Quality Street Part 23

PHOEBE. Aunt Susan, you are excited.

VALENTINE. But you are quite right, Miss Livvy; home is the place for you.

PHOEBE. Would that I could go!

VALENTINE. You are going.

PHOEBE. Yes--soon.

VALENTINE. Indeed, I have a delightful surprise for you, Miss Livvy, you are going to-day.

PHOEBE. To-day?

VALENTINE. Not merely to-day, but now. As it happens, my carriage is standing idle at your door, and I am to take you in it to your home--some twenty miles if I remember.

PHOEBE. You are to take me?

VALENTINE. Nay, 'tis no trouble at all, and as your physician my mind is made up. Some wraps for her, Miss Susan.

MISS SUSAN. But--but----

PHOEBE (_in a panic_). Sir, I decline to go.

VALENTINE. Come, Miss Livvy, you are in my hands.

PHOEBE. I decline. I am most determined.

VALENTINE. You admit yourself that you are recovered.

PHOEBE. I do not feel so well now. Aunt Susan!

MISS SUSAN. Sir----

VALENTINE. If you wish to consult Miss Phoebe----

MISS SUSAN. Oh, no.

VALENTINE. Then the wraps, Miss Susan.

PHOEBE. Auntie, don't leave me.

VALENTINE. What a refractory patient it is. But reason with her, Miss Susan, and I shall ask Miss Phoebe for some wraps.

PHOEBE. Sir!

(_To their consternation he goes cheerily into the bedroom_. MISS PHOEBE _saves herself by instant flight, and nothing but mesmeric influence keeps_ MISS SUSAN _rooted to the blue and white room. When he returns he is loaded with wraps, and still cheerfully animated, as if he had found nothing untoward in_ LIVVY'S _bedchamber._)

VALENTINE. I think these will do admirably, Miss Susan.

MISS SUSAN. But Phoebe----

VALENTINE. If I swathe Miss Livvy in these----

MISS SUSAN. Phoebe----

VALENTINE. She is still busy airing the room. (_The extraordinary man goes to the couch as if unable to perceive that its late occupant has gone, and_ MISS SUSAN _watches him, fascinated._) Come, Miss Livvy, put these over you. Allow me--this one over your shoulders, so. Be so obliging as to lean on me. Be brave, ma'am, you cannot fall--my arm is round you; gently, gently, Miss Livvy; ah, that is better; we are doing famously; come, come. Good-bye, Miss Susan, I will take every care of her.

(_He has gone, with the bundle on his arm, but_ MISS SUSAN _does not wake up. Even the banging of the outer door is unable to rouse her.

It is heard, however, by_ MISS PHOEBE, _who steals back into the room, her cap upon her head to give her courage._)

PHOEBE. He is gone! (MISS SUSAN'S _rapt face alarms her._) Oh, Susan, was he as dreadful as that?

MISS SUSAN (_in tones unnatural to her_). Phoebe, he knows all.

PHOEBE. Yes, of course he knows all now. Sister, did his face change?

Oh, Susan, what did he say?

MISS SUSAN. He said 'Good-bye, Miss Susan.' That was almost all he said.

PHOEBE. Did his eyes flash fire?

MISS SUSAN. Phoebe, it was what he did. He--he took Livvy with him.

PHOEBE. Susan, dear, don't say that. You are not distraught, are you?

MISS SUSAN (_clinging to facts_). He did; he wrapped her up in a shawl.

PHOEBE. Susan! You are Susan Throssel, my love. You remember me, don't you? Phoebe, your sister. I was Livvy also, you know, Livvy.

MISS SUSAN. He took Livvy with him.

PHOEBE (_in woe_). Oh, oh! sister, who am I?

MISS SUSAN. You are Phoebe.

PHOEBE. And who was Livvy?

MISS SUSAN. You were.

PHOEBE. Thank heaven.

MISS SUSAN. But he took her away in the carriage.

PHOEBE. Oh, dear! (_She has quite forgotten her own troubles now._) Susan, you will soon be well again. Dear, let us occupy our minds.

Shall we draw up the advertis.e.m.e.nt for the reopening of the school?

MISS SUSAN. I do so hate the school.

PHOEBE. Come, dear, come, sit down. Write, Susan. (_Dictating._) 'The Misses Throssel have the pleasure to announce----'