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Title: Whiteoaks. A Play.
Author: de la Roche, Mazo (1879-1961)
Date of first publication: 1936
Edition used as base for this ebook:
   London: Macmillan, 1936
   [first edition]
Date first posted: 29 September 2013
Date last updated: 29 September 2013
Project Gutenberg Canada ebook #1115

This ebook was produced by: Joke Van Dorst
& the Online Distributed Proofreading Canada Team
at http://www.pgdpcanada.net






WHITEOAKS




MACMILLAN AND CO., LIMITED


LONDON * BOMBAY * CALCUTTA * MADRAS

MELBOURNE


THE MACMILLAN COMPANY

NEW YORK * BOSTON * CHICAGO

DALLAS * ATLANTA * SAN FRANCISCO



THE MACMILLAN COMPANY

OF CANADA, LIMITED

TORONTO




WHITEOAKS

A PLAY

BY

MAZO DE LA ROCHE




MACMILLAN AND CO., LIMITED

ST. MARTIN'S STREET, LONDON

1936




COPYRIGHT


PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN

BY R. & R. CLARK, LIMITED, EDINBURGH




CHARACTERS


ADELINE WHITEOAK, _a Centenarian._

AUNT AUGUSTA, _Lady Buckley_ }

UNCLE NICHOLAS               } _her children._

UNCLE ERNEST                 }

RENNY   } _children of her dead son, Philip, by his_

MEG     } _first wife._

PIERS        } _the children of Philip by his_

FINCH        } _second wife._

WAKEFIELD    }

PHEASANT, _wife of Piers._

MR. PATTON, _a solicitor._

NIP, _Nicholas' terrier._

BONEY, _Adeline's parrot._

MERLIN, _Renny's spaniel._


    A Play in Three Acts. Action takes place in the house of the
    Whiteoaks.


_Whiteoaks_ was first produced at the Little Theatre in London on April
13th, 1936. The cast of the play was as follows:

ADELINE WHITEOAK Nancy Price

AUGUSTA, LADY BUCKLEY Jane Savile

NICHOLAS Aubrey Dexter

ERNEST Frank Birch

MEG Elizabeth Maude

RENNY Robert Newton

PIERS Ellis Irving

FINCH Stephen Haggard

WAKEFIELD Tony Wickham

PHEASANT Jill Furse

MR. PATTON John Garside




ACT I


SCENE I

_The curtain rises on the Whiteoaks' living-room, large, old-fashioned,
and well-furnished in a rather heavy style; the window curtains drawn.
Prominently placed are two oil paintings. One is of an officer in the
uniform of a Captain of a British regiment in India of the period 1850.
The other is a handsome young auburn-haired woman in low-cut evening
dress of the same time. On the sideboard stands a good deal of massive
silver. The long table is laid for supper--more substantial than
digestible. Around it are seated seven members of the Whiteoak family._

_At one end is_ RENNY, _a tall, thin man just under forty, red-haired,
weather-beaten, with the air of a man who is much in the saddle. He is
dressed in well-cut riding clothes. He is attended by his spaniel
Merlin. Next him is_ WAKEFIELD, _a dark, slender, nervous child of
eleven. Beside him is_ FINCH, _a lanky youth of eighteen, very sensitive
and nervy. He is dressed in a tweed suit which he has outgrown. A lock
of hair dangles limply over his forehead. Next him is a vacant chair and
beyond it sits_ PIERS, _twenty-two, well-built, rather aggressive, a
look of the out-doors about him. He also wears tweeds which, though
well-worn, fit him admirably. At the foot of the table_ AUGUSTA,
_seventy-five, presides over an enormous silver teapot. She is a
well-preserved woman with dark hair, suggesting a dye, worn high with a
Queen Alexandra fringe. Her complexion is sallow. Her face, in repose,
wears rather an offended expression. When she smiles it is kindly. She
wears an elaborate, stuffy afternoon dress, with a good deal of trimming
about it, and a long gold chain. She carries a "chatelaine" on which
are certain keys. On the other side of the table sit her two brothers,_
NICHOLAS _and_ ERNEST. _The former is seventy-four, a heavy, untidy old
man, with a drooping moustache and a crest of iron-grey hair. The latter
is seventy-two, slender, gentle in his manner and speech, but with an
inner arrogance._

RENNY (_after helping_ FINCH _to souffl_). More of the souffl, Aunt
Augusta?

LADY B. No, thank you, my dear. I really should not have eaten as much
as I have. Cheese at night is not very digestible for a woman of my age.

ERNEST. You show your good sense, as always, Augusta.

RENNY (_after listening deferentially, his eyes on her face, turns to_
NICHOLAS). Another helping, Uncle Nick?

PIERS. Yes, do have another helping, Uncle Nick.

NICHOLAS (_wiping his drooping grey moustache with an immense table
napkin_). Not another bite. But I should like another cup of tea,
Augusta, if you've any in the pot.

RENNY (_to_ ERNEST). Uncle Ernest, more of this cheese stuff?

ERNEST (_waving dish aside, he rises and crosses to fire_). My dear boy,
no! I should not have touched it at all. I wish we might not have these
hot dishes for supper. I am tempted. Then I suffer.

NICHOLAS. And all the family suffers with you!

RENNY (_to_ PIERS). Piers?

PIERS (_rising--with a teasing look at_ FINCH). I shouldn't mind
another spoonful, if it will leave plenty for Finch.

WAKEFIELD. Me too! I'd like some more!

LADY B. (_pouring out_ NICHOLAS' _tea_). I forbid it. You are too young
a boy to eat cheese at night.

WAKEFIELD. Well, who is the right age?

PIERS. I am. (_Taking the dish._)

NICHOLAS. You are too old a woman, Augusta, to swill down a potful of
tea at this hour.

ERNEST. My mother is over a hundred and still drinks it in unlimited
quantities.

NICHOLAS (_rising_). What do you say, Renny, to opening a bottle of
something decent to celebrate the prowess of our nags?

PIERS. That's a good idea.

RENNY (_spreading mustard on his cold beef_). Righto!

WAKEFIELD. I wish I had been at the Horse Show.

    (PIERS _has helped himself to more of the souffl and now pushes the
    dish to_ FINCH, _who, grasping it in one bony hand, savagely scrapes
    it clean with a massive silver spoon._)

WAKEFIELD (_patronisingly_). There's a little stuck on
there--(_pointing_)--just by the handle.

    (FINCH_ desists from his scraping long enough to hit him a smart
    blow on the knuckles with the spoon._)

FINCH. When I want your help I'll ask it.

WAKEFIELD (_loudly_). Ouch!

PIERS. Go to it!

ERNEST. Tck--tck--this is no way to behave during a meal.

NICHOLAS. Boys!

PIERS. Better rough than namby-pamby.

LADY B. Wakefield, you may leave the table.

WAKEFIELD. Oh, please, no!

RENNY (_shooting an annoyed glance down the table_). Don't send the kid
away, Aunt. He couldn't help squeaking. If anyone goes it will be Finch.

NICHOLAS. He screams if Finch looks in his direction.

PIERS. Then let Finch look in another direction.

NICHOLAS. What do you say, Renny, to a bottle?

PIERS. Yes, yes, let's have something to drink.

ERNEST. Remember, Nick, that Renny is in the high jumping to-morrow. He
needs a cool head.

RENNY. Are you afraid that a glass of wine will make my head hot?

WAKEFIELD (_bouncing on his chair_). Let me go to the cellar! Please,
Renny. I love the cellar.

RENNY. Shut up. (_Key in hand._) What do you suggest, Uncle Nick?

NICHOLAS. A couple of quarts of Chianti.

ERNEST. I like a good liqueur.

RENNY. Piers?

PIERS (_chanting_). Rum, rum, a bottle of rum!

NICHOLAS. What have you got?

RENNY. There's not much. A keg of ale and the port. A few bottles of
Burke's Jamaica and some sloe gin. And whisky, of course.

ERNEST. How different from the old days!

NICHOLAS (_sardonically_). Yet he calls that a wine cellar!

ERNEST. It's a travesty.

RENNY (_testily_). Well, it's always _been_ called the wine cellar.

PIERS. There's rum, rum--a bottle of rum!

ERNEST. I thought we had some French Vermouth.

NICHOLAS (_curtly_). That is up in my room. A little rum and water, with
a touch of lemon juice, will suit me, Renny.

PIERS. Now we're all of one mind. As usual.

RENNY. Aunt?

LADY B. A glass of port, my dear.

    (RENNY _moves in the direction of the hall. In passing_ WAKEFIELD'S
    _chair, catches him by the arm and takes him along, as though he
    were a parcel._)

NICHOLAS. I wonder what Renny will dig up.

PIERS. The best in the cellar. Nothing makes him so generous as a good
day at the show.

LADY B. I am so glad his horses did well.

NICHOLAS. I should certainly have gone if it hadn't been for my gout. I
suppose Renny was in his best form, eh?

FINCH. He was splendid! He and the mare were like one body. (_Becoming
eager._) They thundered over the turf and rose at the gates as though
they had wings. I was so excited I got up from my seat and went right up
close.

PIERS. Renny told me he saw you as he passed.

FINCH (_delighted_). Did he?

PIERS. Yes. He said you looked like the village idiot with your mouth
open and your eyes goggling.

FINCH (_subsiding_). Oh....

LADY B. (_disapprovingly, to_ PIERS). Your wife was thoroughly chilled
when she got home.

PIERS. She did pretty well, riding in two events and carrying off a blue
ribbon.

ERNEST. Isn't she going to have any supper?

PIERS. She's giving the kid his.

NICHOLAS. And none too soon. He screamed for an hour before she arrived.

PIERS. He's got lungs like a brass band, that youngster.

    (RENNY, _a bottle in either hand, enters followed by_ WAKEFIELD _who
    carries a lighted candle at a precarious angle. The faces about the
    table brighten. A tonic gaiety is in the air._)

RENNY. Here you are, Burke's Jamaica! (_Dusting the bottle of port and
setting it down in front of_ LADY B.) There, Aunt. The corkscrew, Wake,
and blow out that candle.

    (WAKEFIELD _obeys with alacrity._)

RENNY. Uncle Nick--Burke's Jamaica. (_Giving him the bottle._) Get me
some glasses.

    (PHEASANT _now enters. She is nineteen, very slender and childlike.
    She is dressed in riding shirt and breeches and her brown hair is
    worn short. She goes straight to the empty chair beside_ PIERS. _A
    bowl of bread and milk awaits her and she attacks it hungrily._
    PIERS _gives her an amused yet tender smile. He strokes her neck
    with his strong sunburnt hand._)

PHEASANT. Hello, everybody. Good. (_Smiling at the faces about._) My
bread and milk is still hot. Sorry I'm so late.

PIERS. How you can like such pap beats me.

PHEASANT. I was brought up on it. Besides, it's frightfully good for the
infant.

NICHOLAS. Put a little rum in it. It would be good for your infant, too.
Help to make him a gentleman and a Whiteoak.

PHEASANT. I'll not encourage my offspring in a taste for rum.

RENNY. Look here, my girl. You must either give up riding in horse shows
or having babies. They don't fit.

PHEASANT. But I've just begun both in the last year and they're equally
fascinating. And Piers likes me to do both. Don't you, darling?

FINCH. Quote someone besides Piers for a change.

PHEASANT. But how can I? He's the only husband I've got.

RENNY. Lord, how those horses jumped! Cora's a grand mare. She's got a
heart of gold and a hide like satin.

PIERS (_going to_ NICHOLAS). You think of nothing but show
horses--always show horses. Let me help you, Uncle Nicholas. You dream
of nothing but high jumpers with hides like satin.

RENNY. I can think of worse bedfellows.

    (_Laughter follows this remark, and then a vigorous thumping comes
    from old_ ADELINE'S _room._)

LADY B. There now! You've waked her! I knew you would.

RENNY. I wish she would come out and have a glass of port.

NICHOLAS. It's very bad for her to be disturbed like this at her age.

LADY B. (_without flurry_). Wakefield. Go to my mother's room. Open the
door quietly and say: "There is nothing wrong, Grandmama. Please compose
yourself."

WAKEFIELD. Righto!

    (WAKEFIELD _goes out, solemn with the weight of his importance._)

LADY B. I do hope she will go to sleep quietly again.

ERNEST. Perhaps I should have gone to her.

NICHOLAS (_jealously_). Why you rather than I?

ERNEST. I can often quiet her.

PIERS. It is I who can quiet her. She always says that I am the image
of Grandfather.

PHEASANT (_looking from the painting of Captain Whiteoak to_ PIERS). And
so you are! Bold blue eyes--stubborn mouth.

FINCH. Love-birds!

    (PIERS _rises and looks at portrait. He raises his glass to the
    figure of Captain Whiteoak._)

PIERS. Here's to us two, Grandad! (_Drinks._)

RENNY. Yes, you are like him.

    (PIERS _crosses to_ RENNY'S _chair._)

PIERS. The very spit of him, if you ask me.

NICHOLAS. There is a physical resemblance, but it stops there. Our
father had a dignity--a distinction...

ERNEST. Still, there's no denying the resemblance.

FINCH. I wish I looked like Grandad!

    (_Everybody laughs, and to this accompaniment_ ADELINE _enters._)

RENNY. Hello, Gran!

    (_Leaning heavily on_ WAKEFIELD'S _shoulder on one side and an ebony
    stick on the other, old_ ADELINE _now stands in the doorway of the
    living-room and casts an authoritative look over her descendants
    gathered there. She wears a richly-coloured dressing-gown and a
    night-cap which has got askew._)

    (RENNY _and_ PIERS _rise to meet her._ ERNEST _and_ WAKEFIELD _take
    her to a chair by the fire._)

ADELINE. I heard you. You have been having one of your nice suppers, and
without me. I don't like being kept out of things. I don't like it!

    (_Moving truculently to her chair._)

ERNEST. Mama, Mama! This is very bad for you.

WAKEFIELD. I got her out of bed by myself.

LADY B. You are a very naughty boy.

ADELINE. What for, what for? Getting me up? Don't you want me here?

NICHOLAS. She's a marvel!

ADELINE. What's that? What's that you're saying about me?

ERNEST. We were saying, Mama, how wonderful you are.

ADELINE. Where's my teeth? Somebody get my teeth. I can't talk without
them.

LADY B. Will one of you please get them for her?

RENNY. You get them, Wake.

    (WAKEFIELD _blithely fetches the teeth from her bedroom in a
    tumbler._)

ADELINE. And don't you drop them.

LADY B. Be careful, be careful.

NICHOLAS. If he breaks those teeth!

ERNEST. He should never have been allowed to fetch them.

WAKEFIELD (_rattling teeth in tumbler_). Here, Grannie!

ADELINE (_putting teeth into place_). Ha! That's better.

RENNY. Hungry, Gran?

ADELINE. Yes, I am--I am hungry.

ERNEST. No, no, no. She's not hungry. No, no! She had a large bowl of
cornflakes and puffed rice before she went to bed.

ADELINE (_turning her hawk-like face on him_).
Cornflakes--cornflakes--silly leaves.... Puffed rice--silly seeds....
Leaves and seeds--fit food for a silly canary. (_She drops her chin to
her breast and growls out the words._) I want nourishment....

RENNY. Give her something to eat.

ERNEST. Let it be something light.

WAKEFIELD. Biscuits, my Grandmother?

    (WAKEFIELD _tenders a plate of biscuits in her direction. With a
    savage look she pokes it away with her stick._)

ADELINE. No! I want real food.

RENNY. Gran, you're a wonder!

ADELINE. Yes, and I know what I want. I want food. What is that in the
silver dish?

ERNEST. A cheese souffl, Mama. Most indigestible.

NICHOLAS. Gives you awful dreams.

ADELINE. I want some. I've always liked cheese.

WAKEFIELD (_going to_ ADELINE). It's all gone, my Grandmother. Finch
scraped the dish.

ADELINE (_with chagrin_). He did! The young ruffian! Left nothing for
me! I love cheese. I love the very names of cheese. Roquefort! Cheddar!
Limburger! Camembert! Stilton! Gorgonzola! Isn't there the least little
bit in the dish?

WAKEFIELD (_showing her the dish_). It is scraped quite clean, my
Grandmother.

ADELINE. So it is scraped quite clean. Now those old Trappist monks in
Quebec, they make a very good cheese. I could do with a piece of it.

RENNY. Try the cold beef, Gran.

ADELINE. Is it underdone?

RENNY. Yes, juicy underdone beef!

PIERS. Raw as Finch!

ADELINE. Good! Someone draw my chair to the table. Ha! Here we go!

ERNEST. Do be careful, Mama!

ADELINE. Careful be damned!

    (PIERS _and_ ERNEST _draw her chair to the table. She takes a napkin
    and tucks it under her chin with a jaunty air._)

RENNY (_passing a plate to her_). There you are, Gran! Good roast beef
of Old England.

ADELINE. Made in Canada!

    (LADY B. _moves behind_ ADELINE. PIERS _supplies her with mustard
    and_ LADY B. _pours her out a cup of tea. She attacks the food with
    gusto._)

ERNEST. It's time we ate in the dining-room again like civilised beings.

ADELINE. Not while I'm alive. I like you all to be quite close to me.
Comforts me to have you near. Ha! I couldn't hear what you were all
talking about if you ate in the dining-room. I like to hear you
gossiping, my dears, it amuses me--gives me something to think about.

ERNEST (_sternly in a low voice to_ WAKEFIELD). Never again must you
attempt to get my mother up from her bed by yourself.

WAKEFIELD. But she wanted to come so badly.

LADY B. It might have brought on a stroke.

ADELINE (_her mouth full_). What's that you say about me? What's that
about a stroke?

LADY B. I was telling Wakefield that he must never again attempt to get
you up without assistance.

ERNEST. He's a wicked young rascal.

NICHOLAS. Utterly spoilt.

ADELINE. I like him! (_Puts out a long arm and hugs_ WAKEFIELD _to
her._) We did have a time getting me up, great fun. Heave ho, I said.

WAKEFIELD. I said, "Shall I fetch Renny?"

ADELINE. Yes! And I said, "No, no, no, no, he'd put me back in bed.
Cover me up, the rascal." I know him. (_She grins at_ RENNY.)

RENNY (_grinning back_). Right you are, old girl. We understand each
other.

ADELINE. I said we must be quick or one of my brood will be in to stop
us. Ernest will come whining.

ERNEST (_reproachfully_). Mama!

ADELINE. Or Nick mumbling----

NICHOLAS. Ha!

ADELINE. Or Augusta, disapproving, and rearing up her head.

LADY B. Really!

WAKEFIELD. I said, "What about creeping, Gran?"

    (ADELINE _casts a look of mingled fury and delight on her
    descendants._)

ADELINE. He did! He suggested that I should creep! (_She thrusts him
from her._) Creep indeed! One of my family creep! I'm a Court, let me
tell you--a Court never creeps or crawls, even before his Maker! Let
cowards creep!--Snails creep!--Slugs creep!--Snakes creep. (_She looks
about her rather wildly._) What was I saying?

WAKEFIELD. You were saying all the things you'd let creep, Grannie.
You'd just got to snakes!

ADELINE (_calmer and much pleased with herself_). Yes, I had. I've
killed more than one myself. Great puff adders as big as your arm. I
remember one big fellow that had a frog in his gullet. I hit him on the
neck and made him spew out the frog. What do you think of that? Ah,
great days, great days! My son Philip was alive then. The father of all
you boys (_a gesture embracing her grandsons)._ I think I'll have a
glass of port. I'd like it in one of the old Waterford glasses. Fetch
one from the sideboard, Pheasant.

LADY B. Do you think you should drink port at this hour, Mama?

NICHOLAS. Shocking!

ADELINE. Fetch the glass, Pheasant. How nice you look in your breeches.

    (PHEASANT, _with a half-timid glance at_ LADY B., _gets a glass from
    the sideboard._)

ADELINE. I like 'em. I like the way they hold the light (_holding up the
glass_). Brought them over in a sailing vessel. Most of 'em got smashed.
Lord, how we rolled about! Great days, ha! So you like the glasses, eh?

PHEASANT. Oh, I love them!

ADELINE. Good. I'll leave them to you.

PHEASANT. How wonderful!

PIERS. Don't forget that, Gran!

ADELINE. There's something missing. Hm! What is it I want? I know--Boney
... it's Boney ... Fetch him.

RENNY. Yes, let's have him.

WAKEFIELD. Please let me bring him?

ADELINE. No! No! Finch bring him.

FINCH (_springing up, pushes_ WAKEFIELD _away_). You stay where you are.

WAKEFIELD. But I want----

FINCH. I'm going to bring him.

ADELINE. And carry him carefully lest he falls off the perch. He's not
as young as he was.

     (FINCH _brings the cage._ ADELINE_ eagerly extends her hand toward
     the bird._)

ADELINE. Hey, Boney? Put him down here, Finch, close beside me. Ah!
He's sleepy ... feathers all ruffled up ... we're two old birds. Two
old birds.

    (_She peers up into_ FINCH'S _face--they exchange a look, half
    jocular, half tender on her part, half appealing on his._)

WAKEFIELD. Pretty Boney! Have a cracker!

ADELINE. Don't fuss him--don't fuss him. If you disturb him he'll
swear at you.

LADY B. His language is disgraceful.

ADELINE. Ah! He has a grand vocabulary--a grand Hindoo vocabulary. (_To_
BONEY.) Shaitan! Shaitan ka bata! Shaitan ka butcha! Piakur! Piakur! Jab
kutr! Chore! Chore! Iflatoon! Grand curses, eh, Boney? _You_ don't
understand that. That language is for Boney and me. Well, come on,
Boney, come on--hm! Too old to swear. Give me a glass of port.

LADY B. Only _half_-fill it.

ADELINE. What--what! Half-fill _my_ glass? _My_ glass? I say fill it to
the brim! Fill it to overflowing! I can carry my wine as well as anyone!

RENNY (_filling her glass_). Good old grenadier!

ADELINE. Mm, port. Not bad. (_With a keen look at_ FINCH.) Finch, too.
Fill his glass.

ERNEST. He's only a boy.

RENNY. Too young for drinking.

ADELINE. Give him a glass of port, Renny, he looks as if he needs it.
Well--I say give him some port!

RENNY. Righto, Gran! (_He pushes the decanter across to_ FINCH.) Help
yourself, Finch.

    (FINCH _selects a glass and takes up the decanter. He is afraid that
    his hand is going to shake. The eyes of all are on him._)

PIERS (_teasingly_). Mind you don't slop it!

FINCH (_with a nervous glance at the faces about him fills his glass._)
Thanks.

ADELINE. Now we're all happy!

RENNY. A health, Gran! Here's to us--who's like us?

PIERS. Damn few!

NICHOLAS. Our dinners used to be the best in the Province.

ERNEST. We used to entertain in those days.

ADELINE. And you could entertain now if you didn't spend all your money
on horses.

PIERS. If there had not been so much entertaining then, we mightn't be
so poor now.

NICHOLAS. I'm glad you won the hunters' high jump, Renny. Gad, how I
used to enjoy the races.

ADELINE. That's how the money slipped through your fingers.

NICHOLAS. I don't regret it.

ADELINE. Did you ever back a horse that won?

NICHOLAS. I never backed the bills of unscrupulous friends as Ernest
did.

ADELINE. Ernest was a ninny!

PIERS. You are the only one who has money now, Gran.

ADELINE. Because I haven't frittered it away.

RENNY. Never mind, never mind. We've got enough to live comfortably,
haven't we?

ADELINE. Give Finch another glass of port.

LADY B. You must go to your studies now.

NICHOLAS. One glass of port is quite enough for you, my boy.

ADELINE. Give him another.

PIERS. And he'll be brilliant.

FINCH. Shut up!

RENNY. Well, you'd better go and get on with your work now.

    (FINCH _rises obediently from the table, takes up his books from a
    side table, and turns towards the door with a sigh. A small square
    of cardboard is left lying beside his plate._ PIERS _picks it up._
    FINCH _is already at the door. Old_ ADELINE _has dropped into a
    doze._)

RENNY. Finch, you've left something.

WAKEFIELD. Hello, it's a lottery ticket.

PIERS. A lottery ticket, eh?

FINCH (_turning back savagely_). Give it to me!

PIERS (_teasingly_). Out to make a fortune? (_Returning the ticket to
its owner._) Take it to your big brother.

    (FINCH _flings himself toward door_; PIERS _pulls him back._)

PIERS. Oh, no, you don't!

ERNEST. You must not allow the boy to gamble, Renny.

NICHOLAS. Get to the bottom of it.

FINCH (_loudly_). Good Lord! Can't I buy a lottery ticket if I want to?

RENNY. What is it for?

FINCH. It's for a canary, that's what it's for! (_His voice is hoarse
with anger._) If I can't buy a lottery ticket for a goddam canary, it's
a funny thing!

RENNY. A canary!

PIERS. Next thing he'll be wanting a goldfish and an aspidistra!

    (_An outburst of merriment leaps from the lungs of_ FINCH'S
    _brothers and uncles. Old_ ADELINE _wakes with a start and peers at
    first blankly, then with gathering force into the faces about her._)

ERNEST. Boys!

ADELINE. What's that? What's that you're saying about me?

WAKEFIELD (_crossing to her_). It's a canary, Gran! Finch is getting a
pet canary.

ADELINE (_mouthing the word like an old tigress with a bone_). Canary
... canary ... another bird in the house!... It'll put Boney in a
rage.... He'll tear it to pieces.... I won't have it.... I won't have
it! (_Thumping her stick on the floor._) I won't have it! There must be
only one bird in this house.

FINCH. It's just a lottery ticket, Gran!

    (_He is gazing at her in sheepish fascination. Her face becomes dark
    with anger. She finds it difficult to speak._)

ADELINE (_furiously_). Are you going to get a canary? Come here! (_She
hits him._)

PHEASANT. Oh! Poor Finch!

PIERS. Well hit, Gran!

ERNEST. Mama, this is very bad for you. You might have a stroke.

ADELINE. A stroke! I gave the lad a stroke! Hurt him. (_Laughing, well
pleased._) Did I hurt you, Finch?

FINCH. No!

ADELINE. You're tough, eh? Tough! That's good!

PHEASANT. Poor Finch! I'm so sorry.

FINCH (_rushes wildly from the room_). Don't pity me! Don't pity me!

RENNY (_with a troubled air_). I can't make that boy out!

PHEASANT. He always gets the worst of it.

WAKEFIELD. Gran's hiccuping!

ERNEST. No wonder--eating at this hour!

NICK. _And_ getting in a rage.

LADY B. I must go and prepare Mama's bed for her.

ERNEST. Yes, yes, we must get her to bed.

    (LADY B. _goes out._)

RENNY (_to_ WAKEFIELD). You must run off to bed, too, youngster.

WAKEFIELD. Oh, Renny! Please!

RENNY. March!

    (WAKEFIELD _kisses his uncles and_ RENNY _good-night, makes a pass
    at_ PIERS' _waistcoat._)

RENNY. March!

    (_Exit_ WAKEFIELD.)

ADELINE (_waking_). What! What! March where? I'm quite happy here.
(_Waking up fully._) I feel weak. I feel wobbly. What's wrong with me?

RENNY. There's nothing wrong with you, you're grand.

ADELINE (_with a longing look at the table_). Did I have enough to eat?

HER SONS (_simultaneously_). Yes, yes, Mama!

ADELINE. Ha! Then what was I making a scene about? Wasn't it about food?

PIERS. It was about the canary, Gran.

ADELINE (_delightedly_). That's it! Canary! Nasty chirping canary! There
must be no more birds!

PHEASANT (_stretching her arms_). I think I must go to bed. I ache all
over. (_Rising and crossing to_ ADELINE.) Good-night, Grannie.

ADELINE. Did you ride well at the show?

PIERS (_proudly_). She won a second.

ADELINE. Good! But if the prize had been for looks she'd have won a
first.

PHEASANT. Oh, thank you, Grannie.

(_They embrace and_ ADELINE _kisses_ PHEASANT _loudly._)

ADELINE. Riding and breeding ... breeding and riding.... I savoured 'em
both when I was young, ha! Run away to your baby now....

PHEASANT. Don't be late, Piers.

    (_She gives him a caress in passing and goes out._)

ADELINE. A nice girl, but rather pale.

PIERS. She's strong enough.

ADELINE. And Finch, he's pale too. But, look you, he has guts! I see
promise in that boy. He gave me a fine vindictive look when I hit him on
the knuckles ... but a flibbertigibbet canary.... 'Twould break Boney's
heart!... I'm tired. I think I'll go back to my bed. Help me up, one of
you! Now kiss me good-night. One of you bring Boney!

    (RENNY _and_ PIERS _go to her and raise her to her feet. She stands
    humped like a strange old bird. Her two sons then support her on
    either side and lead her towards the door._)

ADELINE (_over her shoulder_). Don't you boys sit up drinking! I want to
go to sleep.

RENNY. We'll soon be off.

ADELINE. Good-night, grandsons.

RENNY. Good-night, Gran! Sleep tight.

    (NICHOLAS _and_ ERNEST _steer her through the door while she mumbles
    incoherently, suddenly very old and tired._ RENNY _and_ PIERS _are
    left alone on the stage. They stand looking after the retreating
    figure._)

PIERS. What a supper she made!

RENNY. Marvellous old girl! Not one of us will ever equal her. To think
that she is a hundred and one. Eh!

    (_They settle themselves again at the table, refilling their
    glasses._)

PIERS. Well, she's bound to go soon.

RENNY. I hope not! Home wouldn't be the same without her. She's the
heart and soul of Jalna.

PIERS. I wonder who will get her money.

RENNY. You're always talking about her money.

PIERS. And the rest of you are always thinking about it.

RENNY. She's made one thing clear. It's not to be divided.

PIERS. She ought to leave it to you considering how she and the uncles
have lived on you all these years.

RENNY. Grandfather left me Jalna, that's enough.

PIERS. You look like her, too. That's in your favour.

RENNY. And you look like Grandad, and that's in yours.

    (_They laugh and touch glasses._)

PIERS. Better times!

RENNY. Happy days!

    (NICHOLAS, _limping slightly from gout, returns to the room, crosses
    to fireplace._)

PIERS. Get her safely tucked in?

NICHOLAS. She just put her head on the pillow and dropped off. Or
pretended she did.

PIERS. Where's Uncle Ernie?

NICHOLAS. Lingered behind to tuck her up.

PIERS (_pointedly_). A good son. A very thoughtful son.

NICHOLAS. Yes. He bears more from my mother than I can.

RENNY. She leans on him more than on any of us. She never wants him out
of her sight.

NICHOLAS (_pouring himself another drink_). She likes to sharpen her
wits on him.

    (ERNEST _enters. He is about to shut folding doors._)

ADELINE. I'm not asleep and don't shut those doors. I'll not be
boxed up before my time!

    (ERNEST _leaves doors ajar but draws curtains. Advances into room._)

ERNEST (_admonishingly_). Nick! Drinking still!

NICHOLAS (_stubbornly_). Mind your own business.

ERNEST. Remember your gout.

NICHOLAS. I'm trying to forget it.

RENNY. Not asleep?

ERNEST. Asleep and awake, awake and asleep. You know how it is.

PIERS. Well, I'm off. (_Rising._) I have my farm accounts to do before I
go to bed. I'm going to the stables. I'll see you again, Renny.

RENNY. Have a look at the foal.

PIERS. Righto! Good-night, Uncles!

NICHOLAS. Good-night. Don't muddle up your accounts.

ERNEST. Good-night, and don't wake Pheasant.

    (PIERS _goes out. The two uncles sit down amiably,_ RENNY _moves
    about somewhat restive._)

ERNEST. A fine boy, Piers.

NICHOLAS. He's beaten you, Renny. Got himself married and begot a son.

RENNY. Oh, I'm in no hurry to marry.

NICHOLAS. Yet you strike one as the marrying kind.

RENNY. Too poor for one thing.

NICHOLAS. What is the other?

RENNY. I have a ready-made family. My young brothers are like my own
sons.

NICHOLAS. Even Finch?

RENNY. Even Finch. (_Getting tobacco from jar on mantelpiece and filling
his pipe._)

ERNEST. Do you think he'll pass his exams?

RENNY. God knows! He promised me that if I would let him go on with his
music, he would study all the harder! But he hasn't kept his promise.

ERNEST. It seems to me that whenever he is in the house the piano is
going.

NICHOLAS. I like to hear it. I'm fond of a tune.

ERNEST. What about doing something with his music?--it's the one thing
he can do.

RENNY. My dear Uncle, can you picture a Whiteoak as a musician? Farming
and horses, yes, but music ...

ERNEST. Yet you let him do it.

RENNY. That is the trouble. I'm too easy-going. Well, I'm for bed.
Good-night! Want any help upstairs, Uncle Nick?

NICHOLAS. No, thanks. I can manage. Good-night.

ERNEST. Good-night, Renny.

    (RENNY _goes out; a pause.--Then voices from_ ADELINE'S _room._)

ERNEST (_listening_). He has gone into Mama's room!

NICHOLAS. No need to do that. He will only disturb her, and she was
quite settled down.

ERNEST. She's laughing!

NICHOLAS. He always makes her laugh, confound him! There's that link
between them. He can always make her laugh.

ERNEST. Now he's going. He is hot-foot after her money. (_Excitedly._)
Let him deny it! Otherwise why did he go to her room when she was all
tucked up?

NICHOLAS. It's a pity that a few drinks go straight to your head.

ERNEST. You agree with me. You know you do. You feel as I do that there
was something in his going to her room.

NICHOLAS. Yes. But I don't shout it from the housetop.

ERNEST (_dropping despondently into a chair_). It would be a terrible
thing, Nicholas, if Mama were to leave all her money to Renny.

NICHOLAS. No, no, Ernie. She'd never do that! Never go over our heads in
that way. It would be too unjust.

ERNEST. I suppose you think--you being the elder--well, I suppose you
ought to inherit.

NICHOLAS. Oh, she'll probably leave it to you.

ERNEST. But she's very critical of me, at times. Very, very critical.
Only this morning she threw a peppermint at my head.

NICHOLAS. Well, she called me a fool!

ERNEST (_pleased_). Did she really? She called you a fool, eh?

NICHOLAS (_solemnly_). Sometimes I think she'll leave it to Piers. He is
so like our father. Mama often remarks the resemblance. (_They look up
at the portrait of Captain Whiteoak._)

ERNEST. Do you know, I came in here the other day and found Piers
standing in front of the portrait, trying to imitate Papa's very
expression. I caught him in the act! (_Striking a martial attitude._) He
stood like this, exactly as though he were a hussar.

NICHOLAS. Did he really? Good God!

    (_A pause._)

ERNEST. It seems disloyal to Mama to be speculating about her money.

NICHOLAS. Not at all! We both hope that she will live for years to come,
but she's a hundred now--a great age.

ERNEST. A hundred and one! We'll never reach it, Nick!

NICHOLAS (_raising his glass_). Here's hoping!

ERNEST. Better times!

NICHOLAS. Happy days!

CURTAIN


SCENE II

_The same. It is night. The room is in darkness, but the door into old_
ADELINE'S _bedroom stands open and a night-light burning there shews
her, faintly discernible, propped up in bed. At the foot of the bed_
BONEY _stands on his perch. The French window opens and--_

FINCH _enters, closing window gently after him. He hesitates. Then
crosses the room stealthily._

ADELINE. Who is there?

    (_He stands motionless._)

(_Sharply_) Who's there?

FINCH. Want anything, Grannie dear?

ADELINE. Ah, it's you, Finch.

FINCH. Yes, it's me.

ADELINE. I want to get up.

FINCH (_going to the door of her room_). Shall I call someone?

ADELINE. No, no. You'll do. (_He goes into her room. Inside there is
much mumbling and shuffling about._) Get my dressing-gown. Teeth,
slippers. I like to get up or stop in bed as I choose. (_She appears in
the doorway like a humped old bird. She leans heavily on_ FINCH. _But
there is surprising vitality in her next words, and some grim
amusement._) If I feel I'm going to die I've got my bell so that the
family can all come and watch me if they want to.

FINCH. But, Gran, do you think you should get up at this hour?

ADELINE. I like the night. I like to be up in it. I feel young in the
night. Turn on the light.

FINCH (_reluctantly moving toward the light_). Someone might see it.

ADELINE. Who rules here? Turn on the light.

    (FINCH _turns on a single light._)

ADELINE. I'm hungry. Are you?

FINCH. Yes, I am rather. But then I'm always hungry.

ADELINE. Anything left? Have a look round. Look in the sideboard.

FINCH (_somewhat hesitating, searches_). There's biscuits--all sorts of
biscuits.

ADELINE. And sherry?

FINCH (_reluctantly_). Yes.

ADELINE. Better than nothing. (_Moving toward her chair._) Bring it
here. Two glasses.

FINCH. Do you think you ought to, Grannie?

ADELINE. There's no ought when you're a hundred and one. Now pour it
out, one for you and one for me. And sit you down beside me. (_They sit
facing each other with the air of conspirators._) Nice boy. I think you
are a very nice boy.

FINCH (_grinning sheepishly_). You're the only one that thinks so, Gran.

ADELINE. _I_ say you're a very nice boy. You've a very nice face.
You've the Court nose. (_Peering into his eyes._) Life will never down
you altogether when you've got the Court nose--my nose. You're not
afraid of life, are you?

FINCH (_startled_). Yes, I suppose I am a bit.

ADELINE. Afraid of life! What nonsense! I won't have it. You mustn't be
afraid of life. Take it by the horns. Take it by the tail. Grasp it
where the hair is short. Make it afraid of you. That's what I've done.
Do you think I'd be here--talking to you this night, if I'd been afraid
of life? Look at this nose of mine. My eyes. Do they look afraid of
life? And my mouth--when my teeth are in--that's not afraid either.

FINCH. I don't know if I'm afraid but I'm confused, Gran.
Everything's such a muddle, except ... music. (_Rising and crossing to
piano._)

ADELINE. And they want to stop you playing, eh?

FINCH. Yes, but they can't--not always.

ADELINE. No. Music--eh? I expect you get that from your mother. She used
to play on that piano.

    (FINCH _turns and looks at her._)

FINCH. I wish she had lived, Gran.

ADELINE. Yes.... No, no, don't say that. She wasn't fit to cope with
life.

FINCH. I know. Like me!

ADELINE. Why do you say that?

FINCH. I'm no good, Gran.

ADELINE. Nonsense. Stand up for yourself, give as good as you
get--you've got Irish blood--my blood. My brothers used to fight, I can
tell you. Take their jackets off and at it! Did 'em good. My father used
to take 'em by the hair and knock their heads together. Great days!
Great days! (_Mumbling, she drops into a doze._)

    (FINCH _moves to her side and gently touches her hands._)

Ah, where am I? I wasn't asleep. I was thinking. I like a spell of
thinking. I may seem to be asleep but I'm wide awake.

FINCH. I know, Gran. It's not good for you to lose so much sleep.
You'll be tired to-morrow.

ADELINE. If I'm tired, I'll stop in bed and rest. It's my family that
makes me tired. Fuss, fuss, fuss. (_Then roguishly._) Do you remember
the night I pretended to die? How they all came running. I wanted to see
what they would do, but I mustn't try it again. I mustn't cry wolf.
They mightn't come when I really wanted them. Do you know why they
fuss, Finch? They fuss because they all want my money. I don't know
who'll get it. You're not worrying about who I'm going to leave my
money to, eh?

FINCH. God, no!

ADELINE. Don't curse. Too much God and Hell and bloody about this house.
I won't have it. (_Taps table._) But I like you, you aren't frightened
of me, are you?

FINCH. No, Gran.

ADELINE. Well, that's good. Now I'm going to ask you a question.
(_Draws_ FINCH _before her, facing her, with his back to the table._)
Don't be in a hurry to answer. It's a very serious question. Tell me
who shall I leave my money to?

FINCH. Oh, don't ask me that, Gran! That's for you to say.

ADELINE. I know. But--just supposing you were in my place--who would you
leave it to? I won't have my bit of money cut up like a cake, my mind's
fixed on that. Now who's to get it, eh?

FINCH. I can't possibly choose.

ADELINE. Nonsense. Don't pretend you haven't thought about it. Which of
'em deserves it most?

FINCH (_with a sudden look of determination, even severity_). I should
say, since you ask me, that there is only one person who really deserves
to have it.

ADELINE. Yes, which one?

FINCH. Well, Renny.

ADELINE. Renny, eh? That's because he is your favourite.

FINCH. No, no! I was putting myself in your place as you told me to.

ADELINE. Your grandfather left him Jalna. Why doesn't he make it pay?
Because he hasn't got your grandfather's guts. They've none of them
got your grandfather's guts, no guts, no guts. Why did you choose Renny?

FINCH. You'll be annoyed with me.

ADELINE. Out with it.

FINCH. Well, Renny's always hard up. He's brought up the lot of us.
He's had Uncle Nick and Uncle Ernie living here for years. You've
always made your home with him.

ADELINE. It was my home before it was his.

FINCH. Oh, he loves having you. But, just the same, he's at his wits'
end for money....

ADELINE (_brusquely_). You can be plain-spoken when you choose. I like
it. I wonder what you'd do with the money, if I left it to you!

FINCH. Why--I shouldn't know what to do with it!

ADELINE. Don't tell me that! I don't believe it. You must know what
you'd do with it.

FINCH (_leaning across the table with a rapt look_). Why--(_he sees
every possibility in his mind's eye_)--It's stupendous--I'd scarcely
know where to begin. Good Lord----

ADELINE (_relishing the situation_). You'd know what to do with it--eh?

FINCH. Ye-es! (_Pulling himself up._) I'd send the Uncles on a pleasure
trip to England. Pheasant and Piers want a new car, and
Renny--well--Renny----(_His face is all alight._)

ADELINE. You'd want nothing for yourself?

FINCH (_in a low voice, and standing straight and tense_). I'd want
everything for myself.

ADELINE. _Everything!_ What d'ye mean, _everything_!

FINCH. I'm not free! I can't do what I want to do. I must always do
what I'm told. I want to learn--(_moving excitedly to the piano_)--to
learn to bring out all the music that I feel is in me! (_Running his
fingers rapidly over the keyboard._) I can't get it out through my
fingers--but it's in my head--it's here! I want to study abroad--I want
to practise--I want to practise until I can satisfy something--something
that has never been satisfied!

ADELINE. Good! Let me hear you play. I like it.

    (FINCH _strikes a strong chord, then stops in dismay._)

FINCH. _My God!_ They'll hear me!

ADELINE (_with a thump of her stick_). Let them hear you! If it wakes
'em up it will do 'em good. (_Moving to_ FINCH'S _side._)

FINCH. Oh, Gran, if you knew how I long to play. But I never get a
chance. They won't let me. They all sit on me and laugh at me, Renny and
the rest of them, because I can't train a dog and ride a horse. But I
can do something that they can't. I can do it well, too. I know I can.
Oh, Gran, there's so much I want to say and I've got to get it out. But
I can't, here. If only I could get away from them--just for a little, it
needn't be for long. If I could only find myself. I think I'd do ... I
know I'd do ... something ... that was great! I suppose you think that
is silly? (_Stopping abruptly._)

ADELINE (_brusquely_). No--No. Where were you off to just now, eh? Do
you often prowl about like this?

FINCH. Sometimes.

ADELINE. What do you do?

FINCH. You won't tell?

ADELINE. Even a woman can learn to hold her tongue when she's over a
hundred!

FINCH. I go to the church and play the organ.

ADELINE. Play the organ--at night--in an empty church?

FINCH. Yes.

ADELINE. Well, church is all right once the parson and the people are
out of it. Nothing flibbertigibbet about a church then. And you're not
afraid, alone there at night, with all the dead folk outside?

FINCH. I'm not afraid of the dead.

ADELINE. They don't interfere with your music, eh? You're a queer boy,
but I like you--yes, I like you very much. Now I want you, every time
you've been at the church, to come for a chat afterwards, and then you
must play to me. My best sleep is over by midnight--just cat-naps after
that--night's very long.

    (FINCH _makes a deprecating movement with his hands._)

Oh, it can be something quiet. They won't hear, and it will please me.
Now I'm going to give you a present. What would you like?

FINCH. Well, please let it be something small, that I can hide.

ADELINE (_almost violently_). Hide my present! I won't have it! Stick it
up! Invite the family to come and look at it. Don't you dare say you'll
hide my present!

FINCH (_resignedly_). Very well, Gran.

ADELINE. I'll tell you what I'm going to give you. I'm going to give
you my little Chinese Goddess, Kuan Yen.

FINCH. Oh, Gran, but you're so fond of her!

ADELINE. That little Chinese Goddess! Go and fetch her. She is in the
cabinet in my room. She'll be good for you. She's not afraid of life.
Lets it pass over her. Better let it pass over you. Fetch her here.

    (FINCH _goes to bedroom and brings the porcelain figure._)

FINCH. You're sure you want to give her to me?

ADELINE (_taking the statue of Kuan Yen in her own hands_). Do I
generally know my own mind? Kuan Yen knows a lot that we don't....
Something for you to remember me by ... you can look at her in years to
come ... and remember me. Look at her. She's very wise--very deep and
calm. Take her ... and learn from her.

FINCH. Oh, but, Gran ... Yes, I'll keep her always.

ADELINE. I'm tired. Play to me. I sleep better when ... Don't
forget--to-morrow after you've been in the church ... something for me
to look forward to.

    (_As_ ADELINE _speaks she has moved very slowly to the steps. With
    great difficulty she mounts them, then turns in the doorway of her
    room to look at_ FINCH, _who has set Kuan Yen on the piano and
    seated himself with his hands on the keyboard._)

ADELINE. It's grand to have something to look forward to--when you're a
hundred.

FINCH. --And one!

    (_He plays softly._)


CURTAIN




ACT II


SCENE I

SCENE. _The same. Six months later._

ADELINE_ is seated at the table, with_ WAKEFIELD _kneeling on a chair.
They play at backgammon._ ERNEST, _threading beads, sits by the piano._
NICHOLAS _sits in an armchair by the fire, feet up on a footstool,
nursing his terrier. In front of_ ERNEST _is a small occasional table._
BONEY _is on a stand behind_ ADELINE'S _chair._

NICHOLAS (_his eyes on_ NIP). He's a bit off colour. He hasn't begged.

ERNEST. He doesn't get enough exercise....

ADELINE. Bang!

ERNEST (_to_ NICHOLAS). You're dropping crumbs on your waistcoat.

NICHOLAS. Well, well, so I am! (_Brushing off crumbs._)

    (_A pause in which_ NICHOLAS _breaks bits of scone into his tea, and
    swallows the same without chewing._)

ERNEST. Don't you think that it's very bad for you to take all this pap
food?

NICHOLAS. Teeth getting wobbly.

ERNEST. Nonsense! Only this morning I heard you crunching a bit of hard
toffee.

NICHOLAS. They do better with something they can get a grip on.

    (RENNY _enters._)

RENNY. Hello, Granny, still at it? Who's winning?

ADELINE. I am.

ERNEST. Well, Renny, we have scarcely seen you to-day.

NICHOLAS (_handing_ NIP _over to_ RENNY). Put him out, Renny. He should
have a run.

RENNY. You don't give him enough exercise.

ADELINE. Let me look at him.

    (RENNY _carries the little dog to_ ADELINE.)

ADELINE (_stroking him_). Good little dog! Fit as a fiddle. But lazy.
Put him out.

    (RENNY _stops in front of_ ERNEST _on his way to garden door._)

RENNY. Stringing beads, eh, Uncle Ernest? Nicely, too.

ERNEST. Do you mind not coming too close to me, Renny? One of my colds
is threatening.

RENNY. That's a pity. How do you think you got it? (_He puts out the dog
and shuts the door._)

ERNEST (_irritably_). I didn't say I'd got a cold. I said it was
threatening.

ADELINE. Fuss, fuss, fuss!

WAKEFIELD. Why, Gran, you've moved one of my men!

ADELINE. What's that you say? Want your tea, Renny?

RENNY. Yes, Gran, with a dash of rum in it. I've been busy with the
mare.

NICHOLAS. Hm. You spend all your time in the stables.

RENNY. A pleasant place.

ADELINE. How's the foal?

RENNY. All right.

ADELINE. Mare coming along well?

RENNY. Splendid!

ADELINE. That's good news.

RENNY. She's as proud as Punch of the foal. She's becoming a garrulous
old lady, almost as bad as you, Gran.

ADELINE. Hm. No wonder you're so proud of her! (_To_ ERNEST.) How are
you getting on with the beads?

ERNEST. Nicely, Mama. I'll soon have them strung.

ADELINE. How did I break the necklace?

ERNEST. I don't know, Mama. I wasn't there.

WAKEFIELD. It's your play, my Grandmother.

ADELINE. My play, my play ... well ... well.... If I must play I must.
(_She turns to the board, slightly bewildered._) I'll play well too.
I'll show you. (_Making a move._) Now I've got you! Cornered, eh?

WAKEFIELD. But--Gran---- (_He moves his hands protestingly above the
board._)

ADELINE. Ha, no you don't! No getting away from me ... Bang, there goes
your man! Checkmate!

WAKEFIELD (_petulantly_). We're not playing chess, my Grandmother! This
is backgammon!

ADELINE. Of course it's backgammon!

WAKEFIELD. Then why are you talking about chess?

ADELINE (_chuckling_). Because I like to fuss up my opponent.

WAKEFIELD. Why, Gran, you're----

ADELINE. Don't contradict me. I won't have it!

WAKEFIELD. Anyhow, there goes one of your men! Bang!

ADELINE. And there goes one of yours. Bang! Bang!

WAKEFIELD. Why, Grannie, you're on one of the wrong points.

ADELINE. Now I've got you fussed up!... Your play now.

WAKEFIELD. But you forgot when you moved on to the red point!

    (_Slowly_ ADELINE'S _chin sinks, her lace cap droops toward the
    board, and a gusty breath whistles between her lips._)

ERNEST. She's going to sleep.

WAKEFIELD. I know! Just when I was going to beat her. (_He goes
petulantly to_ RENNY.)

ERNEST. It's much safer not to beat her.

    (_Sound of a door-bell._)

RENNY (_looking at his watch_). A quarter to four. That will be Meg.
She's coming to tea.

NICHOLAS (_holding out a copy of_ Punch _towards_ RENNY). Here's a
clever thing in _Punch._ There is no one like Belcher.

RENNY. Hm. Yes, very good. I haven't much time for reading.

ERNEST. The jokes in _Punch_ aren't what they used to be.

NICHOLAS. They never have been! (_With a rumbling laugh._)

ERNEST. Don't wake her.

NICHOLAS. It's nearly tea-time in any case.

WAKEFIELD. Oh, good!

ERNEST. Sh--sh!

WAKEFIELD. I hope there will be scones.

    (_All greet_ MEG _as she enters, looking well pleased with herself._
    WAKEFIELD _joins her._ ADELINE _wakes with a start and an
    exclamation._)

ADELINE. What's that?

MEG. I hope we didn't wake you, Granny.

ADELINE. I wasn't asleep.

WAKEFIELD. Oh, my Grandmother! (_Returns to his place at table._)

    (MEG _kisses_ ADELINE.)

MEG. Been having a game, eh? Who won?

RENNY. Gran did. She's in great form to-day.

ADELINE. I'm always in form. (_Bending eagerly over the board._)

RENNY. Maurice all right?

MEG. Fine, thanks.

ADELINE. Meg without Maurice?

MEG. Sometimes, Gran. I'm afraid I'm rather early for tea, Grannie
dear.

ADELINE. Better never than early. (_Plays._) Two and four! I mean better
never than late.

WAKEFIELD (_playing_). Throws.

MEG (_bending over_ ERNEST). How are you, Uncle Ernest?

ERNEST. Be careful, Meg, I've one of my colds coming on.

MEG. Oh, I'm so sorry!

ADELINE. Two and a four.

WAKEFIELD. Two and a one.

MEG. How are you feeling, Grannie?

ADELINE. Never felt better in my life. But I need a peppermint drop.
They're in my velvet bag yonder.

    (WAKEFIELD _extracts a peppermint from the velvet bag which hangs
    on_ NICHOLAS' _chair and pops it into_ ADELINE'S _mouth._)

ADELINE. We'll have another game later and I'll beat you. Put the board
away.

    (WAKEFIELD _turns to obey and is caught and kissed by_ MEG.)

MEG. Oh, and how is little brother? Wakefield is so clever for his age.

WAKEFIELD. So is Gran.

    (MEG _sits in chair vacated by_ WAKEFIELD.)

ADELINE. Run, Wakefield, and tell the others sister Meg is here.

    (WAKEFIELD _runs off._)

ADELINE (_to_ MEG). How is the baby?

MEG. Oh, she's wonderfully well, Grannie!

ADELINE. No sign of another? You might manage to have another. I don't
like this business of not having children. Hm, in my day a wife would
give her husband a round dozen. And if there was one of them he wasn't
quite sure about, he took it like a man--ha!

RENNY. Meg would never agree to a dozen.

MEG. And would Maurice accept the odd one like a man?

    (_Enter_ LADY B. _She greets_ MEG _affectionately._)

LADY B. A little early for tea, aren't you, Meg?

MEG. Oh, Auntie dear!

ADELINE (_with a malicious upward glance at_ LADY B.). How do you think
your aunt looks, Meggie?

MEG. Oh, very well, Grannie.

ADELINE. Not at all. She's failing. This climate don't agree with her.

    (LADY B. _with an offended air takes her knitting off piano and
    seats herself somewhat apart._)

ADELINE. It takes an old war-horse like me to stand it. I've lived
through India and I've lived through Canada. Roasting and freezing. All
one to me. All one to Boney. (_Gazing intently at_ ERNEST _stringing
beads._) Ha! You must get on faster than that, if you are to finish by
tea-time.

ERNEST. It's a fine necklet, Mama.

LADY B. It is very beautiful.

ADELINE. It ought to be. A rajah gave it me. Ah, he was a handsome
rascal! He admired me far too much to please my Philip. And I admired
him. I used to like men to be very fair, and, if they weren't fair, I
liked 'em black. Ha!

LADY B. Mama!

ERNEST. Mama!

MEG. Oh, Grannie!

ADELINE. What do you know about such things?

RENNY. We all are jealous of your past, old lady.

ADELINE. Great days! Great days!

    (_There is a sound of scuffling and laughter in the hall._ FINCH
    _enters with_ WAKEFIELD _thrown over his shoulder. He puts him down
    and the little boy begins to pummel him._)

LADY B. Boys, boys, this is no way to behave in the house.

ERNEST. I shall drop a bead! I know I shall drop a bead.

NICHOLAS (_over the top of_ Punch). Boys! Stop that scuffling at once.

ADELINE. Let them be! I like to hear them racketing about.

    (_The boys jostle against_ ERNEST _and upset the table._ ERNEST
    _drops a bead._)

ERNEST. There, it has dropped!

ADELINE (_to_ ERNEST). Ninny!

ERNEST. Really, this is most annoying! I had the necklace almost strung.
Boys, help me find it.

    (_There is a general scramble by boys and_ ERNEST _for the bead,
    which has rolled under the edge of_ ADELINE'S _skirt. She places her
    foot on it and watches the search with profound interest._)

LADY B. I knew how it would be.

ERNEST. Now we may never find the bead.

ADELINE. You must search until you do.

LADY B. Isn't that it over by the piano leg?

ERNEST. Yes.

WAKEFIELD. No, no, that's one of Gran's peppermint drops. (_Eating
it._)

NICHOLAS. Look out, Finch! You'll knock over Boney's cage!

FINCH (_still on all-fours between piano and_ ADELINE). Hi, Boney,
Boney, nice old Boney!

    (PHEASANT _enters followed by_ PIERS. _She espies the bead._)

PHEASANT. Why, what is the matter? Look, isn't this one of your beads?
(_Picking it up, she hands it to_ ERNEST.)

ADELINE. There, I must have had my foot on it all the time.

ERNEST (_resuming his seat with dignity, proceeds with the bead
stringing_). Thank you, my dear.

PIERS (_heatedly_). Wakefield! What did you do with my cartridges?

WAKEFIELD. Nothing!

PIERS. I've been missing cartridges for some time and in Wakefield's
desk I found a little box full of pennies, and a nice little account of
sales to boys in the village. Come here.

WAKEFIELD (_approaching_ PIERS _half-defiantly_). How dare you look in
my desk? And I don't know anything about your beastly cartridges.

    (_They glare at each other._)

RENNY. Is this true, Wake? What did you do with the money?

WAKEFIELD (_hanging his head_). Bought things!

LADY B. Disgraceful!

PIERS. Stealing and lying.

ADELINE. The Courts stole but they never lied.

NICHOLAS. The Whiteoaks lied but they never stole.

RENNY. Wakefield seems to combine the virtues of both sides.

LADY B. I shall give him a serious talking to.

PIERS. The trouble is that he's been absolutely spoilt. I'll bet he
won't pinch anything more when I've done with him. (_He catches_
WAKEFIELD _in his hands and does something painful to him._ WAKEFIELD
_screams._)

FINCH. That's right! Lick it out of him!

RENNY (_moving towards the door_). I must be off!

WAKEFIELD. Renny, let me go with you!

    (RENNY _and_ WAKEFIELD _go out,_ WAKEFIELD _clinging to_ RENNY'S
    _arm and crying lustily._)

ADELINE (_rising in a rage_). Let me flog the boy! I've flogged boys
before now. I've flogged Augusta. Haven't I, Augusta? Someone get me a
stick! I've flogged boys before now. I won't have my grandson lying.
Let me get at him.

PIERS. But, Gran, he's gone.

ADELINE. Gone? He can't be gone. Fetch him back.

ERNEST. Mama, Mama, this is very bad for you.

LADY B. Oh, these sudden rages!

ERNEST. Sal volatile!

NICHOLAS. Fan her! She's a terrible colour!

    (ERNEST _fans her._ LADY B. _fetches the sal volatile. Old_ ADELINE,
    _having captured her stick, is so exhilarated that she gets to her
    feet unaided and hobbles toward the door. But she is coaxed into her
    chair by_ NICHOLAS _and_ PIERS, _who bend solicitously over her._
    LADY B. _sits down in a far corner with her knitting and an offended
    look._ FINCH _seats himself on the piano seat, staring at the
    group._)

FINCH. They're like paintings by the old masters: The Cronies. That's
Uncle Nick and Uncle Ernest. Young Man with Red Face--Piers. Nymph
Listening--Pheasant. Old Woman with Stick--Gran!

ADELINE (_overhearing his last words_). What's he saying? What's he
saying?

ERNEST. He's saying we're as pretty as pictures, Mama.

    (ADELINE _falls into a doze._ FINCH _gaily begins to play on the
    piano._)

MEG. Oh, Finch, do play that Hungarian rhapsody!

    (RENNY _enters and advances toward the piano, his eyes fixed on_
    FINCH. FINCH _becomes conscious of his gaze and his hands drop._)

RENNY. So, you're playing the piano again, eh?

FINCH (_rising_). I forgot. At least--oh, Lord!

MEG. I do wish you wouldn't interrupt, Renny. I am particularly fond of
this piece. I'm often surprised to find how musical I am. I couldn't
get on without Finch's playing now. It has become quite necessary to me.
I listen to him by the hour.

RENNY. Very interesting!

MEG. Yes. When he told me that he couldn't practise at home because he
disturbed the old people, I said at once, "You must come to our house
and practise just as often and as long as you like".

RENNY. He was forbidden to touch the piano, except for an hour in the
morning.

FINCH (_to_ RENNY). But don't you understand? I must have music! When
it's taken from me I'm lost. I'm lost, I tell you!

RENNY. You must learn self-control.

ERNEST. I don't know what would have become of me if I had not learned
self-control.

LADY B. You should never have allowed him to go to your house to
practise, Meg, when he was forbidden it at home.

MEG. I did not know it was forbidden. Oh, Finch, how could you! First
Wakefield, and now you!

RENNY. You think of nothing but your piano playing. I've a damned good
mind to take a stick to your back.

ADELINE (_waking_). Ha! What is it? I will not be kept out of it. If
there's flogging to be done, I'll do it. With this. (_Thumping her
stick on the floor._) Now, listen, I like to hear the boy play. I like
it very much.

RENNY (_turning to her_). I forbid it.

ADELINE (_arching her neck at_ RENNY). You do, eh? You would, eh? Always
ready to cross my will! Unnatural son!

RENNY. Be quiet, Granny!

ADELINE. Be quiet yourself. You'd like to be a tyrant like my father. He
cowed all his eleven children but me. Me he couldn't cow. (_She shakes
her head triumphantly then is transported by rage._) To think that I
should bring another like him into the world!

RENNY. You didn't bring me into the world!

ADELINE. If I didn't bring you into the world I should like to know who
did!

RENNY. You forget that you are my father's mother, not mine.

ADELINE. And who brought your father into the world?

RENNY. A woman with red hair and a bad temper.

NICHOLAS. Stop baiting her, Renny! Remember that she's over a hundred.
Look at the colour of her face!

ADELINE. Look at the colour of your own face! You're only envious that
you haven't our hot blood. What we want is to have our quarrel out in
peace.

    (_At these words old_ ADELINE _and_ RENNY _burst into laughter. She
    puts both arms around him--hugging him to her._)

ERNEST. This is very bad for you. Mama.

ADELINE. Go on with your bead-stringing, Ninny! And go on with your
playing, Finch.

FINCH. I can't, Gran.

ADELINE. Go on with your playing. I say so! You were playing to me--ha!

    (_As_ FINCH _begins to play,_ PIERS _leans against the piano and
    laughs, at first teasingly, then with a note of real derision._
    FINCH _hesitates, breaks down, with a discordant crash on the
    keys._)




CURTAIN


SCENE II

SCENE. _The same. Late afternoon. Three months later._

RENNY, _with uprolled sleeves, is rubbing Merlin with a large towel._
PIERS, _pipe in mouth, is directing the operation while lounging against
the mantelpiece._ WAKEFIELD, _perched on the edge of the table, is
eating a chocolate bar._

RENNY. Good boy! Good boy! Soon over! He knows every word I say.

PIERS. Rub him well behind the ears! How the hell did he get in such a
mess?

WAKEFIELD. He was in the coal cellar after a rat.

PIERS. I'll bet you put him up to it. I'll get another towel.

    (_He goes out._)

WAKEFIELD. Will you give me fifty cents, Renny?

RENNY. No! (_Pause._)

WAKEFIELD. Well, twenty-five cents then.

RENNY. Good dog! Good dog!

    (_Pause._)

WAKEFIELD. Please, Renny. Ten cents.

RENNY. I gave you ten cents yesterday and you spent it on chocolates.

WAKEFIELD. There's nothing else to do with ten cents! If I had a dollar
I would buy something that would be good for me.

RENNY. I'll see.

    (_Rising and relighting his pipe._)

WAKEFIELD. What will Aunt Augusta say to Merlin being washed here?

RENNY. No more rats for you, my boy.

WAKEFIELD. Finch has plenty of money. It's not fair!

RENNY. Finch plenty of money! Hm!

WAKEFIELD. Well, he buys cigarettes, and he goes to theatres and
concerts. I've seen programmes.

    (RENNY _grunts and renews the energetic rubbing._ PIERS _comes in
    with_ FINCH _by the arm. When they are inside he looses him and
    gives him a push._ FINCH _staggers a little. He is pale and
    dishevelled and slightly intoxicated._)

PIERS. I found him in the passage ... sneaking in the back way, so I
brought him along.

WAKEFIELD. He does look funny.

    (FINCH _glares at them in stupid resentment._)

FINCH. What are you staring at?

PIERS. I believe you've been drinking.

RENNY (_still rubbing Merlin_). Huh! Finch drinking!

WAKEFIELD (_sniffing at_ FINCH). Whisky, I should think. (_Sniffing
again._) I'm sure.

PIERS. Have you? Have you?

FINCH. Well, I felt so rotten. I only had one. I wish I hadn't now.

PIERS. Only one?

RENNY. Is this true, Finch?

FINCH. Yes.

RENNY. When?

FINCH. About an hour ago.

RENNY. Where have you been all the morning?

FINCH. I got up late. I felt so rotten.

RENNY. Here, Wake--take Merlin and run along.

WAKEFIELD. I'd rather---- (_Gets down from table._)

RENNY. Get out!

    (WAKEFIELD _reluctantly goes out, taking Merlin._)

RENNY. Now then! What were you doing last night?

FINCH. I was in town.

RENNY. Yes, I know that. You were supposed to be spending the night
with a friend studying but you weren't, were you?

FINCH. No.

RENNY. Where were you?

FINCH. I--oh--I--can't----

RENNY. Don't mumble! Where were you?

FINCH (_desperately_). Playing in an orchestra.

RENNY. An orchestra!

PIERS. What orchestra?

FINCH. An orchestra I belong to. I--I----

RENNY. Come now! Come now!

FINCH. There is no harm in it.

RENNY. What sort of orchestra?

PIERS. He's the crooner! I'll bet he's the crooner!

FINCH. Oh, just an orchestra that a few fellows got up.

PIERS. Oh--h!

FINCH. We wanted to make some money.

PIERS. And what do you do?

FINCH. I play the piano.

PIERS. Oh--you play the piano!

RENNY. Shut up, Piers. (_To_ FINCH.) Who are the other fellows?

FINCH. Some fellows I know--I just got in with them.

PIERS. Oh, you just got in with them!

FINCH. Yes. We practise after school.

RENNY. Where do you play?

FINCH. In restaurants. Cheap ones--for dances.

RENNY. You persuaded me (_going a bit closer_) to let you spend your
nights in town so that you might study with another boy, and this is
what you were up to! Who are these fellows? Who _are_ they?

FINCH. You wouldn't know if I told you.

RENNY. Are they students?

FINCH. No. But they work. One in a greenhouse. One in some sort of
tailoring job.

PIERS. How much did you get for playing?

FINCH. Five dollars a night.

RENNY. And after the dance is over you knock about the town drinking,
eh?

FINCH (_wringing his fingers together_). No, no, this is the very first
time. I was awfully tired. They gave me something to buck me up. Not
much. It was pretty rotten stuff, and when we came out into the street
we--couldn't find our way at first--it was raining hard--and--and----

    (RENNY _turns from him with a gesture of distaste._)

RENNY. You're in no condition to listen to me now. Go to bed and sleep
it off.

PIERS. If you were mine, I'd put your head in Merlin's bath and sober
you.

FINCH (_hoarsely_). But I'm not yours! I'm not anybody's. You talk as
though I were a dog!

PIERS. I wouldn't insult a dog by comparing him to you!

FINCH (_loudly_). And you'll not insult me! I'm not afraid of you!

    (_He advances threateningly towards_ PIERS, _who doubles his
    fists._)

RENNY. Don't touch him, Piers! He's half drunk!

FINCH. I'm not drunk! Come on! Come on!

    (FINCH _begins to cough, pulls a soiled handkerchief from his pocket
    and blows his nose. A crumpled half-sheet of note-paper falls to the
    floor._)

PIERS (_picking up the paper and examining it_). What's this? Another
lottery ticket; you're quite a gambler.

FINCH. Give it to me! It's mine!

    (PIERS _pushes him off, smooths out the paper and casts his eyes
    over it. His face darkens._)

PIERS. A letter of yours, eh? Listen to this, Renny! "Darling Finch."
My God! That this sort of muck should be written to a brother of mine!
Here, Renny, read it yourself. Who the hell is this Arthur?

FINCH. He's a friend of mine; he helps me with my music.

RENNY (_after reading the letter_). I'm disgusted with you!

    (FINCH _feels annihilated. His face is drawn._)

FINCH. I don't understand!

PIERS. He doesn't _understand_!

RENNY. Do you know what this leads to?

FINCH. The orchestra?

RENNY. No, not the orchestra! (_Striking the letter._) I'd rather you
had spent last night in a brothel than to find you carrying that sloppy
letter about! (_He tosses the letter into the fireplace._)

FINCH. What's it all about? I don't understand.

RENNY. This man is no friend for you, whoever he is!

FINCH. But Renny----

RENNY. He's a rotter. You'll keep away from him in future. Can you
understand that?

PIERS. What have you done with the money you've earned by the orchestra?

FINCH. I spent it on concerts--to hear music.

RENNY. Concerts--my God, more music--to make you more spineless.

FINCH (_eagerly_). Music means nothing to you! It is everything to me!
My brain is never so clear as when I'm listening to music. Never so
clear and free. Arthur knows a lot about music. I like going to concerts
with him. What's wrong with that?

RENNY. How many piano lessons are left in this term?

FINCH. Two.

RENNY. There will be no more lessons till you've passed your exams.
Neither will you play the piano at home nor anywhere else. You are not
to put your hands on a keyboard until you pass your exams. Do you
understand that? (_Turning sharply to_ PIERS.) Come on, Piers. We have
wasted enough time this afternoon.

    (RENNY _goes._ PIERS _picks up the bath._)

PIERS (_to_ FINCH _with a jocular air_). I think we'll tell Gran of
this. She'll take it out of you with her stick!

    (_He follows_ RENNY_ out._)

FINCH (_shouting_). She's the only one who understands.... (_Stands
motionless for a space, then picks up the letter from where it has
fallen and reads it carefully._) But what is wrong with the letter?

    (_A pause--then his face is illuminated by understanding. He wildly
    tears the letter into several pieces and throws them into the fire.
    He stands irresolute, staring at the piano. He picks up the towel
    from the floor. He winds it about his neck and draws it tight. He
    sways a little. He is choking himself. Then, horror at what he is
    doing sweeps over him. He drops the towel. He sinks with a gasp of
    relief to the piano seat. There is a pause, then he brings his hands
    down in a wild tumult of sound, challenging and triumphant._

    LADY B., _carrying the parrot on his perch, enters with_ ADELINE,
    _very bent, supported by_ NICHOLAS _and_ ERNEST. FINCH _stops
    playing and rises._)

ADELINE. Don't stop; go on with your playing.

FINCH. No--no--I can't--not when the others are here!

ADELINE. The others won't count one day--when you're not afraid of life
any more.

FINCH. Oh!

    (FINCH _runs wildly through French window._)

ERNEST. That boy's a bundle of nerves lately.

NICHOLAS. He's very irritable.

ADELINE. He's got temperament. So have I.

LADY B. You look nice and bright this afternoon, Mama.

ADELINE. I wish I could say the same for you.

LADY B. (_looking up at portrait_). What a handsome man papa was!

ADELINE. He was. Ah, what a back he had! What eyes! What fire! What
courage! I want a cup of tea. (_Sinks heavily into her chair._)

LADY B. All our men are good-looking. (_Taking her place at the
tea-table._)

ADELINE. Oh, they're a shapely lot.

ERNEST. Where are Renny and Piers?

NICHOLAS. I believe they've been washing Merlin. And in here too!

ADELINE. I told them to! I told them to! I wanted to see the dog washed.
Then I over-slept. Well, well, well--it's all one--all one to me. It's
all one to Boney.

LADY B. (_to her brothers who have joined her at the tea-table_). I seem
to notice a difference in Mama.... And what a long time she took in
coming from her room! Did you notice anything?

ERNEST (_anxiously_). She did seem to lean heavily. Perhaps a little
more than usual.

NICHOLAS. She ate a very good lunch. A very good lunch, indeed!

    (RENNY _and_ WAKEFIELD _enter, the child clinging to_ RENNY'S
    _arm._)

NICHOLAS. She is having a little doze!

    (WAKEFIELD _runs behind_ ADELINE'S _chair, putting his hands over
    her eyes._)

WAKEFIELD (_in a hollow voice_). Who is it, my Grandmother?

    (ADELINE _wakes with a start._)

ADELINE. I wasn't asleep. It's my youngest grandson.

WAKEFIELD (_producing a few blackberries from his pocket_). Here are
some blackberries I picked for you.

ADELINE. Always thinking of me! Ah, he's wise beyond his years!

ERNEST. You must not eat them, Mama; they'll not agree with you!

NICHOLAS. They're full of seeds, you know.

ADELINE (_stuffing them into her mouth_). Seeds! Seeds and leaves! Ha,
what does that remind me of?

WAKEFIELD. Canary!

ADELINE. Flibbertigibbet canary. Well, well, what now?

WAKEFIELD. I make a special prayer for you each night, my Grandmother.

ADELINE. Ha! Pray for me, eh? What is it that you say? I should like to
know what you think I need.

WAKEFIELD. It depends on what sort of day you've had. If your appetite
has not been so good, I pray that it may be better. But if it's been
good I pray for lemon tart next day. If you have been worked up into a
rage, I pray that you may have more consideration shewn you to-morrow.

ADELINE (_hugging him to her_). Go to the cabinet yonder and choose
something for yourself. An ivory elephant! A jade monkey! Help yourself
to whatever you like.

WAKEFIELD. Hurrah! I'll make a good choice.

LADY B. Mama! You must be mad!

ADELINE. I'll give away my bed if I choose, or my head. I tell you, this
child is the apple of my eye--the apple of my eye.

    (WAKEFIELD _runs to the cabinet and fetches a handful of treasures
    to shew his grandmother._)

WAKEFIELD. Look, Gran!

ADELINE. Ah, what fun! I'll help you choose!

ERNEST. It is really very worrying, Nick.

NICHOLAS. It must be stopped.

LADY B. The child is literally _worming_ his way into Mama's affections.
Dear knows how it will end!

ERNEST. It would be monstrous if Mama should single him out! (RENNY
_enters._)

RENNY. Is tea ready?

NICHOLAS (_to_ RENNY). I must ask you to put a stop to it.

RENNY. To what?

NICHOLAS. It is very bad for my mother to know that she is being
constantly prayed for by Wakefield.

RENNY. Rot! It can't hurt her to know that Wake is praying for her. On
the contrary, it tickles her to death.

ERNEST (_lugubriously_). That's just the danger. At her age it _might_
tickle her to death. She's too old to be prayed for.

RENNY. Do you hear that, Gran? Ha, ha, ha!

ADELINE (_infected by his laughter_). Ha, ha, ha! He's chosen a jade
monkey.

WAKEFIELD. Look, Renny.

    (PIERS _and_ PHEASANT _enter. He is in white flannels._ PHEASANT
    _goes straight to old_ ADELINE _and kneels by her chair._)

PHEASANT. How are you to-day, Gran? I heard you laughing as I came in.
You've a good laugh, Grannie.

ADELINE. Yes, I'm very well, except for a little wind on the stomach.
But Boney's dull. He hasn't spoken a word for weeks. D'ye think,
maybe, he's getting old? (_Peering anxiously at the parrot._)

PHEASANT (_guardedly_). Well, he may be getting a little old.

NICHOLAS. He's moulting. He drops his feathers all over the place.

ADELINE. Dropping his feathers. Hm!

ERNEST. He bit me just as usual this morning.

ADELINE. That's good!

LADY B. (_giving_ PIERS _a cup of tea_). Take this to my mother and then
come back for the scones and honey.

    (PIERS _takes the tea to_ ADELINE. WAKEFIELD _fetches a table and
    places it in front of her._)


ADELINE (_looking up at_ PIERS, _who has now brought scones and honey_).
How nice you look! Ha, how like your grandfather you are!

PIERS (_kissing her_). This is Pheasant's birthday. I'm celebrating it.

ADELINE. Pheasant's birthday, eh? Why wasn't I told? Why was it kept
from me? I like birthdays. I'd have given her a present.

PHEASANT. Oh, would you really? How lovely!

PIERS. Well, it's not too late, Gran.

ADELINE. No, not too late--we'll enjoy ourselves. We'll turn this into
a party. Have you all brought her birthday presents? (_With a
challenging look at her family._) No! Never a present for the child!

PHEASANT (_surveying her elders with the startled timid gaze of a young
wild thing_). Of course not. I have never thought of getting presents.

ADELINE. Hm. (_Swallowing a piece of scone._) It's the unexpected that
happens. She is going to get a present--and from me!

PHEASANT. How thrilling!

    (_A chill of apprehension falls on the family._)

PIERS (_enjoying it_). There is nothing so exciting as an unexpected
present, is there, Pheasant?

ADELINE. How old are you, child?

PHEASANT (_timidly_). Twenty.

ADELINE. Twenty--eh? Sweet and twenty. I was twenty once--ha! (_Sings._)
"Come and kiss me, sweet and twenty! Youth's a stuff will not----"
How does it go?

PIERS (_helping her with tune_). "Youth's a stuff will not endure!"
(_They finish the bar together._)

    (ADELINE _spreads out her hands, palms down, and examines her
    rings._)

ERNEST. Mama, this excitement is very bad for you.

RENNY. She thrives on it.

PIERS. You enjoy yourself, Grannie.

ERNEST. She's breathing very fast.

LADY B. Can't we do something to distract her?

NICHOLAS. Bring the backgammon board. She likes a game of backgammon
after tea.

    (ERNEST _fetches the backgammon board._)

ADELINE. I've not finished my tea. I want cake. (NICHOLAS _offers
cake._) Not that white wishy-washy cake. Fruit cake.

NICHOLAS. Now then, old lady!

    (ERNEST _and_ NICHOLAS _hurry forward with plum cake._ ADELINE
    _selects a piece, lays it on her plate. She takes large bites of her
    cake. With a decisive movement she removes from the third finger of
    her right hand a ring of glowing rubies. She takes_ PHEASANT'S _thin
    brown hand in hers and puts it on her middle finger._)

ADELINE. Now this is a favourite of mine--a pigeon's blood ruby.
(_Smiling up at_ PHEASANT.) Give you colour, my dear. Give you heart.
Nothing like a ruby.... I'll try some of that pale cake now that I've
got rid of my ruby. Ha! My old hand looks funny without that ring.

PHEASANT (_starry-eyed, reverent_). Oh, you darling Gran! (_She
embraces_ ADELINE _rapturously._)

PIERS. By George, this _is_ a birthday! Look, Renny, isn't it a beauty?

RENNY. Splendid! Let me see how it becomes that little paw.

LADY B. Very incongruous.

WAKEFIELD (_examining the ring._) You've got a fine ring there, my girl.
I hope you will take care of it.

    (_Enter_ MR. PATTON.)

MR. PATTON. Good afternoon. Ah, how do you do, Mrs. Whiteoak? But there
is no need to ask. You look extraordinarily vigorous.

ADELINE. No new Will made to-day, you know. Have a piece of the plum
cake. From a recipe I brought with me from Ireland.

MR. PATTON. No, thank you. I've had my tea already. (_To_ PHEASANT.)
You're looking very pleased with yourself this afternoon.

PHEASANT. Yes, I am.

ADELINE. I've just been giving her a present. Shew your ring, child.
That ruby belonged to a rajah once. I've worn it for seventy-five years,
ha!

PHEASANT (_shyly displays the ring_). Isn't it lovely? See how it glows!
It almost seems alive!

MR. PATTON. It's a ring I've always admired. Jewels are so beautiful on
young hands.

    (ADELINE _finishes her cake, eating the moist crumbs from her saucer
    with a spoon. Then she extends her bereft right hand towards_ PATTON
    _with a flourish._)

ADELINE. You think they don't suit my old hands, eh?

MR. PATTON. Nonsense! I have never seen hands better shaped for the
wearing of rings.

ADELINE (_complacently_). They were shapely hands once.

RENNY. Lovely hands, Gran.

ERNEST. More tea, Mama?

ADELINE. No.... That last cup gave me wind.

ERNEST. What about backgammon?

NICHOLAS. We were just thinking about a game of backgammon when you came
in, Mr. Patton. Perhaps you will play with my mother.

MR. PATTON. I should like it.

ERNEST. She always enjoys a game after tea.

ADELINE. More fun than making Wills! No fees for this visit.

MR. PATTON. On the contrary, it is I who should pay, for the pleasure.

ADELINE. I'm not wanting a new Will made. No, no--I've made my last
Will and Testament--my mind's content at last. I'm ready for any sport.

    (_The backgammon board is placed. The family form an interested
    group._)

MR. PATTON. Come along then.

ADELINE. I'll beat you! You've never outwitted me yet, sir! Be prepared
to lose as usual. I'm black.

MR. PATTON. Very good, I'm red.

    (_They throw._)

ADELINE. Six and a four. I begin. Tell me, child, did you pray for me
last night?

WAKEFIELD (_close by her chair_). Yes, my Grandmother.

ERNEST. Tch, tch, tch....

ADELINE (_throwing and looking triumphantly about her._) He never misses
a night! And what did you pray?

WAKEFIELD. I prayed--let's see--I prayed that you would give a present
to-day, and get one!

ADELINE (_striking the arm of her chair with her palm_). Ha! Listen to
that! A present! Now who would give me a present? No, no, I must do all
the giving ... till the last. (_She throws._) And then you can all give
me a present--of a fine funeral. Double sixes.

ERNEST (_to_ AUGUSTA). All this praying is very depressing for mama. It
must be stopped.

LADY B. It is positively dangerous.

    (FINCH _enters quietly by French window._ PATTON _throws._)

MR. PATTON. Six and a five. Lovers' Leap.

NICHOLAS. This game of backgammon will divert her.

ERNEST. The last time I played with her she was not very clear about it.

LADY B. Her lucidity is not so important as her tranquillity.

ADELINE. I'll double you.

MR. PATTON. All right. I'll take it.

WAKEFIELD. You haven't got a chance, Mr. Patton.

ADELINE (_throwing_). A point! (_Strikes her hands together._) A point!
Finch, do you hear? I have made a point!

FINCH. Yes--I hear.

MR. PATTON. I begin to be very apprehensive. (_Throws._)

ADELINE. You may well.

MR. PATTON. Two and a five. That's no good to me.

ADELINE. Double fours.

WAKEFIELD. Well played, my Grandmother.

RENNY. You're doing nobly, old lady.

    (_The faces of all turn toward her, applauding her._)

ADELINE (_suddenly very tired but very happy. Mumbling_). Ah, yes. I'm
in good form to-day. Very good form--to-night. (_To_ FINCH.) Always in
good form at night, hey, Finch?

FINCH. Yes ... you are.

    (MR. PATTON _leans back in his chair and stares at the parrot._)

ADELINE. There's something in the air. I feel something very quick and
strong. You feel it, Finch, don't you?

FINCH. Yes.... I feel something very quick and strange.

ADELINE. Boney doesn't talk now, eh? (_Craning her neck so as to see the
bird._) He doesn't talk at all. Poor Boney! Poor old Boney! Doesn't
talk at all!

RENNY. Well, he's getting on, Gran.

ADELINE. Doesn't say curse words. Doesn't say love words. Silent as the
grave, eh, Boney? (_To_ FINCH.) D'ye think he's perhaps lived too long?
What do you say, Finch? (_With a revival of vitality._) Out you go, Mr.
Patton. (_Throws._)

MR. PATTON. Oh, dear! Oh, dear!

ADELINE. An odd boy, but I like him. Yes, I like him very much.

MR. PATTON. I am sure you do.

    (PIERS _and_ PHEASANT _have moved apart from the others._ PIERS'
    _laugh breaks out sharply._)

ADELINE. What's that you're laughing at? Something about me, eh? Go on,
go on with the game. I am red.

WAKEFIELD. But Gran, you're black!

ADELINE. Not a bit of it! I'm red. I'm red. (_To_ FINCH.) I shall win.
Watch me. I'm winning. Keep your eyes on me, Finch. (_To_ PATTON.) The
boy has fine eyes. Have you ever noticed?

MR. PATTON. Yes, I have.

ADELINE. He is not handsome like the others. He's the odd one--ha, yes!
Now--we'll play. I'm red.

MR. PATTON (_humouring her_). Yes, yes, you're red. (_He changes the
men, giving her the red ones._)

ADELINE. No, I'm not. I was black.

MR. PATTON. Oh yes, so you were.

ADELINE. Come on then. (_Throws._) Double sixes.

WAKEFIELD. But--it's not!

    (_She fumbles for her men._ WAKEFIELD, _leaning on her shoulder,
    helps with the play. She is beaten but she does not know it._)

ADELINE. A double game! A double game! Backgammon!

MR. PATTON (_smiling indulgently_). Splendid!

    (FINCH _feels himself sinking beneath a cloud. He stares into her
    eyes._)

FINCH. Gran....

WAKEFIELD. But, my Grandmother, you're beaten. Don't you know when
you're beaten?

ADELINE. Me beaten? I won't have it. Never beaten! (_She is staring at_
FINCH.) It's been a great game. A great game!

WAKEFIELD (_nudging her shoulder_). Another game, Gran? Aren't you going
to play another game?

MR. PATTON (_gathering up the men_). But perhaps you're tired.

FINCH. Yes, I'm afraid you're very tired, Gran.

    (ADELINE _is still smiling into_ FINCH'S _eyes. Her eyes are saying:
    "A Court afraid of death? Gammon!" But she is dead. There is sudden
    consternation._)

NICHOLAS (_springing to his feet_). Mother!

ERNEST. Mama!

PIERS. What's up?

LADY B. Oh dear! Oh dear!

PHEASANT. Grannie, darling!

    (PHEASANT _throws herself on her knees beside_ ADELINE'S _chair._)

RENNY. Good God!

    (_They are all on their feet._ ADELINE'S _head sinks. They cluster
    frantically about her, holding smelling salts to her nose, forcing
    brandy between her lips, wringing their hands._)

NICHOLAS. Is she dead?

RENNY. I don't believe it! She can't have died like this!

PIERS. Shall I telephone for the doctor?

RENNY. It's too late, Piers. She's gone!

FINCH. Don't shut her eyes! (_Backing from her._) Don't shut her eyes!


CURTAIN




ACT III


SCENE: _The same. A week later._

    (NICHOLAS, ERNEST, LADY B., MEG, PIERS _and_ PHEASANT _are seated
    about the room._ FINCH _is sitting on the piano seat with bent head.
    The piano is closed. In the centre a table is covered by papers
    which_ PATTON, _the lawyer, is just gathering up._ RENNY _is
    standing by his side with a troubled expression. The air is pregnant
    with battling emotions. As the curtain rises_ PATTON _is reading the
    formal ending of_ ADELINE'S _Will. When he finishes there is a
    prolonged pause._)

RENNY. You're sure there is no doubt of her sanity?

MR. PATTON. None whatever.

RENNY. Well, she had a right to do what she liked with her own money,
but--it's rather hard on my uncles.

MR. PATTON. Yes, yes.... Yes--indeed.

RENNY. And so entirely unexpected. She never seemed to care especially
for him. She was much more partial to Piers.

MR. PATTON. You never can tell.

RENNY. With women--I suppose not.

MR. PATTON. Nor men either. It's extraordinary what some men will do....
But this is hard on you too. Particularly as in most of the former
Wills----

RENNY. I'm not worrying about that. How many Wills did you say there
have been?

MR. PATTON. Eight, during the twenty years I have looked after her
affairs. In most of them you were her heir.

    (WAKEFIELD _enters, staring about him inquisitively._ RENNY _lays a
    hand on his neck._)

MR. PATTON. He's looking pretty well. He's growing tall.

RENNY. There's no bone to him. Just gristle. Got no appetite.

MR. PATTON (_feeling_ WAKEFIELD'S _arm_). Not very firm. Still--his eyes
are bright, but then your family runs to bright eyes.

WAKEFIELD. Who did Gran leave her money to?

RENNY. Shut up.

MR. PATTON. Well--good-bye--it's really--I'm quite ... Good-bye.

    (RENNY _and_ PATTON _shake hands. They go out together._)

WAKEFIELD. But who--who--? Won't anyone tell me? What's the matter?

    (_No one answers him._)

WAKEFIELD. Why are you all looking so strange? Who? (_Running out after_
RENNY.) Renny, who did Gran leave her money to?

NICHOLAS (_turning from the table and rising very heavily_). It's an
outrage! That's what it is! Nothing short of an outrage.

MEG. Maurice said there wouldn't be anything for us.

PIERS. I always knew he had a yellow streak. But how he accomplished
this!

NICHOLAS. He accomplished it by the most insinuating--the most
subtle----

LADY B. My mother must have been demented. Let Mr. Patton say what he
will.

NICHOLAS. She was demented.

PIERS. He's an old fool, to allow a woman of Gran's age to play ducks
and drakes with her money! It's a case for the courts. (RENNY _enters._)
Are you going to let yourself be done out of what is really yours,
Renny?

LADY B. Really _his_?

NICHOLAS. Really his? Upon my word!

PIERS. Yes. Really _his._ What about those other Wills?

LADY B. What of the Will in which all was left to your Uncle Ernest?

NICHOLAS. And the Will in which all was left to me?

PIERS. That was many years ago!

LADY B. She was sane then. She _must_ have been _quite mad_ when she
made this Will.

RENNY (_holding up his hand_). Don't! Don't! I won't have her talked
about like this.

    (_A pause._)

LADY B. (_impressively_). The money should have gone to Ernest.

ERNEST. I can do without the money.

PIERS. I don't see why the blazes you insist the money should go to
Uncle Ernest! What about Uncle Nick? And Renny has had the whole family
to keep for years.

LADY B. I came from England to look after my mother. What could she have
done without me, I'd like to know?

PIERS. Kept up an establishment of her own! She'd plenty of money!

MEG. Money she has hoarded for years--at Renny's expense.

NICHOLAS. Say one word more! Say one word more!

    (_He struggles to rise but cannot._ ERNEST _springs up and goes to
    him. He helps him to his feet._ AUGUSTA _also goes to him. The three
    face the younger generation._)

PIERS. I repeat what I said.

RENNY. It doesn't matter what he says. I've never grudged----

NICHOLAS (_sardonically_). Well, now that's handsome of you. Very
handsome of you! You haven't begrudged us a roof! Our food. We ought to
feel grateful. Eh, Augusta?

LADY B. Oh yes. Very grateful.

ERNEST. It's nice to know that he hasn't grudged us our food.

RENNY. I don't understand you. You purposely put me in the wrong.

LADY B. If I had known! If I had ever dreamed! But, never mind, I shall
be going back to England soon. Thank heaven, I have my own house there!

RENNY. For God's sake, be fair. Have I ever acted as though I didn't
want any of you here? I've always wanted you! I've always wanted Gran!
Why--home wouldn't have been home without her.

PIERS. That's the trouble. Renny's been too generous. And this is the
thanks he gets!

NICHOLAS (_growling_). _You_ to talk! You who brought your wife here
when all the family was against it! It was little you thought of Renny
then.

LADY B. Yes. And who was she?

PIERS. What do you mean?

MEG. Everyone talks so selfishly. As though his side of the question was
the only one! What about me? Put off with an old Indian shawl and a gold
watch and chain.

LADY B. My mother's watch was a treasured possession to her. She thought
that you would value it. And those Indian shawls are priceless nowadays.

ERNEST. They are sought after by connoisseurs.

MEG. Connoisseurs! I've seen Boney making his nest in this one! I could
have borne her giving the ruby ring to Pheasant. But a watch and chain
... and a _shawl_ that a parrot used to make his nest in!

NICHOLAS. I've heard enough from you!

LADY B. Margaret!

MEG. What I want to know is whether Pheasant is to get anything else.

PHEASANT. But I should never expect anything else.

RENNY. Each grandson's wife is to have a piece of jewellery, or the
grandson a piece for his prospective wife. As I understand the Will,
Aunt Augusta and I are to make the choice. Isn't that so, Aunt?

LADY B. Yes. But Pheasant already has her bequest.

MEG. You hear! Aunt Augusta agrees! Pheasant has had her bequest.

PIERS. She has nothing of the sort. The ruby ring was a present entirely
outside the Will.

RENNY. Piers is right. The ruby ring is outside the Will.

    (_A sultry lull falls for a moment on the room._)

LADY B. The whole situation is disgraceful. I have never known such
ingratitude. I and my brothers are put off with paltry possessions of my
mother's.

NICHOLAS. And the memory of our mother is insulted by Piers who says she
sponged on Renny.

ERNEST. And we, too! We sponged! Don't forget that!

NICHOLAS. While Renny benevolently tells us that he has never grudged us
shelter and food.

LADY B. If only we could return the food!

RENNY (_despairingly_). Oh, Lord! (_Rises and walks up and down._)

LADY B. My mother was deranged--there is no doubt of it.

MEG. Have you anything to go on? Had she been behaving oddly in any way?

LADY B. I've noticed a difference.

MEG (_eagerly_). What sort of things, Auntie?

LADY B. For one thing I overheard her several times talking to herself.

NICHOLAS. Hm! Did you notice anything singular in what she said? Did she
ever mention Finch's name?

LADY B. M--yes. Yes, she did. She muttered something once about Finch
and a Chinese goddess.

ERNEST. Strange. Very strange.

NICHOLAS. Did you ask her what she meant?

LADY B. Yes, and she said: "That lad has guts, though you mightn't
think it!" ... I did wish she would not use such coarse expressions!

MEG. Surely that is sufficient proof. Do what you like about an appeal,
but I think no one who was sane would ramble like that.

LADY B. Yes. And to ramble so rudely!

NICHOLAS. That's nothing. If anyone could hear my mutterings to myself,
I might easily be considered dotty!

PIERS. You may be, but the rest of us aren't! It's a case for the
courts!

MEG. Yes, indeed! We might arrange to have the money divided equally.

LADY B. If it could be done--it's really the just way out of the
difficulty.

ERNEST. It seems to me that I've never known Mama brighter than she was
that last day.

MEG. If you call it _bright_, giving away her most valuable ring.

PIERS. For the Lord's sake try to get your mind off that ring! One would
think it represented a fortune!

MEG (_rising_). It quite probably does. What can you know of the value
of jewels----

PIERS. I should like to know what you know of the value of anything. You
spent ten years trying to make up your mind to marry your next-door
neighbour.

    (MEG _bursts into tears._)

LADY B. (_booming_). Is it our duty, I wonder, to make an appeal? To
settle the matter in court?

PIERS. It's the sane thing to do.

NICHOLAS. What's that you say? I can't hear for the noise Meg is
making!

LADY B. (_still louder_). I said I wondered if we should go to law about
it.

NICHOLAS. Perhaps we should.

ERNEST. I wonder.

    (MEG _ceases crying._ _All eyes turn to_ RENNY.)

RENNY. We shall do no such thing! We'll settle our affairs in our own
way without any intervention from outsiders. I had rather give up Jalna
than take Gran's Will into Court. As to her sanity--sane or insane, her
money was hers to do what she liked with! I believe she was perfectly
sane. I think I never knew a better brain than hers. All her life she
knew what she wanted to do--and did it. And if this last act is a bitter
pill for some of us, all we can do is to swallow it, and not get
cock-eyed fighting over it. Imagine the newspaper articles! Descendants
of Centenarian at War over Will! How should we like that?

ERNEST. Horrible!

NICHOLAS. No, no, no, it would never do!

LADY B. Newspapers! Outsiders gossiping! I could not bear that!

MEG. But still----

PIERS. You are the one most concerned, Renny. If you're willing to take
it lying down----

NICHOLAS (_furiously_). I can't see why you persist in regarding Renny
as the one chiefly concerned! It's very irritating!

RENNY. That's beside the point, Uncle Nick. The point is that we can't
go to law over Gran's Will, isn't it?

NICHOLAS (_proudly_). That's the point. We cannot go to law.

ERNEST. No, no, no, we cannot go to law.

LADY B. No!

MEG. Then there's nothing to be done. (_She weeps._)

NICHOLAS. Stop snivelling, Meggie.

LADY B. You still have the shawl and the watch.

PIERS (_sarcastically_). Yes, and Renny has Gran's old painted bedstead.
What are you going to do with _that_, Renny?

RENNY. Get into it and stay there if this sort of thing keeps on.

ERNEST. Wasn't the boy born with a caul?

RENNY. What?

ERNEST. A caul. C-A-U-L, caul.

RENNY. Who?

ERNEST. Finch.

RENNY. How the hell should I know?

ERNEST. Wasn't he, Augusta?

LADY B. Yes, he was. He had a complete caul over his head and face.

PIERS. What on earth's that got to do with it?

ERNEST. It's supposed to be a good omen. To bring luck.

PIERS. Aha, now we've hit it. It's the caul that did it. Gosh,
you're a dirty dog, Finch, to go sneaking round with a caul on your
head, rounding up all the ducats in the family.

    (FINCH, _shaking with rage, gets to his feet._)

RENNY. Sit down! Sit down!

    (FINCH _drops to the seat, resting his head on his hand._)

ERNEST. You are a fortunate young man, Finch. One who is born with a
caul will never make a failure of life. I wish I'd got one.

PIERS. So do I! It seems a shame that Finch should have all the luck.

    (FINCH _rises and walks stumblingly across the room._ NICHOLAS _lays
    a heavy hand on his shoulder._)

NICHOLAS. Don't go away, boy. I should like to ask you a few questions.

    (_He draws_ FINCH _to a chair next his own._)

ERNEST. Yes. We should like to find out something of the inside of this
affair.

NICHOLAS. Did my mother ever give you reason to believe that she was
going to leave her money to you?

FINCH. No, Uncle Nick.

NICHOLAS. Did she ever speak to you of the disposal of her property?

FINCH. No, Uncle Nick.

NICHOLAS. Did she ever speak to you of having made a new Will?

FINCH. No--she never spoke of a new Will to me.

ERNEST. Be careful! Be careful, Finch!

NICHOLAS. You had no idea that her Will was in your favour?

FINCH. No.

NICHOLAS. Then you would have us believe that you were as much surprised
as we were when Patton read the Will?

FINCH. I--I was.

PIERS. Come, come, you don't expect us to believe that? You never turned
a hair when Patton read the Will. I was looking at you. You knew damned
well what was coming.

MEG. Of course he knew.

FINCH (_shouting_). I did not! (_He springs to his feet._)

NICHOLAS. Don't bluster, Piers. Sit down, my boy. I want to untwist this
tangle if possible. (_His eyes pierce_ FINCH.) Now tell us, please, what
in your opinion was my mother's reason for making you her heir?

    (FINCH _sits twisting his hands between his knees._)

ERNEST. Yes. Tell us why you think she did such a thing. We are not
angry with you. We only want to find out whether there was any reason
for such an extraordinary act.

MEG. You must admit that it is extraordinary that you should be left her
whole fortune.

NICHOLAS. Hush, Meggie. Now, Finch you tell us what you think the reason
was.

FINCH. I don't know of any reason.

NICHOLAS (_to_ AUGUSTA). What was that about Mama's talking to herself?
Something about a Chinese goddess.

LADY B. I couldn't make it out. Just some mumbled words about Finch and
the goddess Kuan Yin.

NICHOLAS. Now what about this Chinese goddess, Finch?

FINCH. She said I might learn--she--that is--she said I might get to
understand something of life from her.

NICHOLAS. From her?

FINCH. Yes. Kuan Yin.

MEG. It sounds as though Gran and Finch were both a little mad at the
time.

NICHOLAS. At the time? Just how long ago did this conversation take
place?

FINCH. Oh, at the beginning of the summer.

NICHOLAS. Now, tell me exactly what led up to this conversation.

ERNEST. I have not seen the little goddess for some time. Strange, I
didn't miss it! Have you noticed it lately, Augusta?

LADY B. No--I have not. _It is not in Mama's room!_ It must have been
stolen.

ERNEST. Why--why--this is amazing!

FINCH. She gave it to me.

MEG. As though you hadn't enough.

NICHOLAS. Where is it?

FINCH. In my room.

LADY B. I've never seen Kuan Yin in your room.

FINCH. I keep her hidden. (_In weary contempt_) I burn incense before
her at sunrise.

    (_If_ FINCH _had suddenly produced horns on his young brow or hoofs
    instead of worn brown shoes, he could scarcely appear as a greater
    monstrosity to his family. They draw back from a Whiteoak who has
    risen at sunrise to burn incense before a heathen goddess._)

PIERS. Good Lord!

    (_Hastily he leaves the room._)

NICHOLAS (_rising_). When I was at Oxford there were fellows who did
that sort of thing. I never thought to see a nephew of mine ...

ERNEST. These are dangerous practices. He'll be turning Papist next.

NICHOLAS. You expect us to believe that you hoped to gain nothing by my
mother's Will when in secret she was giving you valuable presents?

FINCH. I didn't know Kuan Yin was valuable. I only knew Gran was very
fond of her.

MEG. You must have thought it was very strange that she should give away
things she had treasured all those years!

NICHOLAS. What motive had you in hiding the present?

FINCH. Well, I thought--I knew she----

NICHOLAS. Well?

ERNEST. The truth, Finch. The truth!

FINCH. I thought I'd get into a row.

NICHOLAS. Just for having a present given you! Come now!

LADY B. It's ridiculous!

ERNEST. But why should she have given him anything? I can't make it out.

    (PIERS _enters carrying Kuan Yin._)

PIERS. Look at him and you'll understand. He's such an intriguing young
devil! I'm always longing to give him something (_flourishing the china
figure._) There it is, the cause of the trouble. Now tell us what you've
learned from her (_strides to piano and sets Kuan Yin on it_).

RENNY. I'm getting fed up with this.

LADY B. Very unnecessary to have brought that idol down here.

FINCH. I'm glad she's here.

ERNEST. We've got to get to the bottom of this.

NICHOLAS. Were you often alone with my mother? I don't remember ever
finding you together.

    (FINCH'S _chin sinks to his breast._)

RENNY. Make a clean breast of it, Finch. Tell us everything.

FINCH. I won't!

RENNY. You didn't steal the money or the goddess either! Don't look as
though you had!

FINCH (_in a husky voice, very tired_). I'd been going to the church to
practise on the organ at night. Once, when I came in very late, Gran
called me. We talked together. That was the night she gave me the
goddess. After that, I used to go to her room--almost every night.

NICHOLAS. You went almost every night to my mother's room?

ERNEST. What did you talk about?

FINCH. I played sometimes--I talked about music--but not much. She did
most of the talking.

ERNEST. No wonder she was drowsy in the daytime. Awake half the night
talking!

NICHOLAS. And in those night meetings you talked over her affairs?

FINCH. Yes.

LADY B. She who needed her rest!

ERNEST. You shortened her days!

FINCH. I lengthened her nights. She was grand in those nights. You
should have seen her! (_Recklessly_) We used to have biscuits and
sherry. That made her enjoy herself even more. It helped to keep her
awake.

NICHOLAS. Good God!

ERNEST. No wonder she was absent-minded!

LADY B. No wonder that for the last month her breakfast trays have come
away almost untouched!

MEG (_wailing_). I saw her failing day by day.

NICHOLAS. This has probably shortened her life by years.

ERNEST (_distractedly_). It has killed her! There is no doubt about it.
It has killed her!

NICHOLAS. Well--he will have that on his conscience.

LADY B. He is little better than a murderer!

PHEASANT. Oh, no, no! How can you all say such things? I won't listen!

    (PHEASANT _goes swiftly through the french window._)

FINCH. I won't listen either. I'm going away to work--to study in
Europe.

    (PIERS _laughs sardonically._)

FINCH. You can go to hell, Piers, with your sneering. I'm not afraid of
you any more! I'm not afraid of any of you! (_He is greatly excited._)

RENNY. Steady, steady.

LADY B. The boy is mad.

MEG. I begin to think he is terribly like Gran!

NICHOLAS. My mother! My mother's money! And I her eldest son!

ERNEST. She leaned on me!

NICHOLAS. Much good it did her!

PIERS. The whole thing is a tremendous joke on the family. We thought
Finch was a weakling. But, don't you see, he's the strongest, the
sanest, of the lot? He's been pulling the wool over everybody's eyes
for years. Poor, harmless, hobbledehoy Finch! Well-meaning, but so
simple! I tell you, he's as cool and calculating as they make them!

MEG. He has deceived us all!

RENNY. Rot!

PIERS. Are you standing up for him, Renny? When he has fooled you all
along! He's tricked you into thinking he was studying when he spent his
time at music. And now he's tricked you out of Gran's money!

FINCH. It's a lie!

PIERS. Are you going to tell me you didn't set out to cheat Renny!

FINCH. I'm not cheating Renny! I don't want to cheat anyone! I don't
want the money! I want to give it back! I won't take it!--I won't take
it!--I won't take it!--I never knew!--I never knew! Don't say I killed
her! Take the money! Take it--_all_ of you!

    (_Collapses in hysterical sobs on piano seat._)

RENNY. For God's sake, pull yourself together! You make me ashamed.

MEG. Oh, it's all too upsetting! (_She weeps._)

RENNY. Behave yourself, Meggie. Or if you can't, clear out.

    (MEG _goes out weeping._)

NICHOLAS. Upon my word, Meg behaves as though she were the only one
concerned.

LADY B. She was insulting to our mother's memory with her talk about the
shawl.

ERNEST (_standing in front of the portrait of old_ ADELINE). Mama little
knew the tempest she was brewing when she made that Will!

PIERS. I'll bet she knew! (_He grins maliciously._)

LADY B. You, too, Piers! You dare insult her memory!

PIERS (_looking at the portrait of Captain Philip Whiteoak_). A lot of
good my resemblance to him did me!

NICHOLAS. So--you actually dared to aspire----

ERNEST. Over our heads!

LADY B. It was presumption and insolence! (_Rises._)

PIERS. Oh, I don't know. Gran took a good deal of pleasure in that
resemblance.

ERNEST. It did not count with her at all.

PIERS. No! Neither did your seniority nor Renny's right! Nothing counted
but that fellow's (_jerking his head toward_ FINCH) insidious charm!

FINCH. Take the money!

NICHOLAS. Don't say that again! It's ridiculous!

ERNEST. It's maddening!

LADY B. It's a comfort to know that the child can't even inherit it for
two years.

PIERS. A lot can happen in that time.

NICHOLAS (_turning on_ PIERS). You did damned well--you and Pheasant----

ERNEST. A magnificent ruby!

LADY B. Almost priceless!

PIERS. How it soars and soars! Before we know where we are it will be
worth more than all the rest of the fortune.

RENNY (_quietly_). You talk like a fool.

PIERS. Hm, well, I shall return to my paradise--the stable!

    (_On the way to the door he hesitates by_ FINCH'S _side, gives a
    short laugh--sardonic rather than bitter._)

RENNY. You had better go and rest, Auntie. You look tired.

LADY B. (_on a deep note_). I am tired. I think I shall go and lie down.
Come, Ernest--Come, Nicholas.

ERNEST. Yes, I shall go to my room.

NICHOLAS. I need a whisky and soda after this.

    (_The three go, leaving_ RENNY _and_ FINCH _alone._)

RENNY (_putting his hand on_ FINCH'S _shoulder_). Well--it's all over.
(_Pause._) I say it's all over.

FINCH. Is it?

RENNY. It's just as Piers says--a lot can happen in two years. You'll
grow up. You'll show the family what you are made of.

FINCH. They hate me.

RENNY. No, they don't.

FINCH. They say I killed Gran.

RENNY. And you know that you gave her a damned good time in those night
meetings.

FINCH. Yes, she loved them.

RENNY. And she loved you. Buck up! Don't disappoint her ... And as for
that thing (_with a gesture toward piano_)--well, play on it as much as
you like. (_He moves hesitatingly towards the door._)

FINCH. Don't go!--Renny--look here, could we have Gran's door open
again. (_He moves tentatively towards_ ADELINE'S _room._)

RENNY. Yes, it's been closed long enough. (FINCH _opens the door of_
ADELINE'S _room._ BONEY _is seen sitting on his perch at the foot of the
bed._)

RENNY. That's better.

FINCH (_at door_). Lord, I can almost hear Gran talking!--"What's going
on? I won't be left out of things!" Can't you hear her, Renny?

RENNY. Yes ... yes.... She seems to be with us.

FINCH. God--what courage----

RENNY. Don't you realise, Finch, that you've got it too? Clever old
Gran discovered it and has given you your chance.... Now--make the most
of it. Don't let her down!

    (_He goes slowly off._)

    (FINCH _smiles with a look almost of exaltation. He crosses slowly
    to piano; sits down before it. He lays his hands on Kuan Yin.
    Strength enters into him. Then he drops his hands to the keyboard.
    With his hands on the keys he looks into_ ADELINE'S _room._ _His
    hands feel for the keys. He plays._)


CURTAIN


THE END




_Printed in Great Britain by_ R. & R. CLARK, LIMITED, _Edinburgh._




Transcriber's Notes

Obvious printing errors are corrected.






[End of Whiteoaks, by Mazo de la Roche]
