Fanny and the Servant Problem Part 18

f.a.n.n.y. Not at all. [She is kissing the girls.] It's been so good to see you all again.

ENGLAND. 'Urry up, girls, there's dears. [To f.a.n.n.y] Good-bye, dear. [Kissing her.] We DO miss yer.

f.a.n.n.y. I'm glad you do.

ENGLAND. Oh, it ain't the same show. [The others are crowding out of the door. She and f.a.n.n.y are quite apart.] No chance of your coming back to it, I suppose? [A moment.] Well, there, you never know, do yer? Good-bye, dear. [Kisses her again.]

f.a.n.n.y. Good-bye! [She stands watching them out. Bennet goes down with them. Ernest is busy collecting debris. Jane and Honoria stand one each side of the table, rigid, with set faces. After a moment f.a.n.n.y goes to the open window. The voices of the girls below, crowding into the van, come up into the room. She calls down to them.] Good-bye. You've plenty of time. What? Yes, of course.

[Laughs.] All right. Good-bye. [She turns, comes slowly back. She looks at Jane and Honoria, where they stand rigid. Honoria makes a movement with her shoulders--takes a step towards the door.]

Honoria! [Honoria stops--slowly turns.] You can take away these gla.s.ses. Jane will help you.

Bennet has reappeared.

HONORIA. It's not my place -

f.a.n.n.y. Your place is to obey my orders.

BENNET [his coolness seems to have deserted him. His voice is trembling]. Obey her ladyship's orders, both of you. Leave the rest to me. [Honoria and Jane busy themselves, with Ernest setting the room to rights.] May I speak with your ladyship?

f.a.n.n.y. Certainly.

BENNET. Alone, I mean.

f.a.n.n.y. I see no need.

BENNET [her firmness takes him aback. He expected to find her defiance disappear with the cause of it. But pig-headed, as all Bennets, her opposition only drives him on]. Your ladyship is not forgetting the alternative?

The Misses Wetherell have been watching the argument much as the babes in the wood might have watched the discussion between the two robbers.

THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL [in terror]. Bennet! you're not going to give notice!

BENNET. What my duty may be, I shall be able to decide after I have spoken with her ladyship--alone.

THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL. Dear! You will see him?

f.a.n.n.y. I am sorry. I have not the time.

THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL. No. Of course. [Appealing to Bennet for mercy] Her ladyship is tired. To-morrow -

f.a.n.n.y [interrupting]. Neither to-morrow--nor any other day. [Vernon enters, followed by Newte. She advances to meet them.] You've just missed some old friends of yours. [She shakes hands with Newte.]

VERNON. So it seems. We were hoping to have been in time. [To Newte] The mare came along pretty slick, didn't she?

BENNET [he has remained with his look fixed all the time on f.a.n.n.y].

May I speak with your lordship a moment--in private?

VERNON. Now?

BENNET. It is a matter that needs to be settled now. [It is the tone of respectful authority he has always used towards the lad.]

VERNON. Well, if it's as pressing as all that I suppose you must.

[He makes a movement towards the door. To Newte] Shan't be long.

f.a.n.n.y. One moment. [Vernon stops.] I may be able to render the interview needless. Who is mistress of this house?

VERNON. Who is mistress?

f.a.n.n.y. Who is mistress of your house?

VERNON. Why, you are, of course.

f.a.n.n.y. Thank you. [She turns to Bennet] Please tell Mrs. Bennet I want her.

BENNET. I think if your lordship -

f.a.n.n.y. At once. [She is looking at him. He struggles--looks at Vernon. But Vernon is evidently inclined to support f.a.n.n.y. Bennet goes out. She crosses and seats herself at the desk. She takes from a drawer some neatly folded papers. She busies herself with figures.]

VERNON [he crosses to his Aunts]. Whatever's the matter?

THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL. She is excited. She has had a very trying time.

THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL. Bennet didn't like the idea of her receiving them.

NEWTE. It was that minx Judy's doing. They'll have the rough side of my tongue when I get back--all of them.

VERNON. What does she want with Mrs. Bennet?

THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL. I can't think.

The atmosphere is somewhat that of a sheepfold before a thunderstorm.

The Misses Wetherell are still clinging to one another. Vernon and Dr. Freemantle are both watching f.a.n.n.y. Jane, Honoria, and Ernest are still busy about the room.

Suddenly, to Newte--who is standing apart--the whole thing comes with a rush. But it is too late for him to interfere.

Mrs. Bennet, followed by Bennet, are entering the room. He shrugs his shoulders and turns away.

MRS. BENNET. Your ladyship sent for me?

f.a.n.n.y. Yes. [She half turns--holds out a paper.] This wages sheet is quite correct, I take it? It is your own.

MRS. BENNET [she takes it]. Quite correct.

f.a.n.n.y [she tears out a cheque she has written--hands it to Mrs.

Bennet]. You will find there two months' wages for the entire family. I have made it out in a lump sum payable to your husband.

The other month is in lieu of notice. [A silence. The thing strikes them all dumb. She puts the cheque-book back and closes the drawer.

She rises.] I'm sorry. There's been a misunderstanding. It's time that it ended. It has been my own fault. [To Vernon] I deceived you about my family -

NEWTE. If there's been any deceit -