DICK.Have some Eau de Cologne.I 'll make you a bandage.[He takes the Eau de Cologne,and makes a bandage with his handkerchief.]
It's quite clean.
JOY.Oh,****,you are so funny!
DICK.[Bandaging her forehead.]I can't bear you to feel bad;it puts me off completely.I mean I don't generally make a fuss about people,but when it 's you--JOY.[Suddenly.]I'm all right.
DICK.Is that comfy?
JOY.[With her chin up,and her eyes fast closed.]Quite.
DICK.I'm not going to stay and worry you.You ought to rest.
Only,Joy!Look here!If you want me to do anything for you,any time--JOY.[Half opening her eyes.]Only to go away.
[DICK bites his lips and walks away.]
****--[softly]--****!
[DICK stops.]
I didn't mean that;will you get me some water-irises for this evening?
DICK.Won't I?[He goes to the hollow tree and from its darkness takes a bucket and a boat-hook.]I know where there are some rippers!
[JOY stays unmoving with her eyes half closed.]
Are you sure you 're all right.Joy?You 'll just rest here in the shade,won't you,till I come back?--it 'll do you no end of good.Ishan't be twenty minutes.
[He goes,but cannot help returning softly,to make sure.]
You're quite sure you 're all right?
[JOY nods.He goes away towards the river.But there is no rest for JOY.The voices of MRS.GWYN and LEVER are heard returning.]
JOY.[With a gesture of anger.]Hateful!Hateful!
[She runs away.]
[MRS.GWYN and LEVER are seen approaching;they pass the tree,in conversation.]
MRS.GWYN.But I don't see why,Maurice.
LEVER.We mean to sell the mine;we must do some more work on it,and for that we must have money.
MRS.GWYN.If you only want a little,I should have thought you could have got it in a minute in the City.
LEVER.[Shaking his head.]No,no;we must get it privately.
MRS.GWYN.[Doubtfully.]Oh![She slowly adds.]Then it isn't such a good thing!
[And she does not look at him.]
LEVER.Well,we mean to sell it.
MRS.GWYN.What about the people who buy?
LEVER.[Dubiously regarding her.]My dear girl,they've just as much chance as we had.It 's not my business to think of them.
There's YOUR thousand pounds--
MRS.GWYN.[Softly.]Don't bother about my money,Maurice.I don't want you to do anything not quite--LEVER.[Evasively.]Oh!There's my brother's and my sister's too.
I 'm not going to let any of you run any risk.When we all went in for it the thing looked splendid;it 's only the last month that we 've had doubts.What bothers me now is your Uncle.I don't want him to take these shares.It looks as if I'd come here on purpose.
MRS.GWYN.Oh!he mustn't take them!
LEVER.That 's all very well;but it 's not so ******.
MRS.GWYN.[Shyly.]But,Maurice,have you told him about the selling?
LEVER.[Gloomily,under the hollow tree.]It 's a Board secret.
I'd no business to tell even you.
MRS.GWYN.But he thinks he's taking shares in a good--a permanent thing.
LEVER.You can't go into a mining venture without some risk.
MRS.GWYN.Oh yes,I know--but--but Uncle Tom is such a dear!
LEVER.[Stubbornly.]I can't help his being the sort of man he is.
I did n't want him to take these shares;I told him so in so many words.Put yourself in my place,Molly:how can I go to him and say,"This thing may turn out rotten,"when he knows I got you to put your money into it?
[But JOY,the lost shadow,has come back.She moves forward resolutely.They are divided from her by the hollow tree;she is unseen.She stops.]
MRS.GWYN.I think he ought to be told about the selling;it 's not fair.
LEVER.What on earth made him rush at the thing like that?I don't understand that kind of man.
MRS.GWYN.[Impulsively.]I must tell him,Maurice;I can't let him take the shares without--[She puts her hand on his arm.]
[Joy turns,as if to go back whence she came,but stops once more.]
LEVER.[Slowly and very quietly.]I did n't think you'd give me away,Molly.
MRS.GWYN.I don't think I quite understand.
LEVER.If you tell the Colonel about this sale the poor old chap will think me a man that you ought to have nothing to do with.Do you want that?
[MRS.GWYN,giving her lover a long look,touches his sleeve.
JOY,slipping behind the hollow tree,has gone.]
You can't act in a case like this as if you 'd only a principle to consider.It 's the--the special circumstances.
MRS.GWYN.[With a faint smile.]But you'll be glad to get the money won't you?
LEVER.By George!if you're going to take it like this,Molly MRS.GWYN.Don't!
LEVER.We may not sell after all,dear,we may find it turn out trumps.
MRS.GWYN.[With a shiver.]I don't want to hear any more.I know women don't understand.[Impulsively.]It's only that I can't bear any one should think that you--LEVER.[Distressed.]For goodness sake don't look like that,Molly!