SCENE I
A billiard room in a provincial hotel, where things are bought and sold.The scene is set well forward, and is not very broad; it represents the auctioneer's end of the room, having, rather to stage Left, a narrow table with two chairs facing the audience, where the auctioneer will sit and stand.The table, which is set forward to the footlights, is littered with green-covered particulars of sale.The audience are in effect public and bidders.There is a door on the Left, level with the table.Along the back wall, behind the table, are two raised benches with two steps up to them, such as billiard rooms often have, divided by a door in the middle of a wall, which is panelled in oak.Late September sunlight is coming from a skylight (not visible) on to these seats.The stage is empty when the curtain goes up, but DAWKERS, and MRS.HILLCRIST are just entering through the door at the back.
DAWKER.Be out of their way here, ma'am.See old Hornblower with Chearlie?
[He points down to the audience.]
MRS.H.It begins at three, doesn't it?
DAWKER.They won't be over-punctual; there's only the Centry selling.There's young Mrs.Hornblower with the other boy--[Pointing] over at the entrance.I've got that chap I told you of down from town.
MRS.H.Ah! make sure quite of her, Dawker.Any mistake would be fatal.
DAWKER.[Nodding] That's right, ma'am.Lot of peopled--always spare time to watch an auction--ever remark that? The Duke's agent's here; shouldn't be surprised if he chipped in.
MRS.H.Where did you leave my husband?
DAWKER.With Miss Jill, in the courtyard.He's coming to you.In case I miss him; tell him when I reach his limit to blow his nose if he wants me to go on; when he blows it a second time, I'll stop for good.Hope we shan't get to that.Old Hornblower doesn't throw his money away.
MRS.H.What limit did you settle?
DAWKER.Six thousand!
MRS.H.That's a fearful price.Well, good luck to you, Dawker!
DAWKER.Good luck, ma'am.I'll go and see to that little matter of Mrs.Chloe.Never fear, we'll do them is somehow.
[He winks, lays his finger on the side of his nose, and goes out at the door.]
[MRS.HILLCRIST mounts the two steps, sits down Right of the door, and puts up a pair of long-handled >gdaases.Through the door behind her come CHLOE and ROLF.She makes a sign for him to go, and shuts the door.
CHLOE.[At the foot of the steps in the gangway--with a slightly common accent] Mrs.Hillcrist!
MRS.H.[Not quite starting] I beg your pardon?
CHLOE.[Again] Mrs.Hillcrist----
MRS.H.Well?
CHLOE.I never did you any harm.
MRS.H.Did I ever say you did?
CHLOE.No; but you act as if I had.
MRS.H.I'm not aware that I've acted at all--as yet.You are nothing to me, except as one of your family.
CHLOE.'Tisn't I that wants to spoil your home.
MRS.H.Stop them then.I see your husband down there with his father.
CHLOE.I--I have tried.
MRS.H.[Looking at her] Oh! I suppose such men don't pay attention to what women ask them.
CHLOE.[With a flash of spirit] I'm fond of my husband.I----MRS.H.[Looking at her steadily] I don't quite know why you spoke to me.
CHLOE.[With a sort of pathetic sullenness] I only thought perhaps you'd like to treat me as a human being.
MRS.H.Really, if you don't mind, I should like to be left alone just now.
CHLOE.[Unhappily acquiescent] Certainly! I'll go to the other end.
[She moves to the Left, mounts the steps and sits down.]
[ROLF, looking in through the door, and seeing where she is, joins her.MRS.HILLCRIST resettles herself a little further in on the Right.]
ROLF.[Bending over to CHLOE, after a glance at MRS.HILLCRIST.]
Are you all right?
CHLOE.It's awfully hot.
[She fans herself wide the particulars of sale.]
ROLF.There's Dawker.I hate that chap!
CHLOE.Where?
ROLF.Down there; see?
[He points down to stage Right of the room.]
CHLOE.[Drawing back in her seat with a little gasp] Oh!
ROLF.[Not noticing] Who's that next him, looking up here?
CHLOE.I don't know.
[She has raised her auction programme suddenly, and sits fanning herself, carefully screening her face.]
ROLE.[Looking at her] Don't you feel well? Shall I get you some water? [He gets up at her nod.]
[As he reaches the door, HILLCRIST and JILL come in.HILLCRISTpasses him abstractedly with a nod, and sits down beside his wife.]
JILL.[To ROLF] Come to see us turned out?
ROLF.[Emphatically] No.I'm looking after Chloe; she's not well.
JILL.[Glancing at her] Sorry.She needn't have come, I suppose?
[RALF deigns no answer, and goes out.]
[JILL glances at CHLOE, then at her parents talking in low voices, and sits down next her father, who makes room for her.]
MRS.H.Can Dawker see you there, Jack?
[HILLCRIST nods.]
What's the time?
HILLCRIST.Three minutes to three.
JILL.Don't you feel beastly all down the backs of your legs.
Dodo?
HILLCRIST.Yes.
JILL.Do you, mother?
MRS.H.No.
JILL.A wagon of old Hornblower's pots passed while we were in the yard.It's an omen.
MRS.H.Don't be foolish, Jill.
JILL.Look at the old brute! Dodo, hold my hand.
MRS.H.Make sure you've got a handkerchief, Jack.
HILLCRIST.I can't go beyond the six thousand; I shall have to raise every penny on mortgage as it is.The estate simply won't stand more, Amy.
1
JILL.Oh! Look! There's Miss Mullins, at the back; just come in.
Isn't she a spidery old chip?
MRS.H.Come to gloat.Really, I think her not accepting your offer is disgusting.Her impartiality is all humbug.
HILLCRIST.Can't blame her for getting what she can--it's human nature.Phew! I used to feel like this before a 'viva voce'.
Who's that next to Dawker?
JILL.What a fish!
MRS.H.[To herself] Ah! yes.
[Her eyes slide round at CHLOE, silting motionless and rather sunk in her seat, slowly fanning herself with they particulars of the sale.Jack, go and offer her my smelling salts.]
HILLCRIST.[Taking the salts] Thank God for a human touch!
MRS.H.[Taken aback] Oh!
JILL.[With a quick look at her mother, snatching the salts] Iwill.[She goes over to CHLOE with the salts] Have a sniff; you look awfully white.