MELISANDE. I am my lord's servant. I will wait for him. (She moves
away from him. Then she curtsies and says) This afternoon, my lord.
(She goes down the hill.)
(He stands looking after her. While he is standing there, ERN comes
through the trees with breakfast.)
ACT III
(It is about four o'clock in the afternoon of the same day. JANE is
sitting on the sofa in the hall, glancing at a paper, but evidently
rather bored with it, and hoping that somebody--BOBBY, did you
say?--will appear presently. However, it is MR. KNOWLE who comes in.)
MR. KNOWLE. Ah, Jane!
JANE (looking up). Hallo, Uncle Henry. Did you have a good day?
MR. KNOWLE. Well, Peters and I had a very enjoyable drive.
JANE. But you found nothing at the sale? What a pity!
MR. KNOWLE (taking a catalogue from his pocket). Nothing which I
wanted myself, but there were several very interesting lots. Peters
was strongly tempted by Lot 29--"Two hip-baths and a stuffed
crocodile." Very useful things to have by you if you think of getting
married, Jane, and setting up house for yourself. I don't know if you
have any thoughts in that direction?
JANE (a little embarrassed). Well, I suppose I shall some day.
MR. KNOWLE. Ah! . . . Where's Bobby?
JANE (carelessly). Bobby? Oh, he's about somewhere.
MR. KNOWLE. I think Bobby would like to hear about Lot 29. (Returning
to his catalogue) Or perhaps Lot 42. "Lot 42--Twelve aspidistras,
towel-horse, and 'The Maiden's Prayer.'" All for seven and sixpence. I
ought to have had Bobby with me. He could have made a firm offer of
eight shillings. . . . By the way, I have a daughter, haven't I? How was
Sandy this morning?
JANE. I didn't see her. Aunt Mary is rather anxious about her.
MR. KNOWLE. Has she left us for ever?
JANE. There's nothing to be frightened about really.
MR. KNOWLE. I'm not frightened.
JANE. She had breakfast before any of us were up, and went out with
some sandwiches afterwards, and she hasn't come back yet.
MR. KNOWLE. A very healthy way of spending the day. (MRS. KNOWLE comes
in) Well, Mary, I hear that we have no daughter now.
MRS. KNOWLE. Ah, there you are, Henry. Thank Heaven that _you_ are
back safely.
MR. KNOWLE. My dear, I always meant to come back safely. Didn't you
expect me?
MRS. KNOWLE. I had given up hope. Jane here will tell you what a
terrible morning I have had; prostrate on the sofa, mourning for my
loved ones. My only child torn from me, my husband--dead.
MR. KNOWLE (surprised). Oh, I was dead?
MRS. KNOWLE. I pictured the car smashed to atoms, and you lying in the
road, dead, with Peters by your side.
MR. KNOWLE. Ah! How was Peters?
MRS. KNOWLE (with a shrug). I didn't look. What is a chauffeur to one
who has lost her husband and her only child in the same morning?
MR. KNOWLE. Still, I think you might have looked.
JANE. Sandy's all right, Aunt Mary. You know she often goes out alone
all day like this.
MRS. KNOWLE. Ah, _is_ she alone? Jane, did you count the gardeners as
I asked you?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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