The Circle: A Comedy in Three ActsMaugham, W. Somerset (William Somerset)
General
The Circle: A Comedy in Three Acts
Maugham, W. Somerset (William Somerset)
Adultery -- Drama; England -- Social life and customs -- Drama; Intergenerational relations -- Drama
ARNOLD. You feel he knows what he's talking about. I gave seventy-five
pounds for that chair. I'm very seldom taken in. I always think if a
thing's right you feel it.
C.-C. Well, don't let it disturb your night's rest.
ARNOLD. But, my dear father, that's just what it does. I had a most
horrible dream about it last night.
LADY KITTY. Here is Hughie.
ARNOLD. I'm going to fetch a book I have on Old English furniture.
There's an illustration of a chair which is almost identical with this
one.
[_PORTEOUS comes in._
PORTEOUS. Quite a family gathering, by George!
C.-C. I was thinking just now we'd make a very pleasing picture of a
typical English home.
ARNOLD. I'll be back in five minutes. There's something I want to show
you, Lord Porteous.
[_He goes out._
C.-C. Would you like to play piquet with me, Hughie?
PORTEOUS. Not particularly.
C.-C. You were never much of a piquet player, were you?
PORTEOUS. My dear Clive, you people don't know what piquet is in
England.
C.-C. Let's have a game then. You may make money.
PORTEOUS. I don't want to play with you.
LADY KITTY. I don't know why not, Hughie.
PORTEOUS. Let me tell you that I don't like your manner.
C.-C. I'm sorry for that. I'm afraid I can't offer to change it at my
age.
PORTEOUS. I don't know what you want to be hanging around here for.
C.-C. A natural attachment to my home.
PORTEOUS. If you'd had any tact you'd have kept out of the way while
we were here.
C.-C. My dear Hughie, I don't understand your attitude at all. If I'm
willing to let bygones be bygones why should you object?
PORTEOUS. Damn it all, they're not bygones.
C.-C. After all, I am the injured party.
PORTEOUS. How the devil are you the injured party?
C.-C. Well, you did run away with my wife, didn't you?
LADY KITTY. Now, don't let's go into ancient history. I can't see why
we shouldn't all be friends.
PORTEOUS. I beg you not to interfere, Kitty.
LADY KITTY. I'm very fond of Clive.
PORTEOUS. You never cared two straws for Clive. You only say that to
irritate me.
LADY KITTY. Not at all. I don't see why he shouldn't come and stay
with us.
C.-C. I'd love to. I think Florence in spring-time is delightful. Have
you central heating?
PORTEOUS. I never liked you, I don't like you now, and I never shall
like you.
C.-C. How very unfortunate! because I liked you, I like you now, and I
shall continue to like you.
LADY KITTY. There's something very nice about you, Clive.
PORTEOUS. If you think that, why the devil did you leave him?
LADY KITTY. Are you going to reproach me because I loved you? How
utterly, utterly, utterly detestable you are!
C.-C. Now, now, don't quarrel with one another.
LADY KITTY. It's all his fault. I'm the easiest person in the world to
live with. But really he'd try the patience of a saint.
C.-C. Come, come, don't get upset, Kitty. When two people live
together there must be a certain amount of give and take.
PORTEOUS. I don't know what the devil you're talking about.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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