center
panel is a large mirror, reflecting the fireplace; on the right hangs a
large oil painting--a portrait of Sir William Gower in his judicial wig
and robes. On the left hangs a companion picture--a portrait of Miss
Gower. In the corners of the room there are marble columns supporting
classical busts, and between the doors stands another marble column,
upon which is an oil lamp. Against the lower window there are two chairs
and a card-table. Behind a further table supporting a lamp stands a
threefold screen. The lamps are lighted, but the curtains are not drawn,
and outside the windows it is twilight._
[_Sir William Gower is seated, near a table, asleep, with a newspaper
over his head, concealing his face. Miss Trafalgar Gower is sitting at
the further end of a couch, also asleep, and with a newspaper over her
head. At the lower end of this couch sits Mrs. de Foenix--Clara--a young
lady of nineteen, with a "married" air. She is engaged upon some crochet
work. On the other side of the room, near a table, Rose is seated,
wearing the look of a boredom which has reached the stony stage.
On another couch Arthur sits, gazing at his boots, his hands in his
pockets. On the right of this couch stands Captain de Foenix, leaning
against the wall, his mouth open, his head thrown back, and his eyes
closed. De Foenix is a young man of seven-and-twenty--an example of the
heavily-whiskered "swell" of the period. Everybody is in dinner-dress.
After a moment or two Arthur rises and tiptoes down to Rose. Clara
raises a warning finger and says "Hush!" He nods to her, in assent._]
_Arthur._
[_On Rose's left--in a whisper._] Quiet, isn't it?
_Rose._
[_To him, in a whisper._] Quiet! Arthur---! [_Clutching his arm._] Oh,
this dreadful half-hour after dinner, every, every evening!
_Arthur._
[_Creeping across to the right of the table and sitting there._]
Grandfather and Aunt Trafalgar must wake up soon. They're longer than
usual to-night.
_Rose._
[_To him, across the table._] Your sister Clara, over there, and Captain
de Foenix--when they were courting, did they have to go through this?
_Arthur._
Yes.
_Rose._
And now that they are married, they still endure it!
_Arthur._
Yes.
_Rose._
And we, when we are married, Arthur, shall _we_---?
_Arthur._
Yes. I suppose so.
_Rose._
[_Passing her hand across her brow._] Phe--ew! [_De Foenix, fast
asleep, is now swaying, and in danger of toppling over. Clara grasps the
situation and rises._]
_Clara._
[_In a guttural whisper._] Ah, Frederick! no, no, no!
_Rose. and Arthur._
[_Turning in their chairs._] Eh--what-----? ah--h--h--h!
[_As Clara, reaches her husband, he lurches forward into her arms._]
_De Foenix._
[_His eyes bolting._] Oh! who------<
_Clara._
Frederick dear, wake!
_De Foenix._
[_Dazed._] How did this occur?
_Clara._
You were tottering, and I caught you.
_De Foenix._
[_Collecting his senses._] I wemember. I placed myself in an upwight
position, dearwest, to prewent myself dozing.
_Clara._
[_Sinking on to the couch._] How you alarmed me! [_Seeing that Rose is
laughing, De Foenix comes down to her._]
_De Foenix._
[_In a low voice._] Might have been a very serwious accident, Miss
Trelawny.
_Rose._
[_Seating herself on the footstool._] Never mind! [_Pointing to the
chair she has vacated._] Sit down and talk. [_He glances at the old
people and shakes his head._] Oh, do, do, do! do sit down, and let us
all have a jolly whisper. [_He sits._] Thank your Captain Fred. Go on!
tell me something--anything; something about the military----
_De Foenix._
[_Again looking at the old people, then wagging his finger at Rose._]
I know; you want to get me into a wow. [_Settling himself into his
chair._] Howwid girl!
_Rose._
[_Despairingly._] Oh--h--h!
[_There is a brief pause, and then the sound of a street-organ, playing
in the distance, is heard. The air is "Ever of Thee."_]
_Rose._
Hark! [_Excitedly._] Hark!
_Clara._ Arthur, and De Foenix.
Hush!
_Rose._
[_Heedlessly._] The song I sang in The Peddler--The Peddler of
Marseilles! the song that used to make you cry, Arthur! [_They attempt
vainly to hush her down, but she continues dramatically, in hoarse
whispers._] And then Raphael enters--comes on to the bridge. The music
continues, softly. "Raphael, why have you kept me waiting? Man, do you
wish to break my heart--[_thumping her breast_] a woman's hear--r--rt,
Raphael?"
[_Sir William and Miss Gower suddenly whip off their newspapers and
sit erect. Sir William is a grim, bullet-headed old gentleman of about
seventy; Miss Gower a spare, prim lady, of gentle manners, verging upon
sixty. They stare at each other for a moment, silently._]
_Sir William._
What a hideous riot, Trafalgar!
_Miss Gower._
_Rose._ dear, I hope I have been mistaken--but through my sleep I
fancied I could hear you shrieking at the top of your voice.
[_Sir William gets on to his feet; all rise, except Rose, who remains
seated sullenly._]
[Illustration: 0081]
_Sir William._
Trafalgar, it is becoming impossible for you and me to obtain repose.
[_Turning his head sharply._] Ha! is not that a street-organ? [_To Miss
Gower._] An organ?
_Miss Gower._
Undoubtedly. An organ in the Square, at this hour of the
evening--singularly out of place!
_Sir William._
[_Looking round._] Well, well, well, does no one stir?
_Rose._
[_Under her breath._] Oh, don't stop it!
[_Clara goes out quickly. With a great show of activity Arthur and De
Foenix hurry across the room and, when there, do nothing._]
_Sir William._
[_Coming upon Rose and peering down at her._] What are ye upon the
floor for, my dear? Have we no cheers? [_To Miss Gower--producing his
snuff-box._] Do we lack cheers here, Trafalgar?
_Miss Gower._
[_Going to Rose._] My dear Rose! [_Raising her._] Come, come, come, this
is quite out of place! Young ladies do not crouch and huddle upon the
ground--do they, William?
_Sir William._
[_Taking snuff._] A moment ago I should have hazarded the opinion that
they do not. [_Chuckling unpleasantly._] He, he, he!
[_Clara returns. The organ music ceases abruptly._]
_Clara._
[_Coming to Sir William._] Charles was just running out to stop the
organ when I reached the hall, grandpa.
_Sir William._
Ye'd surely no intention, Clara, of venturing, yourself, into the public
street--the open Square----?
_Clara._
[_Faintly._] I meant only to wave at the man from the door----
_Miss Gower._
Oh, Clara, that would hardly have been in place!
_Sir William._
[_Raising his hands._] In mercy's name, Trafalgar, what is befalling my
household?
_Miss Gower._
[_Bursting into tears._] Oh, William----!
[_Rose and Clara creep away and join the others. Miss Gower totters to
Sir William and drops her head upon his breast._]
_Sir William._
Tut, tut, tut, tut!
_Miss Gower._
[_Between her sobs._] I--I--I--I know what is in your mind.
_Sir William._
[_Drawing a long breath._] Ah--h--h--h!
_Miss Gower._
Oh, my dear brother, be patient!
_Sir William._
Patient!
_Miss Gower._
Forgive me; I should have said hopeful. Be hopeful that I shall yet
succeed in ameliorating the disturbing conditions which are affecting us
so cruelly.
Sm William.
Ye never will, Trafalgar; _I've_ tried.
_Miss Gower._
Oh, do not despond already! I feel sure there are good ingredients in
Rose's character. [_Clinging to him._] In time, William, we shall shape
her to be a fitting wife for our rash and unfortunate Arthur----
[_He shakes his head._] In time, William, in time!
_Sir William._
[_Soothing her._] Well, well, well! there, there, there! At least, my
dear sister, I am perfectly aweer that I possess in you the woman above
all others whose example should compel such a transformation.
_Miss Gower._
[_Throwing her arms about his neck._] Oh, brother, what a
compliment----!
_Sir William._
Tut, tut, tut! And now, before Charles sets the card-table, don't you
think we had better--eh, Trafalgar?
_Miss Gower._
Yes, yes--our disagreeable duty; let us discharge it. [_Sir William
takes snuff._] Rose, dear, be seated. [_To everybody._] The Vice
Chancellor has something to say to us. Let us all be seated.
[_There is consternation among the young people. All sit._]
_Sir William._
[_Peering about him._] Are ye seated?
_Everybody._
Yes.
_Sir William._
What I desire to say is this. When Miss Trelawny took up her residence
here, it was thought proper, in the peculiar circumstances of the case,
that you, Arthur--[_pointing a finger at Arthur_] you----
_Arthur._
Yes, sir.
_Sir William._
That you should remove yourself to the establishment of your sister
Clara and her husband in Holies Street, round the corner--
_Arthur._
Yes, sir.
_Clara._
Yes, grandpa.
_De Foenix._
Certainly, Sir William.
_Sir William._
Taking your food in this house, and spending other certain hours here,
under the surveillance of your great-aunt Trafalgar.
Miss Gower.
Yes, William.
_Sir William._
This was considered to be a decorous, and, toward Miss Trelawny, a
highly respectful, course to pursue.
_Arthur._
Yes, sir.
_Miss Gower._
Any other course would have been out of place.
_Sir William._
And yet--[_again extending a finger at Arthur_] what is this that is
reported to me?
_Arthur._