COLONEL.Well,out with it.
MISS BEECH.Oh!Molly knows it too!
MRS.GWYN.[Staring at the ground.]It's easy to advise.
COLONEL.[Fidgetting.]Well,if you're thinking of morphia for her,don't have anything to do with it.I've always set my face against morphia;the only time I took it was in Burmah.I'd raging neuralgia for two days.I went to our old doctor,and I made him give me some.
"Look here,doctor,"I said,"I hate the idea of morphia,I 've never taken it,and I never want to."MISS BEECH.[Looking at MRS.GWYN.]When a tooth hurts,you should have it out.It 's only puttin'off the evil day.
COLONEL.You say that because it was n't your own.
MISS BEECH.Well,it was hollow,and you broke your principles!
COLONEL.Hollow yourself,Peachey;you're as bad as any one!
MISS BEECH [With devilry.]Well,I know that![She turns to MRS.
GWYN.]He should have had it out!Shouldn't he,Molly ?
MRS.GWYN.I--don't--judge for other people.
[She gets up suddenly,as though deprived of air.]
COLONEL.[Alarmed.]Hallo,Molly!Are n't you feeling the thing,old girl?
MISS BEECH.Let her get some air,poor creature!
COLONEL.[Who follows anxiously.]Your Aunt's got some first-rate sal volatile.
MRS.GWYN.It's all right,Uncle Tom.I felt giddy,it's nothing,now.
COLONEL.That's the dancing.[He taps his forehead.]I know what it is when you're not used to it.
MRS.GWYN.(With a sudden bitter outburst.]I suppose you think I'm a very bad mother to be amusing myself while joy's suffering.
COLONEL.My dear girl,whatever put such a thought into your head?
We all know if there were anything you could do,you'd do it at once,would n't she,Peachey?
[MISS BEECH turns a slow look on MRS.GWYN.]
MRS.GWYN.Ah!you see,Peachey knows me better.
COLONEL.[Following up his thoughts.]I always think women are wonderful.There's your Aunt,she's very funny,but if there's anything the matter with me,she'll sit up all night;but when she's ill herself,and you try to do anything for her,out she raps at once.
MRS.GWYN.[In a low voice.]There's always one that a woman will do anything for.
COLONEL.Exactly what I say.With your Aunt it's me,and by George!
Molly,sometimes I wish it was n't.
MISS BEECH,[With meaning.]But is it ever for another woman!
COLONEL.You old cynic!D'you mean to say Joy wouldn't do anything on earth for her Mother,or Molly for Joy?You don't know human nature.What a wonderful night!Have n't seen such a moon for years,she's like a great,great lamp!
[MRS.GWYN hiding from Miss BEECH's eyes,rises and slips her arm through his;they stand together looking at the moon.]
Don't like these Chinese lanterns,with that moon-tawdry!eh!By Jove,Molly,I sometimes think we humans are a rubbishy lot--each of us talking and thinking of nothing but our own petty little affairs;and when you see a great thing like that up there --[Sighs.]But there's your Aunt,if I were to say a thing like that to her she 'd--she'd think me a lunatic;and yet,you know,she 's a very good woman.
MRS.GWYN.[Half clinging to him.]Do you think me very selfish,Uncle Tom?
COLONEL.My dear--what a fancy!Think you selfish--of course Idon't;why should I?
MRS.GWYN.[Dully.]I don't know.
COLONEL.[Changing the subject nervously.]I like your friend,Lever,Molly.He came to me before dinner quite distressed about your Aunt,beggin'me not to take those shares.She 'll be the first to worry me,but he made such a point of it,poor chap--in the end Iwas obliged to say I wouldn't.I thought it showed very'nice feeling.[Ruefully.]It's a pretty tight fit to make two ends meet on my income--I've missed a good thing,all owing to your Aunt.
[Dropping his voice.]I don't mind telling you,Molly,I think they've got a much finer mine there than they've any idea of.
[MRS.GWYN gives way to laughter that is very near to sobs.]
[With dignity.]I can't see what there is to laugh at.
MRS.GWYN.I don't know what's the matter with me this evening.
MISS BEECH.[In a low voice.]I do.
COLONEL.There,there!Give me a kiss,old girl![He kisses her on the brow.]Why,your forehead's as hot as fire.I know--I know-you 're fretting about Joy.Never mind--come![He draws her hand beneath his arm.]Let's go and have a look at the moon on the river.
We all get upset at times;eh![Lifting his hand as if he had been stung.]Why,you 're not crying,Molly!I say!Don't do that,old girl,it makes me wretched.Look here,Peachey.[Holding out the hand on which the tear has dropped.]This is dreadful!
MRS.GWYN.[With a violent effort.]It's all right,Uncle Tom!
[MISS BEECH wipes her own eyes stealthily.From the house is heard the voice of MRS.HOPE,calling "Tom."]
MISS BEECH.Some one calling you.
COLONEL.There,there,my dear,you just stay here,and cool yourself--I 'll come back--shan't be a minute.[He turns to go.]
[MRS.HOPE'S voice sounds nearer.]
[Turning back.]And Molly,old girl,don't you mind anything I said.
I don't remember what it was--it must have been something,I suppose.
[He hastily retreats.]
MRS.GWYN.[In a fierce low voice.]Why do you torture me?
MISS BEECH.[Sadly.I don't want to torture you.
MRS.GWYN,But you do.D'you think I haven't seen this coming--all these weeks.I knew she must find out some time!But even a day counts--MISS BEECH.I don't understand why you brought him down here.
MRS.GWYN.[After staring at her,bitterly.]When day after day and night after night you've thought of nothing but how to keep them both,you might a little want to prove that it was possible,mightn't you?But you don't understand--how should you?You've never been a mother![And fiercely.]You've never had a lov--[MISS BEECH raises her face-it is all puckered.]
[Impulsively.]Oh,I did n't mean that,Peachey!
MISS BEECH.All right,my dear.
MRS.GWYN.I'm so dragged in two![She sinks into a chair.]I knew it must come.
MISS BEECH.Does she know everything,Molly?
MRS.GWYN.She guesses.
MISS BEECH.[Mournfully.]It's either him or her then,my dear;one or the other you 'll have to give up.