LITMIR.BIZ

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— honour, you know — he! he! he! but she knew — who was she — she was Miss Margaret — so she pitied him and pretended she was glad to go away. What a joke!

      MARGARET. You DID THIS for HIS SAKE? Paul, DO you SEE?

      PAUL (huskily).! SEE!

      MRS OMMANEY. I want to look at my face. (SIMPERING) So much admired.

      (MARGARET gives her hand mirror.)

      MRS. ommaney (LOOKING AT HERSELF IN IT). What a fright! Who is she? (ADDRESSING HERSELF TO REFLECTION) Oh, my dear, you are on your last legs — it is all UP with you.

      (Pulls PAUL’S arm lovingly beneath her head and lies down.) I am so tired, I want to sleep.

      (PAUL kneels by the side of her and presently signs to MARGARET that she is falling asleep, MARGARET goes on tiptoe to window and looks out.)

      MRS. OMMANEY (muttering). That is Miss Margaret — and she looks such a good one. (Sitting up excitedly) Marriage present — what was it?

      (PAUL induces her to lie down again, MARGARET comes softly to sofa.)

      Pretty ways, all gone, all gone; he hated the life; he didn’t let on but she knew — so sad — (HUMS Margaret’s SONG) — you are on your last legs, it is all UP with you; poor lady, poor soul!

      MARGARET (after a pause). She is asleep.

      (PAUL gently disengages his arm and rises.)

      Paul, do you think he is alive and was cruel to her?

      PAUL (HUSKILY). I don’t think he meant to be cruel.

      (A knock is heard.)

      LADY JANET (calling, unseen). Are you here, Margaret?

      (MARGARET cries ‘ H’sh!’ and runs towards door, meeting LADY JANET.)

      LADY JANET (embracing her). I went to Goody Lindsay’s and she told me you were here. I fear —

      PAUL. H’sh! (Looking only at MRS. OMMANEY.)

      LADY JANET (seeing sleeping figure). Mrs. Ommaney!

      (GROWING HARD.) Which reminds me —

      MARGARET. You will waken her.

      LADY JANET. That won’t distress me. Margaret —

      (PAUL raises his arm to enforce silence, MARGARET whispers to LADY JANET.)

      LADY JANET (surprised). Really!

      (MARGARET whispers again.)

      Bless me! (GOES AND LOOKS AT mrs ommaney.) Well, I have no desire to waken her, but what I have to say must be said. Margaret, this woman has deceived us —

      PAUL (sternly). Not so loud. (He continues looking at MRS.

      OMMANEY.)

      LADY JANET (LOWERING HER VOICE). The woman of this house — she is working at the postoffice —

      MARGARET.! KNOW.

      LADY JANET. She has just told me all about our Mrs. Ommaney. She is not a widow.

      MARGARET. But, auntie, we have begun to suspect that ourselves. Her husband and she —

      LADY JANET. Husband! He was not her husband.

      (PAUL turns and looks at LADY JANET. MARGARET is bewildered.)

      MARGARET. They are not married? It can’t be true.

      LADY JANET. She admitted it herself to Mrs. Geddes.

      MARGARET. Some things she said just now — so strange —

      Paul! (LOOKING AT BEDROOM DOOR) It can’t be true.

      LADY JANET. She does not even make the pretence of wearing a wedding ring.

      (MARGARET LOOKS AT mrs ommaney’s LEFT HAND — THEN SHRINKS BACK.)

      MARGARET. Paul, let us go.

      PAUL. Have you no pity for her now, Margaret?

      MARGARET. No.

      LADY JANET. She has been here before. Can he be a man of these parts? I should like to know.

      PAUL. It is no business of ours.

      MARGARET. Yes, we might compel him to marry her. And, auntie, you can find out. She told me that the locket she is wearing contains his portrait.

      LADY JANET. Aha! (Going towards MRS. OMMANEY.)

      PAUL. You would not —

      LADY JANET. Oh, yes, I would.

      PAUL. Margaret — a sleeping woman!

      LADY JANET (unfastens locket). Now we shall see.

      (PAUL and LADY JANET are on opposite sides of the sleeping figure. MARGARET’S head is bowed and she does not look up. PAUL is staring at LADY JANET who opens locket leisurely. She sees who it is and gazes with horror.)

      MARGARET (without raising head). Do you know him?

      LADY JANET (after looking fiercely at PAUL, slips locket into her pocket). No, I never saw him before.

      MARGARET. Auntie, she can’t stay here. Think of simple Jenny.

      LADY JANET (HARSHLY). I shall see to that.

      PAUL (LOOKING AT HER). I shall see to that.

      LADY JANET. No.

      PAUL (determinedly). Yes.

      LADY JANET (SIGNIFICANTLY). Your part is with your wife. Goodbye, Margaret.

      MARGARET. Paul, take me home.

      (She is now looking with repugnance at MRS. OMMANEY.

      LADY JANET signs to PAUL to go. He shakes his head determinedly. Their voices and actions are very subdued as there is greater reason than ever that they should not waken the sleeper.)

      LADY JANET (yielding). He will see you into the carriage, dear, and then perhaps you won’t mind going home alone. I — I want his advice about what should be done.

      MARGARET (in a low voice). Very well.

      (EXEUNT MARGARET AND PAUL.)

      LADY JANET (IN BURST OF EMOTION). Margaret! My innocent little Margaret! Oh, woman, woman!

      (Enter JENNY from bedroom.)

      JENNY. Miss Marga — (CURTSEYING) My lady!

      LADY JANET. Mrs. Digby has gone. Had you anything to say to her?

      JENNY. Just that baby was sleeping.

      LADY JANET. Ah, I had forgotten. Your mother told me about her. Is she in there?

      JENNY. Yes, my lady! (GOING TOWARDS ENTRANCE.)

      LADY JANET. Stop! Does Mr. Digby know there is a child?

      JENNY. I’m no sure. (EXIT jenny.)

      LADY JANET (TO HERSELF). Does he know?

      (Enter PAUL.)

      PAUL (after they have looked in silence at each other).! DID not DESERT HER. I am NOT SEEKING to DEFEND MYSELF.! HAD PROMISED HER NEVER TO MARRY, BUT! DID not DESERT HER, (LADY JANET is immovable.)

      She will probably be herself again when she wakes, so the girl told Margaret. When she wakes, she will find me here —

      ALONE. We must have it out together, what she means to do. And I must do my duty by her — first by Margaret, but also by her.

      LADY JANET (CONTINUING TO LOOK FIXEDLY AT HIM). Only by those two? Then you do not know!

      PAUL. Know what? You must trust me and leave me alone with her. Take Jenny away also. We must have the house to ourselves.

      LADY JANET. I trust you and I will go — and take Jenny — but there will still be a third person in the house.

      (PAUL

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