LITMIR.BIZ

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      HALLIWELL. My fault!

      WHAMOND. The Captain’s fault!

      (Soldiers chuckle, halliwell glares at them.)

      BABBIE. Well, if it isn’t your fault, it is this man’s. (Looks reprovingly at gavin.) I won’t have father blamed!

      LORD RINTOUL (stepping back). You — you — (Frantic.)

      (BABBIE retreats and sits on doorstep of Manse.

      HALLIWELL is about to seize the paper which is on seat, but MICAH seizes it, gives it to DOW.)

      HALLIWELL. Mr. Dishart, it cannot be that you are willing to take advantage OF Lord Rintoul’s infernal blunder?

      RINTOUL. My blunder! Yours from beginning to end.

      WHAMOND. It matters little whether he is willing to take advantage of it or no, but! Think! Ken four simple auld men that mean to do.

      SNECKY. Four simple auld men — it’s nobly said.

      (Elders are gathered complacently round WHAMOND to great delight of DOW.)

      WHAMOND. Rob Dow, that paper. (To MICAH) Micah, send the congregation here.

      (Exit MICAH triumphantly.)

      HALLIWELL (desperately). Rintoul, I have been laughed AT sufficiently about this gipsy, but when this is known — !

      LORD RINTOUL (pettishly). Always thinking of yourself!

      WHAMOND (facing the Elders). My best plan, I think, will be to read this document to the congregation — the marriage lines, as it has been truly called!

      (He eyes LORD RINTOUL and CAPTAIN HALLIWELL, who groan.)

      Unless — ?

      HALLIWELL (eagerly). Unless?

      WHAMOND. Unless YOUR lordship was JUST TO TELL THEM THAT your daughter is — what’s the word? — engaged to be married to Mr. Dishart. Then we could have a second marriage at Rintoul, and none but oursel’s standing solemnly here need ever ken about the first.

      HALLIWELL. Rintoul, you must do it.

      RINTOUL (rebelliously). Must, sir!

      HALLIWELL. If you don’t — I shall order my men to arrest the gipsy.

      GAVIN (fiercely). Sir!

      HALLIWELL. I swear it!

      BABBIE. Father!

      (A hum of people is heard.)

      WHAMOND. Which is it to be?

      LORD RINTOUL. It will all leak out in any case.

      WHAMOND. Which is it to be?

      LORD RINTOUL. Fold up that paper. (Groans.)

      (BABBIE takes the document from WHAMOND. The Congregation come crowding in excitedly, led by NANNY, some through gate, some get on walls. They are chattering — cries of ‘It’s her, it’s her ladyship—’

      ‘That’s RINTOUL — eh, the red-coats, lads, lads, losh,’ etc., etc.

      WHAMOND signs silence. Those in front are pushed forward.)

      MAN (in front). Tell them to stop shoving, Tammas.

      WHAMOND. Stand back there!

      (The two Soldiers shove Crowd back.)

      Now, my lord. (To lord rintoul.)

      LORD RINTOUL (reluctantly). My — my friends —

      (Excited murmurs from Crowd.)

      My daughter here and your minister — they have — you know what young people are — they —

      VOICES (from the crowd). Are they to be married?

      LORD RINTOUL (sulkily). Yes, that is it.

      NANNY. And you are willing?

      (LORD RINTOUL looks furiously at CAPTAIN HALLIWELL.)

      HALLIWELL (maliciously). Lord Rintoul is delighted.

      (Joyous shouts from Crowd, LORD RINTOUL is scowling at HALLIWELL, who smiles at him maliciously.)

      JEAN (bursting forward). A ladyship! I’m to be a ladyship’s servant! (Turns to back, calls grandiloquently) Sanders McCormick, are you there?

      VOICE (inside gate from unseen man in Crowd). Ay, I am, Jean!

      JEAN. Then here ‘s my answer now, Sanders. (With a grand wave of her arms) It’s hopeless. (Curtseys to babbie.)

      (Laughter from Crowd.)

      LORD RINTOUL. My daughter asks me to tell you that it was Captain Halliwell who brought this match about. So three cheers for Captain Halliwell!

      (HALLIWELL is furious. The Crowd cheer, HALLIWELL exits furiously at gate, followed by Soldiers and DAVIDSON. The Crowd leaves, cheering and laughing, NANNY goes down to BABBIE, shakes hands.)

      GAVIN. Rob! (He grasps DOW’S hand.)

      DOW. I’M GLAD. I’M GLAD.

      (dow exits through gate.)

      NANNY. I see the whole thing clear now! (To gavin) You kent she was a leddyship all the time!

      (SILVA and ANDREW shake hands with GAVIN.)

      SNECKY (gleaming — to GAVIN). Mr. Dishart, ‘Her Boy Am I.’ whamond. Mr. Dishart. I want to give you your first marriage present, the key of the Manse. (Hands key, shakes hands, and goes to babbie.) I’m Chief Elder.

      (BABBIE kisses him. He stands amazed and then exits through gate, followed by Elders. Exeunt all Weavers.

      GAVIN crosses and unlocks Manse door. He puts hat on seat and he and BABBIE look at LORD RINTOUL and then at each other, BABBIE signs to him to leave it to her. She takes courage by kissing marriage lines and makes GAVIN kiss them. She goes halfway to LORD RINTOUL and stops.)

      BABBIE. Father — (Kneels and puts arms round his neck.)

      Father, I am so sorry this has occurred. I love him so much, father, I really do — but — but — but I love my dear sweet darling father best. What did you say, father?

      LORD RINTOUL (who has so far submitted without gesture). Mr. Dishart, may I go inside — out of this girl’s sight i (As LORD RINTOUL is taking a step toward Manse door, cheering is heard in distance. He grins.)

      Listen to them cheering Halliwell! (Laughing.)

      (The cheering turns into a snatch of the hated song, which dies away.)

      BABBIE (quickly). You HAD THE BEST of IT WITH Dick, AT ALL EVENTS, FATHER! (Laughing.)

      LORD RINTOUL (chuckling). Hadn’t I! (Sternly) You minx! (He has started to go to the door when he turns and looks at her curiously.) Do you understand the seriousness of it?

      (She is serious and can only nod in reply. He is moved and speaks kindly.)

      If you are afraid, child, and he is generous — you can perhaps leave him still.

      BABBIE (going to him and putting hand in his, sweetly). Daddy dear, I am afraid — but I am not so afraid as that.

      LORD RINTOUL (wondering). Not afraid for yourself, Mr. Dishart?

      GAVIN. No, sir.

      LORD RINTOUL. She is — an odd one, you know.

      GAVIN. Yes, I know.

      BABBIE. You do!

      LORD RINTOUL. Both so confident. (He is thinking of their future.) I wonder. (More lightly) Mr. Dishart, if you would just let me bring this about her shoulders for once. I think I might forgive her in time.

      (GAVIN smiles, LORD RINTOUL goes into Manse, GAVIN and BABBIE, who are some distance apart, are arrested in their desire to rush into each other’s arms by a boy-andgirl

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