Produced by Bill Tozier, Barbara Tozier, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. THE JERVAISE COMEDY BY J.D. BERESFORD New York THE MACMILLAN COMPANY 1919 CONTENTS CHAPTER I THE FIRST HOUR II ANNE III FRANK JERVAISE IV IN THE HALL V DAYBREAK VI MORNING VII NOTES AND QUERIES VIII THE OUTCAST IX BANKS X THE HOME FARM XI THE STORY XII CONVERSION XIII FARMER BANKS XIV MRS. BANKS XV REMEMBRANCE POSTSCRIPT--THE TRUE STORY THE JERVAISE COMEDY I THE FIRST HOUR When I was actually experiencing the thrill, it came delightfully, however, blended with a threat that proclaimed the imminent consequence of dismay. I appreciated the coming of the thrill, as a rare and unexpected "dramatic moment." I savoured and enjoyed it as a real adventure suddenly presented in the midst of the common business of life. I imaginatively transplanted the scene from the Hall of Thorp-Jervaise to a West-End theatre; and in my instant part of unoccupied spectator I admired the art with which the affair had been staged. It is so seldom that we are given an opportunity to witness one of these "high moments," and naturally enough I began instinctively to turn the scene into literature; admitting without hesitation, as I am often forced to admit, that the detail of reality is so much better and more typical than any I can invent. But, having said that, I wonder how far one does invent in such an experience? The same night I hinted something of my appreciation of the dramatic quality of the stir at the Hall door to Frank Jervaise, Brenda's brother, and he, quite obviously, had altogether missed that aspect of the affair. He scowled with that forensic, bullying air he is so successfully practising at the Junior Bar, as he said, "I suppose you realise just what this may _mean_, to all of us?" Jervaise evidently had failed to appreciate the detail that I had relished with such delight. He had certainly not savoured the quality of it. And in one sense I may claim to have invented the business of the scene. I may have added to it by my imaginative participation. In any case my understanding as interpreter was the prime essential--a fact that shows how absurd it is to speak of "photographic detail" in literature, or indeed to attempt a proper differentiation between realism and romance.