_Sir William._
Tsch! Sir, it would give me pleasure--it would give my grandson, Mr.
Arthur Gower, pleasure--to be able to aid Miss Trelawny at the present
moment.
_Tom._
S--s--sir William, w--w--would you like to hear my play----?
_Sir William._
[_Sharply._] Hey! [_Looking round._] Ho, ho!
_Tom._
My comedy?
_Sir William._
[_Cunningly._] So ye think I might be induced to fill the office ye
designed for the late Mr.-- Mr. --------
_Imogen._
Morfew.
_Sir William._
Morfew, eh?
_Tom._
N--n--no, sir.
_Sir William._
No! no!
_Imogen._
[_Shrilly._] Yes!
_Sir William._
[_After a short pause, quietly._] Read your play, sir. [_Pointing to a
chair at the table._] Sit down. [_To Rose and Imogen._] Sit down.
[_Tom goes to the chair indicated. Miss Gower's voice is heard outside
the door._]
_Miss Gower._
[_Outside._] William! [_Rose opens the door; Miss Gower enters._] Oh,
William, what has become of you? has anything dreadful happened?
_Sir William._
Sit down, Trafalgar. This gentleman is about to read a comedy. A cheer!
[_Testily._] Are there no cheers here! [_Rose brings a chair and places
it for Miss Gower beside Sir William's chair._] Sit down.
_Miss Gower._
[_Sitting, bewildered._] William, is all this--quite----?
_Sir William._
[_Sitting._] Yes, Trafalgar, quite in place--quite in place----
[_Imogen sits. Rose pulls the dress-basket round, as Colpoys and Gadd
swagger in at the door, Colpoys smoking a pipe, Gadd a large cigar._]
_Sir William._
[_To Tom, referring to Gadd and Colpoys._] Friends of yours?
_Tom._
Yes, Sir William.
_Sir William._
[_To Gadd and Colpoys._] Sit down. [_Imperatively._] Sit down and be
silent.
[_Gadd and Colpoys seat themselves upon the sofa, like men in a dream.
Rose sits on the dress-basket._]
_Avonia._.
[_Opening the center door slightly--in an anxious voice._] Rose----!
_Sir William._
Come in, ma'am, come in! [_Avonia enters, coming to Rose. A cloak is now
attached to the shoulders of Avonia's dress._] Sit down, ma'am, and be
silent!
[_Avonia sits beside Rose, next to Miss Gower._]
_Miss Gower._
[_In horror._] Oh--h--h--h!
_Sir William._
[_Restraining her._] Quite in place, Trafalgar; quite in place. [_To
Tom._] Now, sir!
_Tom._
[_Opening his manuscript and reading._] "Life, a comedy, by Thomas
Wrench----"