Three Plays by Granville-Barker. Granville-Barker Harley
without a word.
sarah. Coming home with him?
george. Not a word.
sarah. Papa's very clever; but I'm puzzled.
george. Something will happen next, no doubt.
ann. Isn't this done with?
sarah. So it seems.
ann. I should like to be told just what the game has been.
george. Bravo, Ann.
ann. Tell me the rules … for next time.
sarah. It would have been most advantageous for us to have formed an alliance with Lord John Carp, who stood here for his father and his father's party … now in opposition.
george. Look upon yourself—not too seriously—Ann, as the instrument of political destiny.
ann. I'm afraid I take in fresh ideas very slowly. Why has Papa given up the Stamp Office?
sarah. His colleagues wouldn't support him.
ann. Why was that?
sarah. They disapproved of what he did.
ann. Did he do right … giving it up?
sarah. Yes.
george. We hope so. Time will tell. An irreverent quipster once named him Carnaby Leech.
sarah. I know.
george. I wonder if his true enemies think him wise to have dropped off the Stamp Office?
ann. Has he quarrelled with Sir Charles?
sarah. Politically.
ann. Isn't that awkward for you?
sarah. Not a bit.
george. Hear a statement that includes our lives. Markswayde goes at his death … see reversionary mortgage. The income's an annuity now. The cash in the house will be ours. The debts are paid … at last.
ann. And there remains me.
george. Bad grammar. Meanwhile our father is a tongue, which is worth buying; but I don't think he ought to go over to the enemy … for the second time.
sarah. One party is as good as another; each works for the same end, I should hope.
george. I won't argue about it.
ann. I suppose that a woman's profession is marriage.
george. My lord has departed.
ann. There'll be others to come. I'm not afraid of being married.
sarah. What did Papa want Mrs. Opie for?
ann. There'll be a great many things I shall want to know about men now.
george. Wisdom cometh with sorrow … oh, my sister.
sarah. I believe you two are both about as selfish as you can be.
george. I am an egotist … with attachments.
ann. Make use of me.
george. Ann, you marry—when you marry—to please yourself.
ann. There's much in life that I don't like, Sally.
sarah. There's much more that you will.
george. I think we three have never talked together before.
abud, who has been in sight on the terrace for a few moments, now comes down the steps.
abud. May I make so bold, sir, as to ask how is Mrs. George Leete?
george. She was well when I last heard.
abud. Thank you, sir.
And he returns to his work.
ann. I wonder will it be a boy or a girl.
george. Poor weak woman.
sarah. Be grateful to her.
ann. A baby is a wonderful thing.
sarah. Babyhood in the abstract … beautiful.
ann. Even kittens …
She stops, and then in rather childish embarrassment, moves away from them.
sarah. Don't shudder, George.
george. I have no wish to be a father. Why?
sarah. It's a vulgar responsibility.
george. My wayside flower!
sarah. Why pick it?
george. Sarah, I love my wife.
sarah. That's easily said.
george. She should be here.
sarah. George, you married to please yourself.
george. By custom her rank is my own.
sarah. Does she still drop her aitches?
george. Dolly …
sarah. Pretty name.
george. Dolly aspires to be one of us.
sarah. Child-bearing makes these women blowzy.
george. Oh heaven!
ann. [Calling to abud on the terrace.] Finish to-day, Abud. If it rains …
She stops, seeing mr. tetgeen standing at the top of the steps leading from the house. This is an intensely respectable, selfcontained-looking lawyer, but a man of the world too.
mr. tetgeen. Lady Cottesham.
sarah. Sir?
mr. tetgeen. My name is Tetgeen.
sarah. Mr. Tetgeen. How do you do?
mr. tetgeen. The household appeared to be in some confusion and I took the liberty to be my own messenger. I am anxious to speak with you.
sarah. Ann, dear, ask if Papa will see you now.
dimmuck appears.
dimmuck. The master wants you, Miss Ann.
sarah. Ask papa if he'll see me soon.
ann goes towards the house.
sarah. Dimmuck, Mr. Tetgeen has been left to find his own way here.
dimmuck. I couldn't help it, my lady.
And he follows ann.
sarah. Our father is confined to his room.
george. By your leave.
Then george takes himself off up the steps, and out of sight. The old lawyer bows to lady cottesham, who regards him steadily.
mr. tetgeen. From Sir Charles … a talking machine.
sarah. Please sit.
He sits carefully upon the rim of the fountain, she upon the seat opposite.
sarah. [Glancing over her shoulder.] Will you talk nonsense until the gardener is out of hearing? He is on his way away. You have had a tiring journey?
mr. tetgeen. Thank you, no … by the night coach to Reading and thence I have walked.
sarah. The country is pretty, is it not?
mr. tetgeen. It compares favourably with other parts.
sarah. Do you travel much, Mr. Tetgeen? He has gone.
mr. tetgeen. [Deliberately and sharpening his tone ever so little.] Sir Charles does not wish to petition for a divorce.
sarah. [Controlling even her sense of humour.] I have no desire to jump over the moon.
mr. tetgeen. His scruples are religious. The case would be weak upon some important points, and there has