"I'll Leave It To You": A Light Comedy In Three ActsCoward, Noël
General
"I'll Leave It To You": A Light Comedy In Three Acts
Coward, Noël
Comedy plays; Inheritance and succession -- Drama
BOBBIE. I mean to when I've told you everything. Will you listen?
(_Moves to_ R. _of Chesterfield._)
FAITH. Of course.
BOBBIE. Well, have you ever met my Uncle Daniel? (_Sits by her on
Chesterfield._)
FAITH. No.
BOBBIE. You will to-day, he's a wonderful chap. Eighteen months ago his
doctor told him that he only had three years to live. (FAITH _giggles._)
And the day he came over from South America he gave us all a jolly good
talking to--quite right too.
FAITH. Why?
BOBBIE. You see father had left mother badly off, and we were all
drooping round doing nothing.
FAITH. Of course!
BOBBIE. Then Uncle Dan turned up and said he'd leave his whole fortune
to the one of us who made good in some way or other. Of course that
bucked us up no end, and look at us now--Vangy's raking in the dibs with
her novel, Sylvia's on a fair way to be a big film star, Oliver has just
been made assistant manager at the motor works, which is a good leg-up
considering that he started as an ordinary mechanic. I'm doing jolly
well out of my songs--specially "The Rose of Passion Sweet." Why they
buy the beastly thing I don't know. It's the worst of the lot.
FAITH. Oh! Bobbie!
BOBBIE. Even Joyce has walked off with all the prizes at school and
intends to be a great artist. You see we've all risen to the bait.
Eighteen months ago it seemed providential that Uncle should only have
such a short time to live, now I rather hate it, in spite of the money.
He's a dear, though of course we didn't see much of him. He went back to
South America soon after he'd seen us, but still he left an impression.
Here we are, all working like slaves, and helping mother to keep on the
house. It would have broken her heart to have given it up. There are my
prospects--a huge fortune, quite soon.
FAITH. Yes, but, Bobbie, one of the others might get it.
BOBBIE (_after looking round_). Ah, but there is just one more thing to
tell you. Two days before he sailed Uncle Dan took me aside and told
me--in the very strictest confidence of course--that I was the one out
of us all that he had his eye on; he said he'd practically made out his
will in my favour already....
FAITH (_ecstatically_). Bobbie!
BOBBIE. Yes, but promise you won't breathe a word to the others; of
course you understand he couldn't show favouritism openly.
FAITH. No--I see.
BOBBIE. Now that I have told you everything, Faith darling, will
you--will you marry me?
FAITH. Yes, Bobbie--
BOBBIE. Oh! (_He kisses her._)
FAITH.SPACELEFT--if mother says I may.
BOBBIE. Oh! (_mastering slight irritation_). But don't you think she
will, now?
FAITH. Yes, I think so.
BOBBIE (_sadly_). I don't believe you love me a bit.
FAITH (_filled with reproach_). Oh, Bobbie, how _can_ you.
BOBBIE. Well, do you?
(MRS. CROMBIE _sees them through window_ L.C.)
FAITH. Of course, silly! (_She kisses him._)
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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