foreign tour! Go out for a spin in Central Ameri- Hautree. You'll be wretched and miserable with her. D'Alroy. I'd rather be wretched with her than miserable without her. [HAUTREE sits on edge of table, takes cigar from case. D'Alroy. [gently.] Don't smoke here. Hautree. [tosses cigar into fire, rises.] Ah, my dear fellow, you're suffering from a fit of the morals! D'Alroy. What's that? Hautree. The morals-the morals is a diseaselike the measles! It attacks the young and innocent! D'Alroy. [bitterly.] You talk like Mephistopheles, without his cleverness! [Rises, goes to window. Hautree. [L. front.] Well, I don't pretend to be a particularly good sort of fellow-and I don't pretend to be a particularly bad sort of fellow! I suppose I am about the average standard sort of fellow! But I don't like to let a friend go downbill to the devil, and not try to put the drag on! Here's a girl of very humble station-has a drunken father who won't work and likes to have money, no matter how he gets it. Can't this be arranged somehow or other? D'Alroy. [at window.] Cut that! They are here! Enter, R. 2 E. D., ESTHER, hat and shawl on. Esther. Good evening. Glad to see you! D'Alroy. Good evening! I came before you today. Esther. I see you have. [Comes a little down R., taking off her things, looks over at HAUTREE. D'Alroy. I took the liberty of bringing a friend with me. Allow me to present him. Miss Eccles, the friend of mine, Captain Hautree; Captain, Miss Eccles! [ESTHER and HAUTREE salute. ESTHER goes up L. to hang things on pegs on flat. Hautree. [aside.] Pretty-doocid! Esther. [aside.] Thinks too much of himself! D'Alroy. [up R. c.] Where's Polly? Esther. Oh, she'll not be long. She staid behind to buy something as we came along! Enter, R. 2. E., POLLY, quickly, with ham in paper under arm. Stops suddenly up R. D'Alroy. How late you have been at rehearsal! Polly. Oh, yes, it was that old fool of a stagemanager! stage-managers are all old fools, except when they're young. There was nothing, Esther, and I've brought some ham. D'Alroy. [looking at ESTHER.] I adore her. Polly. You do! Now, I thought you above ham! Hautree. No! Why-ah!-so? Polly. I took you to be equal to tongue! I don't mind Mr. D'Alroy, for he comes here often, and knows our ways. Hautree. [in chair R. of table.] I like anything that is fresh, and clear, and sweet, and pretty. Polly. Now, that's meant for me, I suppose! Thank you! [Sets table, singing. Flourishes last plate to accompanying note of her song, in HAUTREE's face, making him start back and drop his eye-glass.] Esther never does any work when Mr. D'Alroy's here. They're spoons. Ugly word, spoons! Puts me in mind of red currant jam! Love is very like red currant jam, sweet at first, and then t'other! Do you ever spoon? Hautree. I-I should like to at this moment! Polly. I dare say you would! You are too grand for me! You ought to be taken down a peg-I mean a foot! What are you? a corporal? Hautree. A-captain! Polly. Captain! I prefer corporal. I tell you what, we'll change about. You be corporal (it will do you good!) and I'll be "my lady!" Hautree. With pleasure Polly. "My lady!" Mind-or you shan't have any ham! Hautree. Certainly, my lady! I'm very sorry I can't accept your hospitality, but I'm engaged to dinner. Polly. What time? Polly. Half past tea-time! Hautree. Till then, yours to serve Polly. "My lady." Don't you forget that! [Shakes a knife at HAUTREE.] Here, corporal, take the kettle into the back kitchen, and fill it! [Gives kettle from hob to HAUTREE. Hautree. Trises.] It's a nice kettle! [Aghast, is going to take kettle by the spout, then properly, holding it at arm's length. Up c. All laugh. Polly. I'm coming, too. Hautree. [goes up R.] That alters the case. Hautree. My lady? D'Alroy. I beg to present to you, Miss Eccles, Polly. Forward, march! and mind the soot a friend of mine. Miss Eccles, Captain Hautree. don't drop on your trowsers! [Exit HAUTREE Captain Hautree, Miss Mary Eccles! [HAUTREE R. 2 E. Exit POLLY R. 2 E. and POLLY salute, etc. Hautree. Most happy-I am sure-it's a plea sure Polly. [aside, going up R. to hang up her things.] Esther. [smiling.] Why, what about? Esther. [comes down C. and takes chair.] She is all spirits. It makes it so easy to mistake her. D'Alroy. [comes down L.] But it is so easy to find out your mistake! Esther, why won't you let me present you with a piano? Esther. [looking down.] Because I don't want one. Esther. [takes three letters from her pocket.] We may be fond of many things and not have them! [Opens letter.] Here is a gentleman who offers me more than a piano! [Crushes letter. D'Alroy. [quickly.] Mayn't I know his name? Esther. [smiling bitterly.] It would be useless. D'Alroy. I lit that fire, Esther. Esther. Did you? Here, burn these! [Holds out letters.] Oh! Stop! I must keep one. Take the others burn them! D'Alroy. [throws letters into fire; comes to EsTHER'S chair.] Whom-whom is that letter from? Esther. [smiling.] Why do you wish to know? D'Alroy. Because I love you, Esther, and I know that you do not love me. I fear a rival. Esther. You have none. D'Alroy. None? Esther. Not one. D'Alroy. You have so many admirers! holding up her dress.] Oh, you bad! You've upset the water all over my dress! Enter, R. 2 E., HAUTREE with kettle. Hautree. I beg pardon-I'm sure-my lady. [ESTHER and D'ALROY stand apart, then go up L. to sit in window. Polly. Oh, you clumsy corporal! [HAUTREE, L., is about to place kettle on plate on table. Polly. [screams.] Oh, take it off! [HAUTREE, embarrassed, is about to put kettle on mantelpiece. Polly. [as before.] Take it off! Hautree. [places kettle on fire, comes over R.] I'm so sorry, Miss Eccles. Won't you allow me to offer you a new dress? Polly. I won't! You'd be calling to see how it Esther. They are but admirers-there is not a looked on. [Sneeringly.] Thank you! [Takes husband among them! D'Alroy. Not he who wrote that letter? D'Alroy. Then you don't care about me? D'Alroy. Yet you won't let me read it? Esther. [gives letter.] Yes, you may! Esther. [laughing, looking up.] That's tender! D'Alroy. [reads.] "Dear Madame: I accept your terms, four pounds a week, you to find your own dresses, for eight weeks for certain, and longer if you suit. I cannot close the engagement till the return of my partner. I expect him to-day, when I write again. Yours truly, et cetera." Four pounds? Esther. Yes. D'Alroy. Find your own dresses? What does it all mean? Esther. That they want a Columbine for the pantomime at the Manchester theatre, and I hope to get the engagement. D'Alroy. [after a pause.] Ah! Then you will leave London? Esther. Oh, I must. You see this little house is all on my shoulders. Polly only earns thirty shillings a week, and father has been out of work such a very long while. And four pounds is a large sum. D'Alroy. But you will go away—and I will not see you? D'Alroy. No! Esther. For I fear D'Alroy. You love? You love me? Esther. I fear so! We must try to forget. Esther. If I get this engagement I will go today. D'Alroy. To-day! [Passing left arm around her. Esther. Try to forget me. Remember the difference in our station! D'Alroy. That's what Hautree says! Caste! Caste! Esther, let me [About to embrace her. Noise R. U. E. off. Voice of Polly. Look here! [Enters R. 2 E., chair R. C. front.] Haven't you got a handkerchief? Wipe it dry! [HAUTREE kneels L. of POLLY, wipes dress skirt. Enter SAM GERRIDGE, R. 2 E., comes down R. a iittle. Sees POLLY, angrily throws his cap on chest of drawers R. 1 E. Comes down front to POLLY. Sam. I found the door open, Miss Eccles, and so I came up. I fear to intrude. Polly. Oh, no, Mr. Gerridge. Always happy to see you. If you've got a handkerchief, you can help to wipe my dress! Sam. [kneels R. side of POLLY, pulls all the skirt over to him, giving HAUTREE an angry look.] The stain won't come out! Polly. Stuff! It's only water. [Rises-HAUTREE rises, lounges up c. Sam. [angrily, to POLLY.] Who's that swell? Polly. I'll introduce you! Corporal, come here. Allow me. Captain Hautree-Mr. Samuel Gerridge! Mr. Gerridge-Captain Hautree. [SAM bobs his head, vexed. Hautree. [eyeglass in play.] Chawmed, I'm sure! Aside to D'ALROY.] Who is he, George? D'Alroy. Polly's sweetheart. [Rises. Hautree. Ah! [Move R.] Well, as I don't see that I can be of any further use, I-George, are you going? D'Alroy. Leave Esther-Miss Eccles-No! Hautree. In that case I-a-[salutes ESTHER]take my leave. Good-by, George! [To POLLY.] Good-by, my lady. Polly. Good-by, corporal! Hautree. [to SAM.] Good-day, Mr. Mr.-pardon me. [R. 2 E. Ger-ridge-sir! [Exlt R. 2 E. Sam. [to POLLY, savagely, R. front.] Who's that fool of a long swell? Sam. [fiercely.] Gerridge, sir! Good day! Polly. [tartly.] I told you-a friend of Mr. D'Alroy's. Sam. Weren't one enough? Polly. What do you mean? Sam. For the neighbors to talk about! Who does he come after? [ESTHER comes down L. Polly. [angrily.] "After?" What do you mean by "after," I should like to know? Sam. The long fool of a swell doesn't come here for any good. Polly. You're forgetting yourself! Sam. No, I'm not. I'm remembering you! What does such a swell, dressed up to the nines, want with two girls like you? Polly. Sam! Sam. I mean what I say! Everybody should stick to their class. Life's a railway journey, and all mankind is divided into first, second, and third class. "Any person found in a superior class to that for which he has taken his ticket, will be removed at the first station, according to the bylaws of the company." Polly. You're putting on nice airs! What's it to you who comes here? I'm an artiste-a professional! You're only a mechanic! Sam. Well, I am a mechanic! Pay's pay all the world over. I ain't ashamed of my paper cap. Polly. I don't see why you should be. I dare say the captain is not ashamed of his fourteen-andnine-penny gossamer! Sam. You think a lot of him because he is a captain. Why did he call you "my lady "? Polly. Because he treated me like one! I wish that you would make the same mistake. Ugh! Esther. [aside to D'ALROY.] But you should listen to reason! D'Alroy. [aside to ESTHER.] I hate reason! It's everything disagreeable. Sam. [to POLLY.] What will the neighbors say? Polly. What they like. Sam. What will they think? Polly. They can't think! Like you, they haven't been educated up to it! Sam. This all comes of your being on the stage! Polly. It comes of your not understanding the stage, or anything else but your nasty putty. Now if you were a real gentleman Sam. Of course I should make up to a lady! Polly. Ugh! [Flounces up R. C. Sam. Bah! [Goes up R. C. They turn, face each other, and come down. Keep up the quarrel. D'Alroy. [to ESTHER, looking at letter.] Two and two is four, and eight is twelve-and eight is twenty-that's reason Sam. [R. front.] You paint your cheeks! Polly. [R. C. front.] Rather paint my cheeks than nasty old doors, like you! You're not a professional! When a gentleman speaks to you, you touch your cap, and say, "yes, sir," because he is your superior. D'Alroy. [to ESTHER.] When people are in love, there's no such thing as money! Esther. Oh, yes, there is. D'Alroy. [same.] Then there oughtn't to be! Polly. [to SAM.] Professionals wear cloth coats, and not fustian jackets. What do you know of art? You're not a professional, I say. Sam. I won't stop here to get insulted! [Gets his cap, R. [Rocks on her feet. Polly. Don't! Sam. I shan't come here again. Good-by, Miss Eccles. Polly. Good-by, Mr. Gerridge. Sam. [pulls on his cap, flies out R. 2 E., fiercely. A pause. He re-enters.] I shan't come again! Polly. I wouldn't! [Goes up P. C. Sum. You can go to your captain! Polly. And you to your putty! Sam. [comes down R. a little.] I will go! Polly. [locks R. 2 E. D.] No! you shan't go, now! I'll show you my power! Sam. [sternly.] Miss Eccles, let me go! Polly. Mr. Gerridge-no! [Knocks R. U. E. off. Sam. There! you must open the door-it's the postman. Polly. [to window.] No, I needn't! [Lifts window.] Here, postman, this way. [Gets letter at window.] Oh, thank you! It's for you, Esther! Esther. [rises.] For me? [Takes letter, L. C. front.] From Manchester. [Opens it.] D'Alroy. Manchester? Esther. Yes. I've got the engagement. Four pounds! D'Alroy. [suddenly.] Esther, you shan't go! Stay with me, and be my wife! Esther. Your wife! [About to fall into his arms.] What will the world-your world, say? D'Alroy. Damn the world! [Embraces her.] You are my world! Stay with your husband, Mrs. D'Alroy! Sam. [to POLLY.] Miss Eccles, let me out! Polly. [back to R. 2 E. D., tantalizes SAM with key.] Shan't-shan't-shan't-shan't-shan'tshan't! [SAM to window c. in F., leaps out. Polly. Oh, Sam, Sam! dear Sam! You'll break your neck! [To window. Sam. [looks through rails, laughs.] Aah! [Latch of R. 2. E. shaken. Then knock on it. ESTHER starts from D'ALROY's arms, shudders, goes up to get key of POLLY, crosses to R. 2 E., pauses, unlocks door, then across to table L. Enter ECCLES R. 2. F., drunk, hat on back of head, etc., staggers down R. to chest of drawers at 1 E., looks around "mooning.” ACT II Interior fashionable Lodgings. ESTHER and D'ALROY discovered. ESTHER Seated R. of table L. front. Esther. You seem in low spirits, George? D'Alroy. Oh, no, there's nothing at all ails me, dear. [Seated L. of table. Esther. You are very silent, then. Why don't you talk? D'Alroy. [starts.] My dear, I can't be talking about nothing. Esther. You used to do it before we were married! D'Alroy. Oh, thank you! No! I used to talk about you, and my love for you. Esther. How long have we been married? Six months? It's like a dream. D'Alroy. A jolly dream. Don't let's wake up from it. [Aside.] However shall I tell her? Esther. I was only thinking. And I was twentytwo years old before I knew you. D'Alroy. You must have been some age. Esther. Two-and-twenty years. It does seem such an awful waste of time! D'Alroy. So it was, dearest. Esther. You remember when you first met me, I was in the ballet. D'Alroy. And now you are in the "heavies." Esther. I was in the front rank, then; now I am of high rank. Tell me, George, are you really proud of your poor little humble wife? D'Alroy. Can you ask? Proud as the winner of the Derby! Esther. It is so strange. And I am one of the aristocracy? D'Alroy. [smiling.] Why, I believe we may so consider ourselves. Esther. But wouldn't you rather have had me one of the real ladies? D'Alroy. You are a lady-you are Mrs. D'Alroy. had known I was going to be so happy, I would Esther. Daughter-in-law of so great a lady as have sold out the day I was married. [Rattle of your mother the marchioness. Oh, I quite tremble wheels off R.-To window, R. 1 E.] Hautree in a to think of meeting her! hansom! He has come for me to go to barracks. [Knock R. D. in F. ESTHER comes slowly down. Enter HAUTREE, R. D. in F. D'Alroy. [aside.] So do I. Luckily she is in Rome. Esther. George, do you know I'd like to be married all over again! D'Alroy. Not to anybody else, I hope? Esther. Do you remember when you first saw me? Esther. At Covent Garden- [Goes to piano. Esther. [at piano.] In the ballet called "Jeanne D'Alroy. How did you learn to play the piano, Esther. I taught myself. So did Polly Esther. Oh, I've told you so often! D'Alroy. Tell me again! Come along. I'm like the children. I like to hear about things that I know already. Esther. [turns to face D'ALROY.] Mother died when I was very young. Polly was little, and I had to be Polly's mother. There was a foreign gentleman who lodged in our house, and he took a fancy to me. He asked me once if I wouldn't like to learn music and to dance. But I had to tell him that father couldn't afford it. But he said I had the "vair same eyes and face and figure of a leetle ladie vat he knew in a far-off coontrie, so good a way off." So he taught me and Polly, and got us an engagement. D'Alroy. [laughs.] That man must have been a great brick. I should like to ask him to dinner. What became of him? Esther. I do not know. He left England. [D'ALROY starts, sighs, rises.] You are restless, George; what is the matter? D'Alroy. Nothing, nothing. Esther. [rises.] Are you going out? D'Alroy. Ye-es! That's why I dined so early. Esther. Going to the barracks, George? D'Alroy. Yes, dear. You know when a man's in the service, he must go on duty whenever he is ordered--and wherever he is ordered. [Aside, going R.] Confound the service! Esther. [L. front.] George, dear, go out to your club-if you wish to go. Don't let me detain you. I don't know why it is, but there has been a change come over me these last few days. Sometimes I am full of tears-for no reason! Sometimes I am very happy-for no reason! I do not fret as I used when I was left to myself. When you are late in coming, I don't watch at the window so impatiently as of old. Not that I love you less, darling! [At c. leans her hands on D'ALROY's left arm, bent across his breast.] No, no, no! for I love you even more. But so it is when you are away, I do not now feel as if by myself alone! [Goes up L. side. D'Alroy. [crosses to R. front, returns to c. Aside.] What angels women are! At least this one is, and I forget all the rest, seeing her! If I D'Alroy. [aside.] I must tell her! Oh, Hautree! Hautree. Haven't you told her yet? [Salutes ESTHER. D'Alroy. No! You know what a coward I am! You tell her! Hautree. Not for worlds. I have had my own adieux to make. [ESTHER plays march on piano, softly, until she rises, as follows. D'Alroy. To Lady Florence? How did she take it? Hautree. [R. front.] Very well. Hautree. No! D'Alroy. Exhibit any emotion whatever? D'Alroy. Did you not kiss her? Hautree. No. Lady Carberry was in the room. D'Alroy. And not say anything? Hautree. No! [Pause.] Except that she hoped to see me soon back again, and that she had heard India was a bad climate! D'Alroy. [smiling.] Ah! it seems to have been a very tragical parting! Almost as much so as parting your back hair. Hautree. Ah, you see Lady Florence is not the sort of person to make a scene. D'Alroy. To be sure, she is not your wife. I only wish Esther were half as cool and comfortable-no, no, I don't, either. [DIXON opens R. D. in F., bringing in decanter to table up c.-D'ALROY turns.] Dixon, lay out Dixon. [quickly.] I have laid them all out, sir; everything is ready. D'Alroy. Very well. [To HAUTREE.] I must tell her, mustn't I? Hautree. Suppose you send for her sister? D'Alroy. Good! I'll bid Dixon to take a cab and go for her at once. [Up C. to converse with DIXON. Aloud.] Drive like a cornet going to join! [Exit DIXON R. D. in F. HAUTREE to L. Esther. [to HAUTREE.] Is it you, Captain, who Polly. [embracing ESTHER.] I? No! Polly. [holds up her hands.] Bless you, my brother! George, come and kiss your mother! [Lets D'ALROY kiss her.] That's what I call an honorable brother-in-law's kiss! Am I in the way? Esther. [offended.] No! D'Alroy. Not at all! Very glad to see you just now! Hautree. [crosses to R. front. Aside.] Under ordinary circumstances, not very eligible people! D'Alroy. Caste again. [Aloud.] I will be back directly. [Exit R. D. ESTHER to piano, plays. Hautree. Well, Mrs. D'Alroy. [Hand out. Esther. Going away, captain? Hautree. Ya-as. Marquise. Quite, I thank you. Do you see the Carberry's now? [HAUTREE nods, going up L. Marquise. Please to remember me to Lady Carberry and Lady Florence. [Takes seat, front. D'Alroy. [c. front to HAUTREE.] Going? Hautree. Yes, George, I'll be at the door for you at seven. We must be at barracks by quarter. Polly. Oh, my! Corporal! Do I frighten you [Salutes the MARQUISE. Aside at R. D. in F.] away? Hautree. Ah! no! Polly. Yes, I do! I frighten you, I'm so ugly! You-you frighten me! Hautree. How-a so? Polly. Because you are so handsome! Particularly in those new clothes! For all the world like an inspector of police. Hautree. [sword clanks. Aside.] This is a wild sort of thing! Polly. Oh, are you going to kill somebody today, corporal, that you have got your sword on? Hautree. No! Polly. I thought not! Any news, corporal? Polly. They're bringing out a new piece at our theatre. Hautree. What's it about? Polly. Don't know! Had him there! Enter D'ALROY, R. D. in F., in full uniform except hat. Puts sword on chair up L. Poor dayvil! this comes of marrying beneath him. [Exit R. D. in F. Marquise. I'm not sorry that he has gone. I wish to be with you alone. I'm surprised that a woman of such good birth as Lady Carberry should encourage Captain Hautree as a suitor to her daughter Florence. The countess is one of the old Carberrys; not the Norfolk Carberrys, but the Hampshires-the direct line. [Makes a sign to D'ALROY. D'ALROY brings footstool to her. Marquise. Sit down, my dear, sit down. [D'ALROY sits on stool at her feet. Marquise. A parvenu! One could tell that by his affected languor and his swagger. My boy would never be like him. The source of our lifestream is roy. On the mother's side, you, George D'Alroy, are Plantagenet. But Captain Hautree's grandfather was in trade-something in the city -soap, I think! or perhaps pickles! D'Alroy. How is the Marquis? Marquise. Paralyzed! I left him at Spa with three physicians! He always is paralyzed at this time of the year. It is in the family--not personal, but hereditary. I came over to see the stewards, who came to town last night. Polly. [claps her hands.] Oh! what a pretty brother-in-law! Why don't you gallop in on horseback like they do at Astley's? Humph! [for "shoulder arms," as English officers contract it. D'Alroy. And how did you find me here? Sings.] "With his sabre on his brow, and his Marquise. I sent the footman to the barracks to helmet by his side," etc. [Takes her parasol for inquire. He met your man Dixon, and he told sword, pretends to be in a basket horse, prances up him everything. [Abruptly.] You are looking and down L. sidewise.] Soldiers of France! the well! And so you are going for the first time on eyes of Europe are a-looking at you! The Em-active service? peror has confidence in you, and expects that D'Alroy. [aside.] They hear every word in the every man will do his utmost! The enemy is be- next room! If Esther had only gone up-stairs! fore you! worse luck! Your comrades are behind Marquise. Before you go, I have some advice you all the better for them! Go and get killed to give you, my son. And you must not despise for France and glory, and to those who escape, it, because it comes from an old woman. the Emperor will give a little bit of ribbon! Right wheel, about! Forward-gallop! Tantara-taratara! [Charges HAUTREE with parasol.] Charge! [All laugh. Rattle of wheels off R. D'Alroy. [to R. 1. E. window.] A carriage! Good heavens! My mother!. [Goes up R. Hautree. [to R. 1 E. window.] The marchioness! Polly. [crosses to R. 1 E. window.] The marchioness! Let me see her! Never saw a real live marchioness! Esther. [frightened.] Oh, let us go into the bed- D'Alroy. My dear mother! Hautree. Ya-as. We old women know a great deal more than some people give us credit for. You are a soldier! So was your father-so was his father-so was mine. So was our royal founder. We are born to lead. The common people expect it of us! It is our duty! Do you remember, in the Chronicles of Froissart-I think I could quote it word for word— I have a wonderful memory for my age, I can recall the very page-it was the fifty-ninth chapter -how Godefroi D'Alroy kept the town of St. Allons from the forces of France? [D'ALROY shows uneasiness. Marquise. They were going to give up the town to the besiegers, when a captain, named Godefroi D'Alroy, stood up and said: "Do as ye wold, but for one I wold not depart! I received order of my prince to keep this gate, and this gate I will keep to the outrance!" With that the soldiers cheered. Then began a fierce assault, and they fought the foe from street to street till the coming of the Earl of Hainault with twelve thousand men. D'Alroy. [aside.] I wish she'd go! When she gets on Froissart one never knows where she'll stop. Marquise. Not that I doubt that when my boy fights for he will fight out there!-he will distinguish himself. It is his nature. Against those |