Part 6

GWEN: If I’m not more important than unpleasantness----

COLIN: Suppose I’m obstinate too; and just as conscientious; and I don’t want it to be spoiled, and I think we _ought_ to get married.

GWEN: You don’t. You want to avoid unpleasantness.

COLIN: Thanks.

GWEN: It’s true.

COLIN: Suppose it’s a question of doing things my way, or saying good-bye?

GWEN: Oh no!

COLIN: Yes.

GWEN: Colin! ... if I gave in, I shouldn’t be any _good_ to you; something in me would die.

COLIN: I’ll risk that.

GWEN: I can’t give in.

COLIN: My way, or saying good-bye.

GWEN: Oh, Colin.

COLIN: ... Well?

GWEN: Colin!----

[_MR. FREEMAN enters. He has hurried and is in a temper anyhow, which is not improved by finding “that feller” alone with his daughter._

MR. FREEMAN: Oh!... Where’s John?

GWEN: He went out.

MR. FREEMAN: Where to?

GWEN: I don’t know.

MR. FREEMAN: He’s got no business to go out. I want to speak to him. I told him I wanted to speak to him.

[_A whistle from the speaking-tube._

That’s probably him.

[_GWEN has gone to answer. She takes the receiver and speaks._

GWEN: Hullo!

MR. FREEMAN (_taking it from her_): Here, give it to me. (_He listens._) ... Has he _“popped” what_? No. It’s me speaking. _Me._ I don’t know what you’re talking about. Come down. At once. (_He replaces the instrument._) ... What the devil did he mean?... Going off his chump! That’s what’s the matter with him. Off their chumps! That’s what’s the matter with the whole family.

[_A silence. COLIN and GWEN are hung in mid-air, as it were; while MR. FREEMAN becomes more and more manifestly oppressed with their presence._

COLIN: ... Well, I must be getting along.

MR. FREEMAN (_jumping at this_): I’m sorry I can’t ask you to stay. I’ve got some particular business to discuss with my son.

COLIN: Oh, of course. (_He hesitates awkwardly a moment, and then says, low, to GWEN:_) Will you come and have dinner to-night?

GWEN: Yes.

MR. FREEMAN (_catching this_): What’s that?

COLIN: I was asking your daughter if she’d dine with me to-night.

MR. FREEMAN: I’m afraid I can’t allow it.

GWEN: Father!

MR. FREEMAN: _That’s enough!_... You’ve been out with Mr. Mackenzie six times this week. I’m sure Mr. Mackenzie’s man-of-the-world enough to realise that’s unusual.

GWEN: I’m over twenty-one.

MR. FREEMAN: I can’t help that. You’re in my house; under my charge.

[_JOHN comes in._

Come in. I’ve just had to put my foot down. I’ve forbidden your sister to go out with Mr. Mackenzie.

JOHN: Forbidden!

MR. FREEMAN: Yes. _Forbidden!_ If I don’t take a strong line, goodness knows where we shall get to. You young people think you can play highty-tighty just as you please.... As I say, I’ve no wish to be offensive to Mr. Mackenzie. It’s very good of him to spend so much time on her.... Every now and again. Yes. Of course. But six times a week! The thing becomes ridiculous. (_To COLIN._) I hope you understand my position.

COLIN: I think perhaps you don’t quite understand _my_ position. I have asked your daughter to marry me.

MR. FREEMAN: This is the first I’ve heard of it.

COLIN: I only asked her a few minutes ago.

MR. FREEMAN: Well, of course, this does rather alter the aspect of things.... I don’t know what to say; ’pon my word, you’ve rather taken the wind out of my sails ... of course, it’s all got to be considered. I shall want to talk to you ... then, if I approve, and her mother ... the whole thing wants talking over.

GWEN (_she is very pale, and her teeth are set_): You needn’t talk it over, thank you. I’ve made up my mind.

MR. FREEMAN: Oh, you have.

GWEN: Yes. I’ve told him I won’t marry him yet. But I’ve told him I’ll go away with him; and we can get married later; when I know what I’m doing; if we want to.

MR. FREEMAN (_blankly_): You told him you’d go away with him!

GWEN: Yes.

MR. FREEMAN: I don’t understand! What d’you mean?

GWEN: What I said: I told him I’d go away with him. I’ll marry him afterwards when I’m sure.

JOHN (_almost to himself_): Gwen! That’s good!

MR. FREEMAN (_turning fiercely on him_): GOOD!!! What the devil do you mean--_good_?!!! Really, I don’t know whether I’m on my head or my heels! (_To COLIN._) What have _you_ got to do with this?

COLIN (_taken aback_): Me?

MR. FREEMAN: Is this the result of six dinners with you?

COLIN (_trying to be dignified_): Certainly not.

MR. FREEMAN: I suppose I can believe my ears. You heard what she said ... she’s already made this outrageous suggestion to you.

COLIN: Yes.

MR. FREEMAN: After any encouragement from you?

COLIN: No.

MR. FREEMAN: Do I understand then that you propose to behave like a gentleman?

COLIN: I’m not quite certain how a gentleman would behave under the circumstances.

MR. FREEMAN: I’m sorry to hear that.

COLIN: Well, how would _you_ behave?

MR. FREEMAN: Me?

COLIN: Yes. Supposing when you were single, the girl you loved, out of a sort of access of social duty, had proposed a sort of trial trip before you were----

MR. FREEMAN: Social fiddle-sticks! When I was a young man the thing was unthinkable.

GWEN}: But Father!---- } JOHN}: When you were young, but----

MR. FREEMAN (_turning on his children and shouting_): I _will_ not argue.

COLIN: I don’t want to argue either; but I think you might answer my question. What would you do in my place?

MR. FREEMAN: Do! Why, good God, sir, I should tell her to go to the devil.

COLIN: I’m rather thinking of telling her to do that.

MR. FREEMAN: I’m glad to hear it.

COLIN: Only if she does, I suppose I shall go with her.

[_A very tiny suspicion of a laugh from JOHN is immediately quashed._

MR. FREEMAN: _Stop that noise!_ Is your sister’s _shame_ a laughing matter to you?

JOHN (_dangerously_): _Shame?!_

MR. FREEMAN: Yes; that’s what I said--_shame_. It’s time there was a little plain-speaking in this house!! I don’t know what’s come over you; both of you. You think you can treat us just as you like; push us on one side; me, and your mother, and the family; the traditions; trample on everything we hold sacred. You can’t.

[_The two stand silent, while he looses his wrath against them. To JOHN:_

You think you can break faith just as you will: you can’t; you throw over the girl you’ve been engaged to since you were children; and the same with the business; and never a word ’till this afternoon ... and now this ... this cruel, insane, folly of Gwen’s. A cruel, thoughtless, insane _wickedness_ that I never thought I should find in a child of mine. Have you no thought for others--either of you? No consideration? (_To JOHN._) You’re lazy; that’s what’s the matter with you. No aim in life. No desire to get on. Dog lazy. And you. (_He turns on his daughter._) You’re worse. Are you mad? or are you wanton? You seem to have no thought but for your own pleasure----

JOHN (_going off suddenly, like a bomb_): BE QUIET!!!!

MR. FREEMAN: What the devil?

JOHN: I shall lose my temper in a moment.

MR. FREEMAN: Lose your temper?

JOHN: Yes. I have lost it. I’ve lost it now!! How _dare_ you talk like that? _How dare you?!?!_

MR. FREEMAN (_shouting_): John!

JOHN (_refusing to be stopped_): It’s no good. It’s got to come out now. _You_, who sat at home here in comfort all those five years of hell.

MR. FREEMAN (_bewildered_): Sat at home!

JOHN: You don’t know what I’m talking about! You’ve forgotten. I’ll tell you. (_He is possessed by an overwhelming rage._) Your generation has done ours in! Smashed it! Millions! If we were to stand at that window and they marched past us, they’d march all day, and all night, and all day again--for days and nights. Dead men. Dead. For what? They died to end war; to make a better world; and before their corpses have rotted into earth, new wars are preparing and the world’s a dam’ sight worse--and you? Is there one word of apology in you? One word of humility? No. The same old pride; and blindness; and intolerance. Because I don’t want to live as you’ve lived, I’m lazy; because Gwen wants to live, not exactly as her mother and grandmother lived, she’s mad or wanton! Good God in Heaven! if there’s one way that’s been proved wrong it’s your way! If we live exactly as you lived, it’ll all happen over again!...

[_He comes to a sudden stop. The silence in the room is complete. He seems to have burnt himself out; and MR. FREEMAN to be knocked mentally head-over-heels, and to be only partially conscious. JOHN breaks the silence in a low voice:_

Sorry. I lost my temper. I’ve got it again now.... I was rude. I’m sorry.... We only ask that you should go your way: and leave us to find ours. I beg your pardon. There’s no reason why we shouldn’t be friends.

MR. FREEMAN: Friends!

JOHN: Yes.

MR. FREEMAN (_to GWEN_): Do you suppose your mother will ever lift up her head again?

GWEN: We could be far better friends when she knows.

MR. FREEMAN: Don’t be a fool.

GWEN: We lived in the same house; but we’re strangers.

MR. FREEMAN: Who’s fault’s that?

GWEN: What I believe is part of me, I can’t help that. I couldn’t be anything but a stranger with anyone from whom I had to hide it. We could be closer now. If _she_ will. I’ll do my best.

MR. FREEMAN: Rubbish. (_He makes for the door._) All I can say now is: I shall oppose you with every means in my power. If you persist, not another penny do you get from me--either of you. (_To COLIN._) And as for you, sir, you’re a damned scoundrel!

[_He goes._

GWEN (_at once, to COLIN_): Oh, I’m so sorry.

COLIN (_taking her roughly by the shoulders_): Look here; you’re going to love me; and I’m going to love you, and there’s going to be no one else. Do you understand?

GWEN: Yes.

COLIN: Good. Now I’m going to clear out; right out of it, for a bit.

GWEN: What do you mean?

COLIN: Where do you want to go to most in all the world?

GWEN: I only want to be where you are.

COLIN: I’m going to Rome. As soon as I can get a passport. I think you can get a passport quicker than you can get a licence. Shall I get two--passports?

GWEN: Colin!

COLIN: That’s all right. John, I’m going to marry your sister.

JOHN: When?

COLIN: As soon as I can get her away from you.

GWEN: No.

COLIN: Well, when we come back to England.

GWEN: Perhaps.

COLIN: Say yes.

[_She shakes her head._

You little devil. I’m only afraid of one thing.

GWEN: What?

COLIN: You’ll make me serious. Then we shall all starve.

GWEN: I shouldn’t care.

COLIN: I should.

JOHN: Well. I’ve had my telegram.

COLIN: What telegram?

JOHN: My man’s bought my piano and every other damned thing in the whole attic. So we’re in the soup, now, Gwen, both of us!

GWEN: Yes.

JOHN: Good luck to you. (_He stretches out his hand._)

GWEN (_taking it_): Thanks. And good luck to you.

JOHN: By God, life’s _good_, isn’t it?

COLIN: There’s someone knocking at the door.

JOHN: See who it is.

[_COLIN goes and opens the door._

COLIN: It’s Rosie.

GWEN: Rosie!... I’d forgotten!... (_With sudden misgiving._) John, this isn’t going to stop us.

JOHN (_very strongly_): No. Nothing’s going to stop us now.

GWEN: But we must help her.

JOHN: _Of course we must help her_; that’s part of our job.... Rosie!

[_As he goes to the door the CURTAIN FALLS._

END OF THE PLAY

Printed In Great Britain at _The Mayflower Press_, _Plymouth_. William Brendon & Son, Ltd.

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES:

Italicized text is surrounded by underscores: _italics_.

Obvious typographical errors have been corrected.

Archaic or variant spelling has been retained.