Green Stockings Part 5

CELIA. (_With entire change of manner_) Call him down here, Phyllis, please, and tell him I want to speak to him.

PHYLLIS. Celia! (_Crossing to center_) But why?

CELIA. Oh, nothing. I only want to thank him, you know, about old Admiral Grice, and tell him that he need no longer complicate his anxiety about his election with worries about me or the color of my stockings.

PHYLLIS. (_Startled_) Why, Celia--what do you mean?

CELIA. Well, you see--(_Laughs_)--I am not quite accustomed to announcing--_my_ engagement.

PHYLLIS. (_With undisguised amazement. Haltingly_) _Your engagement?_ Why--it's impossible.

CELIA. Yes, that's what Mr. Tarver says. Well, now suppose we call him down here, Phyllis, and tell him he is mistaken.

PHYLLIS. Oh-Ce-lia! (_Embraces_ CELIA _gushingly. Rushes up to_ TARVER _and calling_) Bobby, Bobby, Bobby, Bobby! (_TARVER drops his magazine_, PHYLLIS _drags him down_ R. _of_ CELIA. _He is right of_ PHYLLIS.) What do you think? Celia's engaged to be married.

TARVER. (_Looks at her, greatly astonished, dropping his eyegla.s.s_) Never!

CELIA. (_Sarcastically_) Thanks so much, Mr. Tarver, for your kind congratulations.

PHYLLIS. (_Who has run up to card room, calling_) Aunt Ida, Aunt Ida!

(TARVER _pauses a moment and then goes_ R., _looking over at_ CELIA _incredulously as he goes. He finally sits on fender_.)

CELIA. (_Calling up to_ PHYLLIS) Oh, Phyllis, I only meant to tell you and Mr. Tarver.

PHYLLIS. (_Excitedly. Bringing down_ AUNT IDA _extreme_ L.) Aunt Ida!

Celia is engaged to be married.

AUNT IDA. (_Coming down left of table and below table to_ CELIA.

_Smiling happily_) Darling--at last---- (_Kisses_ CELIA.)

PHYLLIS. (_Dances across to center_) I can be married now. _I_ can be married now. (_Runs across to_ MADGE _and sits on piano stool_.)

AUNT IDA. I knew that this would happen.

CELIA. Did you, Aunt Ida? (_These last two lines spoken hurriedly and together_.)

PHYLLIS. Madge, what do you think? Celia is engaged.

MADGE. (_Rises, drops her pen in blank surprise_) _Not really!_

(PHYLLIS _runs to_ BOBBY, _who is on fender, and they sit together, talking excitedly, and looking at_ CELIA.)

FARADAY. (_Entering from card room. Testily_) Now then, now then, can't you girls make a little less noise?

MADGE. Oh, Father! (_Rushes to him, brings him_ C. _She is_ R. _of him_.) What do you think has happened? Celia is engaged to be married.

(_Pauses a moment to listen to ensuing dialogue and then runs up to card room and in dumb show tells others of_ CELIA'S _engagement. They also in pantomime express surprise and incredulity. They come slowly out of card room_.)

FARADAY. G.o.d--bless--my--soul! (_A broad grin breaks slowly on his face_) Celia--engaged?

CELIA. Why, yes, Father, if you have no objection to the prospect of my leaving you.

FARADAY. Objection? (_Joyfully_) Why, I'm delighted, my dear girl, delighted.

(AUNT IDA _and_ CELIA _exchange glances and_ AUNT IDA, _disgusted at_ FARADAY, _goes up to card room and talks to_ EVELYN.)

CELIA. Yes, Father, I thought you would be pleased.

FARADAY. Pleased? (_With mock sentiment_) I hope I show a father's feelings when his eldest daughter proposes to--er--desert the home-nest. (_Murmurs up in card room. Reverting to his former att.i.tude of enthusiasm_) And who is he? What's the d-e-a-r fellow's name? Eh, Celia?

(EVELYN _comes down extreme left_. RALEIGH, GRICE _and_ STEELE _up_ L.C. AUNT IDA _comes back of chair_, R. _of table_ L. PHYLLIS _kneels on sofa, facing_ CELIA. TARVER _comes and sits in chair below fender_.)

MADGE. (_Coming down_ R.C.) Yes, Celia, tell us all about him. Who is he? (_Sits_ L. _of table_ R.)

CELIA. (_Standing by chair_ R. _of table_ L. _Slowly_) Well--he is in the army.

RALEIGH. (_Quickly to_ STEELE) A soldier, eh?

EVELYN. What's his rank?

CELIA. He's a cap--a colonel--dear--a colonel.

(FARADAY _center_, GRICE _up_ L.C., RALEIGH _and_ STEELE _up_ L.C.

EVELYN L. _of table_ L.)

FARADAY. Colonel? What's his name?

CELIA. (_Pause_) Smith.

(_They all show pained surprise_.)

FARADAY. Smith?

CELIA. Yes, _John_ Smith.