Plays: Lady Frederick, The Explorer, A Man of Honor Part 129

[_With a cry of grief and pa.s.sion._] But I love you, Basil.

BASIL.

You!! Why, you've tortured me for six months beyond all endurance.

You've made all my days a burden to me. You've made my life a perfect h.e.l.l.

JENNY.

[_Gives a long groan of horror and dismay._] Oh!

[_They stand facing one another, when the housemaid_, f.a.n.n.y, _comes in_.

f.a.n.n.y.

Mr. Halliwell.

[JOHN _comes in_. JENNY, _after taking his hand, sinks down on a chair, paying no attention to the following conversation; she stares in front of her, quite distraught_. BASIL _tries with all his might to appear calm and natural_.

BASIL.

Hulloa, what are you doing in these parts?

JOHN.

How d'you do, Mrs. Kent? I've been having an early lunch at Richmond, and I thought I'd just drop in on my way back. As it was Sat.u.r.day afternoon I thought I might find you.

BASIL.

I'm sure we're delighted to see you. [JOHN _gives a side-glance at_ JENNY, _and slightly raises his eyebrows_.] But you've only just come in time, because I've got to go up to town. We might travel up together.

JOHN.

Certainly.

JENNY.

Where are you going, Basil?

BASIL.

To Chancery Lane, to see my agent on business.

JENNY.

[_Suspiciously._] On Sat.u.r.day afternoon? Why, he won't be there.

BASIL.

I have an appointment with him.

[JENNY _does not answer, but is obviously unconvinced_.

JOHN, _somewhat embarra.s.sed, exerts himself to make conversation_.

JOHN.

I was thinking as I came along that one must lead quite an idyllic existence in the suburbs--with the river--and one's little garden.

BASIL.

[_Ironically._] And the spectacle of the fifty little houses opposite all exactly like one another.

JOHN.

And the quiet is perfectly enchanting.

BASIL.

Oh, yes. The only vehicles that disturb the peaceful seclusion are the milk-cart and the barrel-organs. It's quite idyllic.

JENNY.

I think it's a very nice neighbourhood. And you get such a superior cla.s.s of people here.

BASIL.

I'll just go and change. [_Looking at his watch._ There's a train at 4.15.

JOHN.

All right, hurry up.

[BASIL _goes out of the room_. JENNY _at once springs to her feet and goes towards_ JOHN.

_She is distracted and hardly knows what she says._

JENNY.

Can I trust you?

JOHN.

What d'you mean?

[_She stares into his eyes, doubting, trying to see whether he will be willing to help her._

JENNY.

You used to be a good sort. You never looked down on me because I was a barmaid. Tell me I can trust you, John. There's no one I can speak to, and I feel if I don't speak I shall go off my head.