Fifty Contemporary One-Act Plays Part 196

JOE. Oh, I don't know. I'd rather like to get ahead of her in something, though.

LYDIA. Well, you do believe in preparation. I can't see why you are being so beforehanded, but if it gives you any pleasure to scare me to death----

JOE. It certainly does, Lydia. And just one thing more, I want of you.

LYDIA. What?

JOE [_rather shyly_]. Take the Bible and read something to bind the promise. Just any verse.

LYDIA. This is becoming too solemn. I don't care for it.

[_She approaches the lyre table, upon which, of course, is a Bible, and opens the book._]

JOE. Then I'll be ready to go.

LYDIA [_looking at him sharply_]. Go?

JOE. Upstairs.

[_Lydia turns the leaves of the Bible._]

JOE. This will be our secret, Lydia. [_He leans forward and looks out the French door, then turns to her impatiently._] What are you waiting for?

LYDIA. Yes, Joe, our secret. Let me see. Mother was always very fond of John. [_Joe makes a movement of pain, which Lydia does not see._] Oh, I have the very thing to read you. How strange! It sounds like a prophecy for you.

JOE. Read it. [_Steps are heard in the garden. Joe looks up in alarm._]

Who is that coming?

LYDIA. Only Aunt Harriet.

[_Harriet Wilde comes in through the French door._]

HARRIET. I managed, Lydia, to some extent, to repair the damage which you----[_Seeing Joe, she stops in surprise._] Actually, Joe downstairs!

But I felt certain this morning, my dear, when you were arguing in that unheard-of fashion, that you must be better.

LYDIA [_hastily_]. I don't think it has hurt him to come down, Aunt Harriet.

HARRIET. On the contrary, I think it has done him good.

JOE. I should say it did, Aunt Harriet,--you don't know how much.

[_Again he looks toward the rear door._]

HARRIET. What is it, Joe dear? Is the doctor coming again?

JOE. No, I hardly think the doctor will need to come again.

HARRIET. Why, how gratifying. I am so glad.

[_Joe closes his eyes wearily._]

LYDIA. Aunt Harriet, Joe was just about to go up to his room, but he asked me to read something to him from the Bible first. I opened to this pa.s.sage. Won't you read it to him?

HARRIET. Yes, I will indeed. It gives me great happiness, Joe, to see you really showing a desire for the holy word of the Scripture.

[_Harriet takes the Bible from Lydia and stands in the light by the French door. She faces slightly away from Joe. Lydia walks to the rear door and stands directly beneath the portrait. She conceals a smile and looks expectantly toward her aunt._]

[_Reading_]: Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in G.o.d, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I----

JOE [_sitting erect and interrupting_]. Many mansions--many mansions--Lydia, Aunt Harriet--who said I couldn't build hou--houses--in----

[_He sinks back. Harriet does not look at him, but shuts the Bible with displeasure and moves forward to place it on the table._]

HARRIET [_coldly_]. That is positive sacrilege, Joe.

[_Lydia laughs triumphantly and steps to Joe's side, walking on her tip-toes and pretending to dance, pleased at her aunt's discomfiture._]

LYDIA [_stopping by Joe and bending over him_]. Didn't I say it was a prophecy?

[_Joe does not answer nor open his eyes. Lydia takes his hand and then drops it in fear._]

LYDIA. Aunt Harriet, come here quickly!

[_Harriet comes swiftly and stoops over Joe. She feels of his pulse and lays her hand against his heart._]

HARRIET. Joe, Joe!

LYDIA [_moving distractedly toward the door_]. I'll call the doctor.

HARRIET [_standing very straight and twisting her handkerchief_]. It will do no good, Lydia. Joe has gone. This is the way your father went and your grandfather--all the men in the Wilde family. But this is irregular. They never died so young.

[_Lydia covers her face with her hands._]

HARRIET. And he seems so well. Why didn't the doctor--Lydia! This was their secret--this is what they wouldn't tell me!

LYDIA. Secret? Which secret?

[_She looks at Joe and clasps her hands in anguish. Harriet kneels by the lounge and begins to pray._]

HARRIET. Dear Lord, I do beseech thee to grant peace and eternal rest to thy child come home to thee. Grant that he may forever sit in thy presence----

[_Lydia, slowly realizing what her aunt is saying, runs to her side and makes her rise._]

LYDIA. Stop that! Stop it, I say! You worried him enough when he was alive. Now that he's dead, let him do what he wants to.

HARRIET. Lydia! You have lost your senses. Be calm, be calm. [_Harriet crosses to the table and picks up the Bible._] Come. We will read a few verses and have faith that--

LYDIA [_s.n.a.t.c.hing the Bible from her aunt_]. No you shan't! Let him alone. Oh, Joe, Joe, I'm trying. Be brave! You knew, all along. You were watching, you were expecting. Why didn't you tell me? [_Lydia looks from Joe to the piano and back to Joe. She composes herself and puts her hands on her aunt's shoulders._] Where is the key to the piano?