The Plays of W. E. Henley and R. L. StevensonStevenson, Robert Louis
General
The Plays of W. E. Henley and R. L. Stevenson
Stevenson, Robert Louis
Drama
PEW. See now! The sign of this here inn was running in my ’ed, I
reckon. Benbow, says you? no, not likely! Anson, I mean; Anson and Sir
Edward ’Awke: that’s the pair: I was their right-’and man.
KIT. Well, mate, you may be all that, and more; but you’re a rum un to
look at, anyhow.
PEW. Right you are, and so I am. But what is looks? It’s the ’art that
does it: the ’art is the seaman’s star; and here’s old David Pew’s, a
matter of fifty years at sea, but tough and sound as the British
Constitootion.
KIT. You’re right there, Pew. Shake hands upon it. And you’re a man
they’re down upon, just like myself, I see. We’re a pair of plain,
good-hearted, jolly tars; and all these ’longshore fellows cock a lip at
us, by George. What cheer, mate?
ARETHUSA (_without_). Mrs. Drake! Mrs. Drake!
PEW. What, a female? hey? a female? Board her board her, mate! I’m
dark. (_He retires again behind_, _to table_, _R._, _behind settle_.)
ARETHUSA (_without_). Mrs. Drake!
MRS. DRAKE (_re-entering and running to door_). Here I am, my dear; come
in.
SCENE III
_To these_, ARETHUSA
ARETHUSA. Ah, Kit, I’ve found you. I thought you would lodge with Mrs.
Drake.
KIT. What? are you looking for your consort? Whistle, I’m your dog;
I’ll come to you. I’ve been toasting you fathom deep, my beauty; and
with every glass I love you dearer.
ARETHUSA. Now Kit, if you want to please my father, this is not the way.
Perhaps he thinks too much of the guineas: well, gather them—if you think
me worth the price. Go you to your sloop, clinker built, eighty tons
burthen—you see I remember, Skipper Kit! I don’t deny I like a man of
spirit; but if you care to please Captain Gaunt, keep out of taverns; and
if you could carry yourself a bit more—more elderly!
[KIT. Can I? Would I? Ah, just couldn’t and just won’t I, then!
MRS. DRAKE. I hope, madam, you don’t refer to my house; a publican I may
be, but tavern is a word that I don’t hold with; and here there’s no bad
drink, and no loose company; and as for my blessedest Kit, I declare I
love him like my own.
ARETHUSA. Why, who could help it, Mrs. Drake?]
KIT. Arethusa, you’re an angel. Do I want to please Captain Gaunt?
Why, that’s as much as ask whether I love you. [I don’t deny that his
words cut me; for they did. But as for wanting to please him, if he was
deep as the blue Atlantic, I would beat it out. And elderly, too? Aha,
you witch, you’re wise! Elderly? You’ve set the course; you leave me
alone to steer it. Matrimony’s my port, and love is my cargo.] That’s a
likely question, ain’t it, Mrs. Drake? Do I want to please him!
Elderly, says you? Why, see here: Fill up my glass, and I’ll drink to
Arethusa on my knees.
ARETHUSA. Why, you stupid boy, do you think that would please him?
KIT. On my knees I’ll drink it! (_As he kneels and drains the glass_,
GAUNT _enters_, _and he scrambles to his feet_.)
SCENE IV
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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