THE LAST OF THE DE MULLINS
A Play without a Preface
By St. John Hankin
London: A. C. Fifield
1909
The Persons in the Play
Hugo De Mullin
Jane De Mullin.....His wife
Mrs. Clouston......His sister.
Janet De Mullin....(Mrs. Seagrave) Hugo’s eldest daughter.
Johnny Seagrave....Her son.
Hester De Mullin...Her sister.
Bertha Aldenham
Monty Bulstead
Dr. Rolt...........The local doctor.
Mr. Brown..........The curate.
Miss Deanes
Ellen..............Maid at the De Mullins’.
The action of the play takes place at Brendon
Underwood in Dorset, Acts I and III at the Manor
House, the De Mullins’ house in the village, Act
II on the borders of Brendon Forest. Three days
pass between Acts I and II, five between Acts II
and III.
ACT I
_Scene:_ The Inner Hall at the Manor House in
Brendon-Underwood village. An old-fashioned
white-panelled room. At the back is a big
stone-mullioned Tudor window looking out on
to the garden. On the left of this is a bay in
which is a smaller window. A door in the bay
leads out into the garden. People entering by
this door pass the window before they appear.
The furniture is oak, mostly Jacobean or older.
The right-hand wall of the room is mainly
occupied by a great Tudor fireplace, over which
the De Mullin Coat of Arms is carved in stone.
Above this a door leads to the outer hall and
front door. A door on the opposite side of the
room leads to the staircase and the rest of the
house. The walls are hung with a long succession
of family portraits of all periods and in all
stages of dinginess as to both canvas and frame.
When the curtain rises the stage is empty. Then
Hester is seen to pass the window at the back,
followed by Mr. Brown. A moment later
they enter. Mr. Brown is a stout, rather
unwholesome-looking curate, Hester a lean,
angular girl of twenty-eight, very plainly and
unattractively dressed in sombre tight-fitting
clothes. She has a cape over her shoulders and
a black hat on. Brown wears seedy clerical
garments, huge boots and a squashy hat. The time
is twelve o’clock in the morning of a fine day
in September.
HESTER
Come in, Mr. Brown. I’ll tell mother you’re
here. I expect she’s upstairs with father (going
towards door).
BROWN
Don’t disturb Mrs. De Mullin, please. I didn’t
mean to come in.
HESTER
You’ll sit down now you _are_ here?
BROWN
Thank you (_does so awkwardly_). I’m so glad to
hear Mr. De Mullin is better. The Vicar will be
glad too.
HESTER
Yes. Dr. Rolt thinks he will do all right now.
BROWN
You must have been very anxious when he was
first taken ill.
HESTER
We were terribly anxious. [Hester _takes off her
hat and cape and puts them down on the window
seat_.
BROWN
I suppose there’s no doubt it was some sort of
stroke?
HESTER
Dr. Rolt says no doubt.
BROWN
How did it happen?
HESTER
We don’t know. He had just gone out of the room
when we heard a fall. Mother ran out into the
hall and found him lying by the door quite
unconscious. She was dreadfully frightened. So
were we all.
BROWN
Had he been complaining of feeling unwell?
HESTER
Not specially. He complained of the heat a
little. And he had a headache. But father’s not
strong, you know. None of the De Mullins are,
Aunt Harriet says.
BROWN
Mrs. Clouston is with you now, isn’t she?
HESTER
Yes. For a month. She generally stays with us
for a month in the summer.
BROWN
I suppose she’s very fond of Brendon?
HESTER
All the De Mullins are fond of Brendon, Mr.
Brown.
BROWN
Naturally. You have been here so long.
HESTER
Since the time of King Stephen.
BROWN
Not in this house?
HESTER
(smiling)
Not in this house, of course. It’s not old
enough for that.
BROWN
Still, it must be very old. The oldest house in
the Village, isn’t it?
HESTER
Only about four hundred years. The date is 1603.
The mill is older, of course.
BROWN
You still own the mill, don’t you?
HESTER
Yes. Father would never part with it. He thinks
everything of the mill. We get our name from it,
you know. De Mullin. Du Moulin. “Of the Mill.”
BROWN
Were the original De Mullins millers then?
HESTER
(_rather shocked at such a suggestion_)
Oh no!
BROWN
I thought they couldn’t have been. .
HESTER
No De Mullin has ever been in trade of _any_
kind! But in the old days to own a mill was a
feudal privilege. Only lords of manors and the
great abbeys had them. The farmers had to bring
all their corn to them to be ground.
BROWN
I see.
HESTER
There were constant disputes about it all
through the Middle Ages.
BROWN
Why was that?
HESTER
The farmers would rather have ground their corn
for themselves, I suppose.
BROWN
Why? If the De Mullins were willing to do it for
them?
HESTER
They had to pay for having it ground, of course.
BROWN
(_venturing on a small joke_)
Then the De Mullins _were_ millers, after all,
in a sense.
HESTER
You mustn’t let father hear you say so!
BROWN
The mill is never used now, is it?
HESTER
No. When, people gave up growing corn round here
and all the land was turned into pasture it fell
into decay, and now it’s almost ruinous.
BROWN
What a pity!
HESTER
Yes. Father says England has never been the same
since the repeal of the Corn laws. (_Enter Mrs.
De Mullin and Mrs. Clouston by the door on
the left, followed by Dr. Rolt._) Here is
mother--and Aunt Harriet.
_Mrs. De Mullin, poor lady, is a crushed,
timid creature of fifty-eight or so, entirely
dominated by the De Mullin fetish and quite
unable to hold her own against either her
husband or her sister-in-law, a hardmouthed,
resolute woman of sixty. Even Hester she finds
almost too much for her. For the rest a gentle,
kindly lady, rather charming in her extreme
helplessness. Rolt is the average country
doctor, brisk, sensible, neither a fool nor a
genius._
ROLT
(as they enter the room)
He’s better. Distinctly better. A little weak
and depressed, of course. That’s only to be
expected. Good morning.
[_Shakes hands with Hester. Nods to Brown_.
MRS. DE MULLIN
Mr. De Mullin is always nervous about himself.
ROLT
Yes. Constitutional, no doubt. But he’ll pick
up in a few days. Keep him as quiet as you can.
That’s really all he needs now.
MRS. DE MULLIN
You don’t think he ought to stay in his room?
... Good morning, Mr. Brown. Are you waiting to
see me?
[_Brown shakes hands with both ladies._
BROWN
(_awkwardly_)
Not specially. I walked over from the church
with Miss De Mullin.
HESTER
Is father coming downstairs, mother?
MRS. DE MULLIN
Yes, Hester. He insisted on getting up. You know
he always hates staying in his room.
HESTER
Oh, Dr. Rolt, do you think he _should?_
ROLT
I don’t think it will do him any harm. He can
rest quietly in a chair or on the sofa.... Well,
I must be off. Good-bye, Mrs. De Mullin.
[_Shakes hands briskly with every one_.
BROWN
(_rising ponderously_)
I must be going too (_shakes hands with Mrs. De
Mullin_). You’ll tell Mr. De Mullin I inquired
after him? Good-bye, Mrs. Clouston (_shakes
hands_). And you’re coming to help with the
Harvest Decorations on Saturday, aren’t you,
Miss De Mullin?
HESTER
_(shaking hands)_
Of course.
[_Brown and Rolt go out._
MRS. CLOUSTON
_(seating herself and beginning to knit
resolutely)_
What singularly unattractive curates the Vicar
seems to get hold of, Jane!.
MRS. DE MULLIN
_(meekly)_
Do you think so, Harriet?
MRS. CLOUSTON
Quite remarkably. This Mr. Brown, for instance.
He has the most enormous _feet!_ And his boots!
I’ve never seen such boots!
HESTER
_(flushing)_
We needn’t sneer if Mr. Brown doesn’t wear fine
clothes, Aunt Harriet.
MRS. CLOUSTON
Of course not Hester. Still, I think he goes
to the opposite extreme. And he really is quite
abnormally plain. Then there was that Mr. Snood,
who was curate when I was down last year.
The man with the very red hands. (_These acid
comments are too much for Hester, who flounces
out angrily. Mrs. Clouston looks up for a
moment, wondering what is the meaning of this
sudden disappearance. Then continues unmoved._)
I’m afraid the clergy aren’t what they were in
our young days, Jane.
MRS. DE MULLIN
I don’t think I’ve noticed any falling off.
MRS. CLOUSTON
It is there all the same. I’m sure Hugo would
agree with me. Of course, curates are paid next
to nothing. Still, I think the Vicar might be
more happy in his choice.
MRS. DE MULLIN
I believe the poor like him.
MRS. CLOUSTON
_(to whom this seems of small importance
compared with his shocking social disabilities)_
Very likely.... Do please keep still, Jane, and
don’t fidget with that book. What is the matter
with you?
MRS. DE MULLIN
I’m a little nervous this morning. Hugo’s
illness...
MRS. CLOUSTON
Hugo’s almost well now.
MRS. DE MULLIN
Still the anxiety...
MRS. CLOUSTON
Nonsense, Jane. Anxiety is not at all a thing to
give way to, especially when there’s no longer
anything to be anxious about. Hugo’s practically
well now. Dr. Rolt seems to have frightened us
all quite unnecessarily.
MRS. DE MULLIN
I suppose it’s difficult to tell.
MRS. CLOUSTON
Of course, it’s difficult. Otherwise no one
would send for a doctor. What are doctors for if
they can’t tell when a case is serious and when
it is not?
MRS. DE MULLIN
But if he didn’t know?
MRS. CLOUSTON
Then he _ought_ to have known. Next time Hugo
is ill you’d better send to Bridport. _(Mrs.
De Mullin drops book on table with a clatter)_
Really, Jane, what are you doing? Throwing books
about like that!
MRS. DE MULLIN
It slipped out of my hand.,,
[_Rises and goes up to window restlessly._
MRS. CLOUSTON
Is anything wrong?
MRS. DE MULLIN
_(hesitating)_
Well, the truth is I’ve done something, Harriet,
and now I’m not sure whether I ought to have
done it. Mrs. Clouston
Done what?
MRS. DE MULLIN
_(dolorously)_
I’m afraid you won’t approve.
MRS. CLOUSTON
Perhaps you’d better tell me what it is. Then we
shall know.
MRS. DE MULLIN
The fact is some one is coming here this
morning, Harriet--to see Hugo.
MRS. CLOUSTON
To see Hugo? Who is it?
MRS. DE MULLIN
Janet.
MRS. CLOUSTON
_(with horror)_
Janet?
MRS. DE MULLIN
Yes.
MRS. CLOUSTON
Janet! She wouldn’t _dare!_
MRS. DE MULLIN
_(dolorously)_
I sent for her, Harriet.
MRS. CLOUSTON
You _sent_ for her?
MRS. DE MULLIN
Yes. When Hugo was first taken ill and Dr. Rolt
seemed to think the attack was so serious....
MRS. CLOUSTON
Dr. Rolt was a fool.
MRS. DE MULLIN
Very likely, Harriet. But he said Hugo might
die. And he said if there was any one Hugo would
wish to see....
MRS. CLOUSTON
But would Hugo wish to see Janet?
MRS. DE MULLIN
I thought he might. After all Janet _is_ his
daughter. Mrs. Clouston
I thought he said he would never see her again?
MRS. DE MULLIN
He did _say_ that, of course. But that was eight
years ago. And, of course, he wasn’t ill then.
MRS. CLOUSTON
When did you send for her?
MRS. DE MULLIN
Three days ago.
MRS. CLOUSTON
Why didn’t she come _then_, if she was coming at
all?
MRS. DE MULLIN
She was away from home. That was so unfortunate.
If she had come when Hugo was ill in bed it
might have been all right. But now that he’s
almost well again....
MRS. CLOUSTON
When did you hear she was coming?
MRS. DE MULLIN
Only this morning. Here is what she says..
[_Produces telegram from pocket_.
MRS. CLOUSTON
_(reads)_
“Telegram delayed. Arrive mid-day. Seagrave.”
Seagrave?
MRS. DE MULLIN
Yes. She calls herself Mrs. Seagrave now.
MRS. CLOUSTON
_(nods)_
On account of the child, I suppose.
MRS. DE MULLIN
I suppose so.
MRS. CLOUSTON
I never could understand how Janet came to go so
wrong. _(Mrs. De Mullin sighs.)_ None of the _De
Mullins_ have ever done such a thing before.
MRS. DE MULLIN
_(plaintively)_
I’m sure she doesn’t get it from _my_ family.
MRS. CLOUSTON
Well, she must have got it from _somewhere_.
She’s not in the least like a De Mullin.
MRS. DE MULLIN
_(lamentably_)
I believe it was all through bicycling.
MRS. CLOUSTON
Bicycling?
MRS. DE MULLIN
Yes. When girls usen’t to scour about the
country as they do now these things didn’t
happen.
MRS. CLOUSTON
_(severely)_
I never approved of Janet’s bicycling you
remember, Jane.
MRS. DE MULLIN
Nor did I, Harriet. But it was no use. Janet
only laughed. Janet never would do what she
was told about things even when she was quite a
child. She was so very obstinate. She was always
getting some idea or other into her head. And
when she did nothing would prevent her from
carrying it out. At one time she wanted to
_teach_.
MRS. CLOUSTON
I remember.
MRS. DE MULLIN
She said girls ought to go out and earn their
own living like boys.
MRS. CLOUSTON
What nonsense!
MRS. DE MULLIN
So Hugo said. But Janet wouldn’t listen. Finally
we had to let her go over and teach the Aldenham
girls French three times a week, just to keep
her amused.
MRS. CLOUSTON
_(thoughtfully)_
It was strange you never could find out who the
father was.
MRS. DE MULLIN
_(sighs)_
Yes. She wouldn’t tell us.
MRS. CLOUSTON
You should have made her tell you. Hugo should
have insisted on it.
MRS. DE MULLIN
Hugo did insist. He was terribly angry with her.
He sent her to her room and said she was not to
come down till she told us. But it was no use.
Janet just stayed in her room till we had all
gone to bed and then took the train to London.
MRS. CLOUSTON
You should have locked her door.
MRS. DE MULLIN
We did. She got out of the window.
MRS. CLOUSTON
Got out of the window! The girl might have been
killed.
MRS. DE MULLIN
Yes. But Janet was always fond of climbing. And
she was never afraid of anything.
MRS. CLOUSTON
But there’s no late train to London.
MRS. DE MULLIN
She caught the mail at Weymouth, I suppose.
MRS. CLOUSTON
Do you mean to say she _walked_ all the way to
Weymouth in the middle of the night? Why, it’s
twelve miles.
MRS. DE MULLIN
She had her bicycle as I said.
MRS. CLOUSTON
Tck!... How did you know she went to London?
MRS. DE MULLIN
She wrote from there, for her things.
MRS. CLOUSTON
I wonder she wasn’t ashamed.
MRS. DE MULLIN
So Hugo said. However, he said I might send
them. But he made me send a letter with the
things to say that he would have nothing more to
do with her and that she was not to write again.
For a time she didn’t write. Nearly five months.
Then, when her baby was born, she wrote to tell
me. That was how I knew she had taken the name
of Seagrave. She mentioned it.
MRS. CLOUSTON
Did you show the letter to Hugo?
MRS. DE MULLIN
Yes.
MRS. CLOUSTON
What did he say?
MRS. DE MULLIN
Nothing. He just read it and gave it back to me
without a word.
MRS. CLOUSTON
That’s the last you’ve heard of her, I suppose?
MRS. DE MULLIN
Oh no, Harriet.
MRS. CLOUSTON
Do you mean to say she goes _on_ writing? And
you allow her? When Hugo said she was not to?
MRS. DE MULLIN
_(meekly)_
Yes. Not often, Harriet. Only occasionally.
MRS. CLOUSTON
She has no business to write at all.
MRS. DE MULLIN
Her letters are quite short. Sometimes I wish
they were longer. They really tell one nothing
about herself, though I often ask her.
MRS. CLOUSTON
You _ask_ her! Then _you_ write too!
MRS. DE MULLIN
I answer her letters, of course. Otherwise she
wouldn’t go on writing. ‘
MRS. CLOUSTON
Really, Jane, I’m surprised at you. So you’ve
actually been corresponding with Janet all
these years--and never told _me!_ I think you’ve
behaved very badly.
MRS. DE MULLIN
I didn’t like to, Harriet.
MRS. CLOUSTON
Didn’t like to!
MRS. DE MULLIN
And as you don’t think I _ought_ to hear from
her....
MRS. CLOUSTON.
I don’t think you ought to hear from her, of
course. But as you do hear naturally I should
like to have seen the letters.
MRS. DE MULLIN
I didn’t know that, Harriet. In fact, I thought
you would rather not. When a dreadful thing like
this happens in a family it seems best not to
write about it or to speak of it either, doesn’t
it? Hugo and I never speak of it.
MRS. CLOUSTON
Does Hugo know you hear from her?
MRS. DE MULLIN
I think not. I have never told him. Nor Hester.
I’m sure Hester would disapprove.
MRS. CLOUSTON
My dear Jane, what _can_ it matter whether
Hester approves or not? Hester knows nothing
about such things. At _her_ age!
MRS. DE MULLIN
Hester is twenty-eight.
MRS. CLOUSTON
Exactly. A girl like that.
MRS. DE MULLIN
_(sighs)_
Girls have such very strong opinions nowadays.
Mrs. Clouston
What does Janet live on? Teaching?
MRS. DE MULLIN
I suppose so. She had her Aunt Miriam’s legacy,
of four hundred pounds of course.
MRS. CLOUSTON
Only four hundred pounds.
MRS. DE MULLIN
Yes.
MRS. CLOUSTON
I never approved of that legacy, Jane. Girls
oughtn’t to have money left them. It makes them
too independent.
MRS. DE MULLIN
Aunt Miriam was always so fond of Janet.
MRS. CLOUSTON
Then she should have left the money to Hugo.
Fathers are the proper people to leave money to.
MRS. DE MULLIN
Hugo did have the _management_ of the
money--till Janet was twenty-one.
MRS. CLOUSTON
Why only till she was twenty-one?
MRS. DE MULLIN
It was so in Aunt Miriam’s will. Of course, Hugo
would have gone on managing it for her. It was
very little trouble as it was all in Consols.
But Janet said she would rather look after it
for herself.
MRS. CLOUSTON
Ridiculous! As if girls could possibly manage
money!
MRS. DE MULLIN
So Hugo said. But Janet insisted. So she got her
way.
MRS. CLOUSTON
What did she do with it? Spend it?
MRS. DE MULLIN
No. Put it into a Railway, she said.
MRS. CLOUSTON
A Railway! How dangerous!
MRS. DE MULLIN
She said she would prefer it. She said Railways
sometimes went up. Consols never.
MRS. CLOUSTON
She lost it all, of course?
MRS. DE MULLIN
I don’t know, Harriet.
MRS. CLOUSTON
You don’t _know?_
MRS. DE MULLIN
No. I never liked to ask. Hugo was rather hurt
about the whole thing, so the subject was never
referred to.
MRS. CLOUSTON
Let me see. The child must be eight years old by
now.
MRS. DE MULLIN
Just eight. It will be nine years next March
since Janet went away.
MRS. CLOUSTON
What did she call him?
MRS. DE MULLIN
Johnny.
MRS. CLOUSTON
Johnny! None of the De Mullins have ever been
called _Johnny_.
MRS. DE MULLIN
Perhaps it was his father’s name.
MRS. CLOUSTON
Perhaps so _(pause)_.
MRS. DE MULLIN
Do you think I ought to tell Hugo about Janet’s
coming?
MRS. CLOUSTON
Certainly.
MRS. DE MULLIN
I thought perhaps....
MRS. CLOUSTON
Nonsense, Jane. Of course, he must be told. You
ought to have told him from the very beginning?
MRS. DE MULLIN
Do you mean when I sent the telegram? But Hugo
was unconscious.
MRS. CLOUSTON
As soon as he recovered consciousness then.
MRS. DE MULLIN
I did mean to. But he seemed so weak, and Dr.
Rolt said any excitement....
MRS. CLOUSTON
Dr. Rolt!
MRS. DE MULLIN
_(goaded)_
Well, I couldn’t tell that Dr. Rolt knew so
little about Hugo’s illness, could I? And I was
afraid of the shock.
MRS. CLOUSTON
Still, he should have been told at once. It was
the only chance.
MRS. DE MULLIN
Yes. I see that now. But I was afraid of the
shock, as I said. So I put it off. And then,
when I didn’t hear from Janet, I thought I would
wait.
MRS. CLOUSTON
Why?
MRS. DE MULLIN
You see I didn’t know whether she was coming.
And if she didn’t come, of course there was no
necessity for telling Hugo anything about it.
I’m afraid he’ll be very angry.
MRS. CLOUSTON
At any rate, you must tell him now. The sooner
the better.
MRS. DE MULLIN
_(meekly)_
Very well, Harriet. If you think so.
MRS. CLOUSTON
You had better go up to him at once.
[_Mrs. De Mullin goes to the door on the left,
opens it, then draws back hastily_.
MRS. DE MULLIN
Here _is_ Hugo. He’s just coming across the
hall. With Hester. How unlucky.
MRS. CLOUSTON I don’t see that it matters.
MRS. DE MULLIN
I’d rather not have told him before Hester.
[_Mrs. Clouston shrugs her shoulders. A moment
later Hugo enters. He leans on a stick and
Hester’s arm. He looks weak and pale and
altogether extremely sorry for himself,
obviously a nervous and a very tiresome
patient._
HESTER
Carefully, father. That’s right. Will you lie on
the sofa?
DE MULLIN
_(fretfully)_
No. Put me in the armchair. I’m tired of lying
down.
HESTER
Very well. Let me help you. There. Wait a
moment. I’ll fetch you some pillows.
_[Props him up on pillows in an armchair._
DE MULLIN
Thank you.
_[Lies back exhausted and closes his eyes._
MRS. DE MULLIN
_(going to him)_
How are you feeling now, Hugo?
DE MULLIN
Very weak.
MRS. DE MULLIN
I wonder if you ought to have come down?
DE MULLIN
It won’t make any difference. Nothing will make
any difference any more, Jane. I shan’t last
much longer. I’m worn out.
HESTER
Father!
DE MULLIN
Yes, Hester. Worn out _(with a sort of
melancholy pride)_. None of the De Mullins have
been strong. I’m the last of them. The last of
the De Mullins.
MRS. CLOUSTON
Come, Hugo, you mustn’t talk in that morbid way.
DE MULLIN
I’m not morbid, Harriet. But I feel tired,
tired.
MRS. DE MULLIN
You’ll be better in a day or two.
DE MULLIN
No, Jane. I shall never be better. Never in
_this_ world _(pause)._
MRS. DE MULLIN
_(nervously)_
Hugo... there’s something... something I have to
tell you....
DE MULLIN
What is it, Jane? _(fretfully)_. What have you
been keeping from me?
MRS. DE MULLIN
I ought to have told you before. Only I didn’t
like...
DE MULLIN
Is it something about my illness?
MRS. DE MULLIN
Oh no, Hugo.
DE MULLIN
_(relieved)_
I thought Dr. Rolt might have said something.
MRS. DE MULLIN
It’s nothing of that kind.
DE MULLIN
_(peevishly)_
Well, well, what is it?
MRS. DE MULLIN
Hugo, some one is coming here to-day, to see
_you_.
DE MULLIN
To see _me?_ Who?
MRS. DE MULLIN
You won’t be angry, Hugo?
DE MULLIN
_(testily)_
How can I possibly say that, Jane, when I don’t
know who it is?
MRS. DE MULLIN
Hugo, it’s... (Bell rings loudly.) Harriet,
there’s the bell! I wonder if it’s she? Do you
think it is?
[_All look towards the door on the right,
expectantly._
DE MULLIN
_(querulously)_
Well, Jane? _Am_ I to hear who this visitor is
or am I not?
ELLEN
_(showing in a lady leading a little boy
by the hand)_
MRS. SEAGRAVE
[_Enter Janet and Johnny!. Janet is a very
handsome woman of six-and-thirty. She is
admirably dressed, but her clothes are quiet and
in excellent taste, dark in colour and plain
in cut but expensive. Her hat is particularly
tasteful, but also quiet. Her clothes are in
marked contrast to those of her mother and
sister which are of the homeliest description
and were probably made in the village. Johnny
is a well-grown youngster of eight in a sailor
suit._
HESTER
_(shocked)_
Mother!
DE MULLIN
Janet, my dear! _(cry of welcome)_.
JANET
Father! _(Drops Johnny’s hand, comes rapidly
to him, falls on one knee and kisses him
impulsively, patting his left hand with her
right.)_ How are you? Better? _(holding out her
left hand to her mother but still kneeling)_.
How do you do, mother dear? _(Mrs. De Mullin
takes it. Puts her other hand on Janet’s
shoulder.)_ I should have come before, father,
directly you sent for me. But your telegram was
delayed. I was away from home.
DE MULLIN
_(nods)_
I see.
JANET
Have you been very ill, father? And did you
frighten them all dreadfully? How naughty of
you!
DE MULLIN
Silly Janet! Let me look at you, my dear.
_(Looks at her face as she holds it up.)_ You’re
not much changed, Janet.
JANET
Nor are you, father.
DE MULLIN
A little greyer, perhaps.
JANET
No! Not a hair!
DE MULLIN
Well, my dear, Pm glad you’ve come. We parted
in anger, but that’s all over now. Forgotten and
forgiven. Eh?
JANET
Yes. Forgotten and forgiven _(rises)_. How
are _you_, Aunt Harriet? I didn’t see you.
_(Eagerly)_ Hester!
_[Goes to her impulsively, holding out her hand.
Hester takes it coldly. Janet tries to draw her
towards her. Hester resists. She drops her hand
and Hester turns away.]_
DE MULLIN
Who is that? _(pointing to Johnny)_.
JANET
(turning to him)
That is Johnny. My son.
DE MULLIN
My grandson?
JANET
Yes. I _had_ to bring him, father. We were away
from home and there was no one to leave him
with.
DE MULLIN
I’m glad you brought him. Come here, Johnny.
Don’t be afraid.
JOHNNY
_(in his confident treble)_
I’m not afraid. Why should I be afraid?
_[Goes to him_.
DE MULLIN
_(taking his hand)_
Say “How do you do, grandfather.”
JOHNNY
How do you do, grandfather?
DE MULLIN
Will you give me a kiss, Johnny?
JOHNNY
If you like, grandfather.
_[Kisses him._
DE MULLIN
That’s a good boy.
JANET
Kiss your grandmother too, Johnny.
_[Mrs. De Mullin snatches him up and kisses him
passionately. Then holds him a little way off
and looks at him admiringly._
MRS. DE MULLIN
What a fine little fellow, Janet!
JANET
_(proudly)_
Isn’t he, mother? And so strong and healthy!
He’s hardly had a day’s illness since he was
born.
JOHNNY
_(who has been staring at the pictures
on the walls, holding his grandmother by one
hand)_.
Who are all these old men, grandfather?
DE MULLIN
Your ancestors, my boy.
JOHNNY
What’s ancestors?
DE MULLIN
Your forefathers. Your mother’s forefathers,
JOHNNY
Is that old man in the wig an ancestor?
DE MULLIN
Yes. That is Anthony De Mullin, your
great-great-grandfather.
JOHNNY
What was _he?_
DE MULLIN
(puzzled)
_What_ was he? I don’t know that he was anything
in particular. He was just a gentleman.
JOHNNY
_(disappointed)_
Is that all?
DE MULLIN
Don’t make any mistake, my boy. It’s a great
thing to be descended from gentle-people, a
thing to be proud of and to be thankful for.
JOHNNY
Mother says the great thing is for every one to
be of some use in the world. Are gentle-people
of more use in the world than other people,
grandfather?
DE MULLIN
Certainly.
JOHNNY
And were all these old men gentle-people?
DE MULLIN
All of them. And you must grow up like them.
JOHNNY
They’re very _ugly_, grandfather _(pause)_. What
did they do?
DE MULLIN
They lived down here at Brendon.
JOHNNY
Nothing else?
DE MULLIN
They looked after their land.
JOHNNY
Had they much land?
DE MULLIN
A great deal. At one time the De Mullins owned
all the land about here.
JOHNNY
How much do they own now?
DE MULLIN
_(sighs)_
Not very much, I’m afraid.
JOHNNY
Then they can’t have looked after it very well,
can they, grandfather?
MRS. DE MULLIN
_(feeling the strain of this
conversation)_
Now, Hugo, do you think you ought to talk any
more? Why not go upstairs for a little and lie
down?
DE MULLIN
Perhaps I will, Jane. I _am_ a little tired.
HESTER
Shall I go with father?
MRS. DE MULLIN
No. I will. Come, Hugo _(helps him up)_.
DE MULLIN
Will you come, with me, Johnny?
MRS. DE MULLIN
_(hastily)_
No, Hugo. He will only disturb you. Stay down
here, Johnny, with your mother. Now then.
Carefully.
_[Leads De Mullin off by the door on the left.
There is a pause, during which the remaining
occupants of the room obviously have nothing in
particular to say to each other. At last Mrs.
Clouston speaks._
MRS. CLOUSTON
Well, Janet, how have you been all these years?
JANET
_(nonchalantly)_
All right, Aunt Harriet. And you?
MRS. CLOUSTON
Pretty well, thanks.
JANET
Are you still living down at Bath?
MRS. CLOUSTON
Yes. You live in London, Jane tells me.
JANET
Yes.
MRS. CLOUSTON
What do you do there? Teach?
JANET
Oh no. Why should I be teaching?
MRS. CLOUSTON
Jane said you wanted to teach at one time.
JANET
That was years ago. Before I left Brendon. soon
gave up that idea. No. I keep a shop.
MRS. CLOUSTON
A shop!
JANET
Yes. A hat-shop
MRS. CLOUSTON
Good heavens! A De Mullin in a hat-shop!
JANET
_(a little maliciously)_
Not a De Mullin, Aunt Harriet. A Seagrave.
MRS. CLOUSTON
Did Mr. Seagrave keep a hat-shop?
JANET
Mr. Seagrave?... oh, I see. No. It’s not a man’s
hat shop. It’s a lady’s _(takes off hat)_. This
is one of ours. What do you think of it, Hester?
HESTER
_(frostily)_
It looks very expensive.
JANET
_(looking at it critically)_
Yes, I own I’m rather pleased with it.
MRS. CLOUSTON
_(acidly)_
You seem to be able to dress very well
altogether, in spite of the shop.
JANET
_(correcting her)_
Because of it, Aunt Harriet. That’s the
advantage of being what is called “in trade.”
If I were a school teacher or a governess or
something genteel of that kind I could only
afford to dress like a pauper. But as I keep
a shop I can dress like a lady. Clothes are a
question of money, after all, aren’t they?
MRS. CLOUSTON
_(contemptuously)_
If one is in a shop it doesn’t matter how one
dresses.
JANET
On the contrary if one is in a shop it matters a
great deal. A girl in a shop _must_ dress well.
The business demands it. If you ever start a
hat-shop, Aunt Harriet, you’ll have to dress
very differently. Otherwise nobody will buy your
hats.
MRS. CLOUSTON
Indeed? Fortunately I’ve no intention of
starting a shop of any kind.
JANET
_(blandly)_
No! Well, I expect you’re wise. I doubt if you’d
make a success of it.
[_Loud ring heard off._
MRS. CLOUSTON
_(rather flustered--gasps)_
HESTER
I hope that’s not a visitor. _(Janet
stares Then laughs good-humouredly. Aunt
Harriet’s nervous desire to keep her out of the
way of visitors strikes her as amusing.)_ What
are you laughing at, Janet?
JANET
_(shrugs)_
Nothing, Aunt Harriet.
ELLEN
_(showing in)_
Miss Deanes. Mr. Brown.
[_Miss Deanes is a bulky, red-faced,
shortsighted woman of forty-two, very fussy and
absurd in manner, who talks very fast. Brown
carries a book._
MISS DEANES
How do you do, Mrs. Clouston. _Such_ a piece of
news! I felt I _must_ tell you. I brought Mr.
Brown with me. He was just leaving a book for
you, Hester, so I made him come in.
[_Shakes hands with Hester._
BROWN
Here it is, Miss De Mullin. It’s the one you
wanted to borrow. _Blore on the Creeds_.
HESTER
Thank you.
MISS DEANES
_(seeing Janet for first time)_
Janet! Is that you?
JANET
Yes, Miss Deanes. How are you?
[_Shakes hands._
MISS DEANES
Good gracious, child, when did you come? Why,
you’ve not been down to Brendon for years.
JANET
It is a long time, isn’t it?
MISS DEANES
And who is this young gentleman?
[_Noticing Johnny who is holding Janet’s hand
and staring at Miss Deanes._
JANET
_(calmly)_
That is my son. Shake hands with Miss Deanes,
Johnny.
MISS DEANES
_(astonished)_
Your son! There now! And I never knew you were
even married!
JANET
_(quite at her ease)_
Didn’t you!
MISS DEANES
No.
MRS. CLOUSTON
_(nervously)_
I forgot. I haven’t introduced you. Mr.
Brown--Mrs. Seagrave.
BROWN
_(bows)_
How do you do.
MRS. CLOUSTON
_(turning to Miss Deanes again)_
And now what is your piece of news, Miss Deanes?
MISS DEANES
_(volubly)_
Oh yes. I _must_ tell you. You’d never guess.
Somebody _else_ is engaged to be married, _(to
Janet)_ Who do you think?
JANET
I’ve no idea.
MISS DEANES
Bertha Aldenham--to Mr. Bulstead.
JANET
_(starts)_
Mr. Bulstead?
MISS DEANES
Yes. But I forgot. _You_ wouldn’t know _them_.
They didn’t come here till long after you went
away. They bought Brendon Park from the Malcolms
three years ago. You remember the Malcolms,
Janet? Janet _(whose attention has wandered)_
Eh? Oh yes, of course.
MRS. CLOUSTON
Which Mr. Bulstead is it? The eldest?
MISS DEANES
Yes. Montague.
JANET
_(under her breath)_
Monty Bulstead! Engaged!
MRS. CLOUSTON
Are the Aldenhams pleased?
MISS DEANES
Very, I expect. The Bulsteads are so rich, you
see.
JANET
Does he live down here; this Mr. Montagu
Bulstead, I mean?
MISS DEANES
Oh no. He’s here on leave. He’s in the army. He
only got back three months ago _(with a little
giggle)_. He and Bertha haven’t taken long to
settle things, have they?
JANET
No, they haven’t taken long.
MISS DEANES
But I dare say he _will_ live here when he’s
married. As the Bulsteads are so rich.- The
father makes frilling and lace and so on. All
those things people used to make so much better
by hand. And Bertha may not care about army
life. I know I shouldn’t. _(Janet smiles
discreetly.)_ It’s not always very _nice_, is
it?
BROWN
_(to Johnny who has been staring at
him roundeyed across the room, with heavy
geniality)_.
Well, young man. Who are you staring at, eh? Do
_you_ want to talk to me?
JOHNNY
_(quite simply, in his high piping
treble)_
No, thank you.
JANET
Sh! Johnny! You don’t mean that. Go to Mr. Brown
when he speaks to you.
JOHNNY
Very well, Mummie.
_[Does so slowly_.
BROWN
_(taking his hands)_
Now then what shall we talk about, you and I?
JOHNNY
I don’t know.
BROWN
Don’t you? Suppose we see if you can say your
catechism then? Would you like _that_?
JOHNNY
What’s catechism?
BROWN
Come, Johnny, I’m sure your mother has taught
you your catechism.. Can you repeat your “Duty
towards your Neighbour”? _(Johnny shakes his
head emphatically)_. Try “My duty towards my
neighbour....
JOHNNY
Mother says it’s every one’s duty to be healthy
and to be happy! Is that what you mean?
BROWN
_(scandalized)_
No! No!
JOHNNY
Well, that’s what mother taught me.
JANET
_(coming to the rescue)_
I’m afraid he doesn’t know his catechism yet,
Mr. Brown. You see he’s only eight. _(Brown bows
stiffly.)_ Run away, Johnny, and play in the
garden for a little.
_[Leads him to the door in the bay._
JOHNNY
All right, Mummie.
_[Johnny runs out into the garden. A certain
relief is perceptible on his departure. It is
felt that his interview with Mr. Brown has not
been a success._...
MISS DEANES
_(who feels that a change of subject
will be only tactful)_
There now, Hester! I do believe you’ve never
asked after Dicky! He’ll be so offended!
HESTER
_(smiling)_
Has Dicky been ill again? I thought you said he
was better yesterday.
MISS DEANES
He was. But he had a relapse, poor _darling_. I
had to sit up all last night with him!
JANET
What has been the matter with him?
MISS DEANES
Some sort of chill, Dr. Rolt said. I was
_dreadfully_ anxious.
JANET
What a pity! ‘Colds are such troublesome things
for children.
MISS DEANES
(puzzled)
Children?
JANET
Yes. You were speaking of a child, weren’t you?
Miss Deanes
Oh no. Dicky is my _cockatoo_. He’s the
_sweetest_ bird. Talks quite like a human being.
And never a coarse expression. That’s so unusual
with cockatoos.
JANET
Indeed?
MISS DEANES
Yes. The voyage, you see. They come all the way
from South America and generally they pick up
the most dreadful language, poor lambs--from the
sailors.
But Dicky didn’t. He has such a pure mind
_(rising)_. And now I really must be going. I
have all kinds of people I want to tell about
Mr. Bulstead’s engagement.
_[Shaking hands with Mrs. Clouston and Janet._
BROWN
I must be off too. Wait one moment, Miss Deanes.
Good-bye, Mrs. Clouston.
_[Shakes hands with Mrs. Clouston and bows
stiffly to Janet. He has not yet forgiven Johnny
for not knowing his catechism._
_(To Hester.)_
Good-bye, Miss De Mullin. Shall I see you at
Evensong?
_[Shakes hands with Hester._
I expect so.
HESTER
Poof!
_[Brown and Miss Deanes go out._
JANET
What a fool Miss Deanes is!
MRS CLOUSTON
_(indifferently)_
She always was, wasn’t she?
JANET
I suppose so. Going on in that way about her
ridiculous cockatoo! And that _hideous_ little
curate!
HESTER
I don’t see why you should sneer at all my
friends.
JANET
Are they your friends, Hester? Then I won’t
sneer at them. But you can’t call Mr. Brown
_handsome_, can you?
HESTER
Mr. Brown is a very good man and works very
hard among the poor. That’s better than being
handsome.
JANET
Yes. But less agreeable, isn’t it? However,
if _you_ like him there’s an end of it. But he
needn’t have begun asking Johnny his catechism
the very first time he met him. I don’t call it
good manners,
HESTER
How was he to know the poor child was being
brought up to be a little heathen?
_[Takes up her hat and cape and begins putting
them on._
JANET
_(shrugs)_
How, indeed!
MRS. CLOUSTON
Are you going out, Hester? Lunch will be ready
in half an hour. .
HESTER
Only to take Mrs. Wason her soup, Aunt Harriet.
JANET
_(looking curiously at Hester)_
Do you want to marry Mr. Brown, Hester?
MRS. CLOUSTON
My dear Janet!
JANET
Well, Aunt Harriet, there’s nothing to be
ashamed of if she does. Do you, Hester?
HESTER
Why do you ask such a question?
JANET
Never mind. Only answer it _(pause)_. You do
like him, don’t you?
HESTER
I’ve a great respect for Mr. Brown.
JANET
Don’t blush, my dear. I dare say that’s much the
same thing.
HESTER
I won’t talk to you about it. You only sneer.
Janet
I wasn’t sneering. Come, Hester, don’t be cross.
Why shouldn’t we be friends? I might help you.
HESTER
How could _you_ help me?
JANET
_(looking quizzically at poor Hester’s
headgear)_
I might make you a hat, my dear.
HESTER
Mr. Brown doesn’t notice those things.
JANET
All men notice those things, Hester.
HESTER
_(with a sneer)_
I suppose that’s why _you_ wear such fine
clothes.
JANET
_(quite good-humoured)_
That’s it. Fine feathers make fine birds.
HESTER
Well, _I_ call it shameless.
JANET
My dear Hester, you’re always being ashamed of
things. You always were, I remember. What is
there to be ashamed of in that? What on earth
were women given pretty faces and pretty figures
for if not to make men admire them and want to
marry them?
HESTER
_(acidly)_
Well, _your_ plan hasn’t been very successful so
far, anyhow!
JANET
_(quietly)_
Nor has yours, Hester.
[_Hester makes exclamation of impatience and
seems about to reply angrily. Then thinks better
of it and goes out without a word. Janet follows
her retreat with her eyes and smiles half
cynically, half compassionately. The Curtain
falls._