The Tyranny of Tears Part 19

Gunning.

But I a.s.sure you-- Mrs. Parbury.

[Crosses to L.] Clement vain indeed!

Gunning.

No, no; a mistake. Do sit down again.

Mrs. Parbury.

[Crosses to R.C.] You might, with advantage, look for vanity nearer home, Mr. Gunning.

Mr. Gunning.

Perfectly true, perfectly true.

[He places her chair for her.

Mrs. Parbury.

As for the sort of weakness you were good enough to credit my husband with-- Gunning.

Nothing but a slip of the tongue. Do sit down.

Mrs. Parbury.

No doubt you have accustomed yourself to judging other men from your own standpoint.

Gunning.

That's it; quite true! You are always right. Won't you sit?

[She sits. He sighs with relief, then takes a chair himself.

Mrs. Parbury.

What do you propose?

Gunning.

I'm waiting for a suggestion from you.

Mrs. Parbury.

This brazen hussy-- Gunning.

That expression seems to me to be unnecessarily harsh, Mrs. Parbury.

Mrs. Parbury.

Oh, of course, if you defend the girl-- Gunning.

Pardon me, but I have an old-fashioned prejudice against speaking ill of the absent.

Mrs. Parbury.

I didn't observe it when you spoke of my husband.

Gunning.

[Laughing.] Fairly hit. Come, let's be practical. Miss Woodward must not remain in the house, and Clement must not know the truth. On these points we are quite agreed.

Mrs. Parbury.

Quite.

Gunning.

Very well. I'll see Clement. I have an idea.

[Rises.

Mrs. Parbury.

[Rises.] You'll not tell him you've seen me.

Gunning.

Certainly not.

Mrs. Parbury.

Remember above all, it's most important to our future happiness that Clement should be the first to give way.

Gunning.

Oh, I'll remember that.

Mrs. Parbury.

And, Mr. Gunning, if you succeed I'll try to forget the mischief you've created, and will ask you to come and see us-[shakes hands with him]-occasionally.

Gunning.

Thank you so much.

[Voice of Colonel Armitage outside singing "I'll sing thee songs of Araby."

Mrs. Parbury.

That's father's signal. I am going to walk on the heath. I'm far too proud to allow myself to be discovered by Clement here. He might think I want to come back.

[Exit Mrs. Parbury, R.

[Voice of Armitage, still singing, comes nearer until he enters with Parbury, with the words "or charm thee to a tear." Unseen by Parbury, Gunning points out to the Colonel the direction in which Mrs. Parbury has gone.

Armitage.

[In a low voice, to Gunning.] Will it be all right?

Gunning.

I hope so.

Armitage.

[Going R.] Well, I'll finish my const.i.tutional. I'll look in again, Clement, in the hope that you will then be able to tell me how long this extremely uncomfortable state of affairs is to last.

[Exit Armitage, R., singing until he is well off.

Parbury.

Give me a cigarette, George.

[Gunning hands him a cigarette, then takes a cigarette himself. They both smoke. There is a short silence.

Parbury.

Not a stroke of work. It's absurd!

[Throws cigarette on ground in a rage.

Gunning.

You are not happy?

Parbury.

Not particularly.

Gunning.

Then how can you expect to do imaginative work?

Parbury.

Quite so!

Gunning.

I'm afraid you've made a mistake, old chap.

Parbury.

Eh?

Gunning.

You know I'm your friend.

Parbury.

Of course.

Gunning.

Apart from all chaff.

Parbury.

Yes, yes.

Gunning.

Well, you've gone too far.

Parbury.

[Looks at him.] You think so?

Gunning.

Yes. By a petulant discontent you've precipitated an awkward crisis.

Parbury.

You see it now in that light.

Gunning.

Yes. I've been thinking things over, Clement. [Sits on front of table, C.] After all, the love of a good woman is a priceless possession.

Parbury.

You appear to have dropped into the plat.i.tudinous.

Gunning.