Possession: A Peep-Show in Paradise Part 12

MARTHA. I don't want to hear it.

LAURA. Julia, are we not to discuss this matter, pray?

(_Julia, who has her eye on Martha, and is quite enjoying this tussle of the two says nothing._)

MARTHA. You and Julia can discuss it. I am going downstairs.

(_Mrs. James crosses the room, locks the door, and, standing mistress of all she surveys, inquires with grim humour._)

LAURA. And where are you going to be, Julia?

JULIA. I am where I am, Laura. I'm not going out of the window, or up the chimney, if that's what you mean.

(_She continues gracefully to do her crochet._)

LAURA. Now, Martha, if you please.

MARTHA (_goaded into victory_). I'm sorry, Julia. You'd better explain.

I'm going downstairs.

(_Suiting the action to the word, she commits herself doggedly to the experiment, descending bluntly and without grace through the carpet into the room below. Mrs. James stands stupent._)

LAURA. Martha! . . . Am I to be defied in this way?

JULIA. You brought it on yourself, Laura.

LAURA. You told her to do it!

JULIA. She would have soon found out for herself. (_Collectedly, she folds up her work and rises._) And now, I think, I will go to my room and wash my hands for supper.

(_As she makes her stately move, her ear is attracted by a curious metallic sound repeated at intervals. Turning about, she perceives, indeed they both perceive, in the centre of the small table, a handsome silver tea-pot which opens and shuts its lid at them, as if trying to speak._)

JULIA. Oh, look, Laura! Martha's tea-pot has arrived.

LAURA. She told a lie, then.

JULIA. No, it was the truth. She wished for it. The sea has given up its dead.

LAURA. Then now I _have_ got it at last!

(_But, as she goes to seize the disputed possession, Martha rises through the floor, grabs the tea-pot, and descends to the nether regions once more._)

LAURA (_glaring at her sister with haggard eye_). Julia, where _are_ we?

JULIA. I don't know what you mean, Laura. (_She reaches out a polite hand._) The key?

(_Mrs. James delivers up the key as one glad to be rid of it._)

LAURA. What is this place we've come to?

JULIA (_persuasively_). Our home.

LAURA. I think we are in h.e.l.l!

JULIA (_going to the door, which she unlocks with soft triumph_). We are all where we wish to be, Laura. (_A gong sounds._) That's supper. (_The gong continues its metallic b.u.mbling._)

(_Julia departs, leaving Mrs. James in undisputed possession of the situation she has made for herself._)

CURTAIN