England -- Social life and customs -- 20th century -- Drama; English drama -- 20th century; Middle class -- England -- Drama
MASSEY. He'd say--"And where do I come in?"
MAGGIE. Well, of course he'll be there. I wish--
MRS. M. Maggie, my dear--I should like a little more tea! Have you got
some more hot water?
MAGGIE. I'll get some. [_Goes out._]
MASSEY. It's all very well for her to chaff, but she ain't quite
natural about this affair of hers. She ought to be more
pleased--excited like.
MRS. M. I think they've had a little quarrel. People often do. She's a
little bit down about it. We've had a talk about it.
MASSEY. Well, she can't have any quarrel about him himself. _He's_ all
right, and got a jolly soft job, too. He'll make her a good husband.
He's insured for £500.
MRS. M. Is he? That's very nice. If anything happened to him she'd be
all right.
MASSEY. He's a thoughtful sort of chap. Of course he's not exactly
young, but he's steady.
MRS. M. The poor child is jealous of his first wife.
MASSEY. You don't say so? Jealous, is she? That's all right--that's a
healthy feeling. I'm glad she's jealous, but she'll get over it once
she's married. Jealous! Lord! Fancy, Mag too--I wouldn't have thought
it. He'll be head clerk, one of these days--he can stay at Whitakers
all his life. He told me.
LILY. Do you think he'll ever get tired of it?
MRS. M. What an idea!
MASSEY. [_roaring._] Tired! Tired of what? A good job? Why ever should
he be? He couldn't have anything better--Ten to half-past five every
day of his life, except Saturdays, and then it's _one_--and three
weeks' holiday. Think of that?
LILY. But, I--
_Enter MAGGIE with hot water. The door-bell is heard._
MRS. M. Let them in, Lily, my dear--it's Percy and Syb.
_LILY goes out R._
_Re-enter LILY a moment after, followed by PERCY and SYBIL._
_SYBIL kisses MRS. MASSEY and MAGGIE._
SYBIL. Aren't we dreadfully late, Mrs. Massey? I'm _so_ sorry!
PERCY. Awfully sorry, but my watch is--
MAGGIE. Don't blame the poor thing--it's all right.
MASSEY. The watch, was it? Come here, my girl!
_SYBIL goes to him with giggling shyness. He takes her face between
his hands._
_Was_ it the watch? Not a bit of it! It was this--[_He pats her
cheek_] these roses. Lucky young dog! Percy! [_He kisses her._]
MAGGIE. Rather cold in the Park, isn't it?
PERCY. Not very.
MAGGIE. There's a northeast wind. Still, you can find a sheltered
seat.
PERCY. Just beyond the glass house thing.
MAGGIE. What did I tell you? [_Looking triumphantly round._]
SYBIL. [_covering her cheeks._] What a tease you are, Maggie!
MASSEY. Don't listen to her!
PERCY. You're only giving yourself away, Mag. What do you know about
sheltered seats and glass houses?
MAGGIE. It wasn't exactly guess work. [_Click of gate._]
MRS. M. There's Walter.
MAGGIE. What?
MASSEY. Isn't she surprised? Now isn't she surprised? Fancy! Walter!
MAGGIE. He said he wasn't coming. [_She looks out of the window._]
Charley is with him.
LILY. Will you open the door, Maggie?
MAGGIE. [_almost at the same moment._] Go to the door, Percy.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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