Chesterton, G. K. (Gilbert Keith), 1874-1936 -- Criticism and interpretation
DOCTOR. [_With a sour smile._] Well, they saw them
in Ireland. I suppose it's quite correct to see
fairies in Ireland. It's like gambling at Monte
Carlo. It's quite respectable. But I do draw the
line at their seeing fairies in England. I do
object to their bringing their ghosts and goblins
and witches into the poor Duke's own back garden
and within a yard of my own red lamp. It shows a
lack of tact.
Patricia, moreover, wanders about the park and the woods in the
evenings. "Damp evenings for choice. She calls it the Celtic twilight.
I've no use for the Celtic twilight myself. It has a tendency to get on
the chest." The Duke, annoyed by this love of fairies, has blundered, in
his usual way, on an absurd compromise between the real and the ideal. A
conjuror is to come that very night. When explanations have gone so far,
the Duke at last makes his entry. The stage directions tell us that "in
the present state of the peerage it is necessary to explain that the
Duke, though an ass, is a gentleman." His thoughts are the most casual
on earth. He is always being reminded of something or somebody which has
nothing to do with the case. As for instance, "I saw the place you're
putting up . . . Mr. Smith. Very good work. Very good work, indeed. Art
for the people, eh? I particularly liked that woodwork over the west
door--I'm glad to see you're using the new sort of graining . . . why,
it all reminds one of the French Revolution." After one or two
dissociations of this sort, the expected Morris Carleon enters through
the French window; he is rather young and excitable, and America has
overlaid the original Irishman. Morris immediately asks for Patricia and
is told that she is wandering in the garden. The Duke lets out that she
sees fairies; Morris raves a bit about his sister being allowed out
alone with anything in the nature of a man, when Patricia herself
enters. She is in a slightly exalted state; she has just seen her fairy,
him of the pointed hood. Morris, of course, is furious, not to say
suspicious.
DOCTOR. [_Putting his hand on_ MORRIS'S
_shoulder._] Come, you must allow a little more
for poetry. We can't all feed on nothing but
petrol.
DUKE. Quite right, quite right. And being Irish,
don't you know, Celtic, as old Buffle used to say,
charming songs, you know, about the Irish girl who
has a plaid shawl--and a Banshee. [_Sighs
profoundly._] Poor old Gladstone! [_Silence._]
SMITH. [_Speaking to_ DOCTOR.] I thought you
yourself considered the family superstition bad
for the health?
DOCTOR. I consider a family superstition is better
for the health than a family quarrel.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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