Читать книгу Three Plays by Granville Barker: The Marrying of Ann Leete, The Voysey Inheritance & Waste - Granville-Barker Harley - Страница 3

Table of Contents

The first three acts of the comedy pass in the garden at Markswayde, mr. carnaby leete's house near Reading, during a summer day towards the close of the eighteenth century: the first act at four in the morning, the second shortly after mid-day, the third near to sunset. The fourth act takes place one day in the following winter; the first scene in the hall at Markswayde, the second scene in a cottage some ten miles off.

This part of the Markswayde garden looks to have been laid out during the seventeenth century. In the middle a fountain; the centrepiece the figure of a nymph, now somewhat cracked, and pouring nothing from the amphora; the rim of the fountain is high enough and broad enough to be a comfortable seat.

The close turf around is in parts worn bare. This plot of ground is surrounded by a terrace three feet higher. Three sides of it are seen. From two corners broad steps lead down; stone urns stand at the bottom and top of the stone balustrades. The other two corners are rounded convexly into broad stone seats.

Along the edges of the terrace are growing rose trees, close together; behind these, paths; behind those, shrubs and trees. No landscape is to be seen. A big copper beech overshadows the seat on the left. A silver birch droops over the seat on the right. The trees far to the left indicate an orchard, the few to the right are more of the garden sort. It is the height of summer, and after a long drought the rose trees are dilapidated.

It is very dark in the garden. Though there may be by now a faint morning light in the sky it has not penetrated yet among these trees. It is very still, too. Now and then the leaves of a tree are stirred, as if in its sleep; that is all. Suddenly a shrill, frightened, but not tragical scream is heard. After a moment ann leete runs quickly down the steps and on to the fountain, where she stops, panting. lord john carp follows her, but only to the top of the steps, evidently not knowing his way. ann is a girl of twenty; he an English gentleman, nearer forty than thirty.

lord john.I apologise.

ann.Why is it so dark?

lord john.Can you hear what I'm saying?

ann.Yes.

lord john.I apologise for having kissed you... almost unintentionally.

ann.Thank you. Mind the steps down.

lord john.I hope I'm sober, but the air...

ann.Shall we sit for a minute? There are several seats to sit on somewhere.

lord john.This is a very dark garden.

There is a slight pause.

ann.You've won your bet.

lord john.So you did scream!

ann.But it wasn't fair.

lord john.Don't reproach me.

ann.Somebody's coming.

lord john.How d'you know?

ann.I can hear somebody coming.

lord john.We're not sitting down.

ann's brother, george leete comes to the top of the steps, and afterwards down them. Rather an old young man.

george.Ann!

ann.Yes.

george.My lord!

lord john.Here.

george.I can't see you. I'm sent to say we're all anxious to know what ghost or other bird of night or beast has frightened Ann to screaming point, and won you... the best in Tatton's stables—so he says now. He's quite annoyed.

lord john.The mare is a very good mare.

ann.He betted it because he wanted to bet it; I didn't want him to bet it.

george.What frightened her?

ann.I had rather, my lord, that you did not tell my brother why I screamed.

lord john.I kissed her.

george.Did you?

ann.I had rather, Lord John, that you had not told my brother why I screamed.

lord john.I misunderstood you.

george.I've broke up the whist party. Ann, shall we return?

lord john.She's not here.

george.Ann.

lady cottesham, ann's sister and ten years older, and mr. daniel tatton, a well-living, middle-aged country gentleman, arrive together. tatton carries a double candlestick... the lights out.

mr. tatton.Three steps?

sarah.No... four.

lord john.Miss Leete.

tatton in the darkness finds himself close to george.

mr. tatton.I am in a rage with you, my lord.

george.He lives next door.

mr. tatton.My mistake.[He passes on.]Confess that she did it to please you.

lord john.Screamed!

mr. tatton.Lost my bet. We'll say... won your bet... to please you. Was skeered at the dark... oh, fie!

lord john.Miss Leete trod on a toad.

mr. tatton.I barred toads... here.

lord john.I don't think it.

mr. tatton.I barred toads. Did I forget to? Well ... it's better to be a sportsman.

sarah.And whereabout is she?

ann.[From the corner she has slunk to.]Here I am, Sally.

mr. tatton.Miss Ann, I forgive you. I'm smiling, I assure you, I'm smiling.

sarah.We all laughed when we heard you.

mr. tatton.Which reminds me, young George Leete, had you the ace?

george.King... knave... here are the cards, but I can't see.

mr. tatton.I had the king.

ann.[Quietly to her sister.]He kissed me.

sarah.A man would.

george.What were trumps?

mr. tatton.What were we playing... cricket?

ann.[As quietly again.]D'you think I'm blushing?

sarah.It's probable.

ann.I am by the feel of me.

sarah.George, we left Papa sitting quite still.

lord john.Didn't he approve of the bet?

mr. tatton.He said nothing.

sarah.Why, who doesn't love sport!

mr. tatton.I'm the man to grumble. Back a woman's pluck again... never. My lord... you weren't the one to go with her as umpire.

george.No... to be sure.

mr. tatton.How was it I let that pass? Playing two games at once. Haven't I cause of complaint? But a man must give and take.

The master of the house, father of george and sarah cottesham and ann, mr. carnaby leete, comes slowly down the steps, unnoticed by the others. A man over fifty—à la Lord Chesterfield.

george.[To lord john.]Are you sure you're quite comfortable there?

lord john.Whatever I'm sitting on hasn't given way yet.

mr. tatton.Don't forget that you're riding to Brighton with me.

lord john.Tomorrow.

george.To-day. Well... the hour before sunrise is no time at all.

mr. tatton.Sixty-five miles.

lord john.What are we all sitting here for?

mr. tatton.I say people ought to be in bed and asleep.

carnaby.But the morning air is delightful.

mr. tatton.[Jumping at the new voice.]Leete! Now, had you the ace?

carnaby.Of course.

mr. tatton.We should have lost that too, Lady Charlie.

sarah.Bear up, Mr. Tat.

mr. tatton.Come, a game of whist is a game of whist.

carnaby.And so I strolled out after you all.

mr. tatton.She trod on a toad.

carnaby.[Carelessly.]Does she say so?

mr. tatton.[With mock roguishness.]Ah!

george is on the terrace, looking to the left through the trees. tatton is sitting on the edge of the fountain.

george.Here's the sun... to show us ourselves.

mr. tatton.Leete, this pond is full of water!

carnaby.Ann, if you are there...

ann.Yes, Papa.

carnaby.Apologise profusely; it's your garden.

ann.Oh...

carnaby.Coat-tails, Tatton... or worse?

mr. tatton.[Ruefully discovering damp spots about him.]Nothing vastly to matter.

lord john.Hardy, well-preserved, country gentleman!

mr. tatton.I bet I'm a younger man than you, my lord.

ann.[Suddenly to the company generally.]I didn't tread upon any toad... I was kissed.

There is a pause of some discomfort.

sarah.Ann, come here to me.

lord john.I apologised.

george.[From the terrace.]Are we to be insulted?

carnaby.My dear Carp, say no more.

There is another short pause. By this it is twilight, faces can be plainly seen.

sarah.Listen... the first bird.

mr. tatton.Oh, dear no, they begin to sing long before this.

carnaby.What is it now... a lark?

mr. tatton.I don't know.

ann.[Quietly to sarah.]That's a thrush.

sarah.[Capping her.]A thrush.

carnaby.Charming!

mr. tatton.[To lord john.]I don't see why you couldn't have told me how it was that she screamed.

carnaby.Our dear Tatton![Sotto voce to his son.] Hold your tongue, George.

mr. tatton.I did bar toads and you said I didn't, and anyway I had a sort of right to know.

lord john.You know now.

sarah.I wonder if this seat is dry.

lord john.There's been no rain for weeks.

sarah.The roads will be dusty for you, Mr. Tat.

mr. tatton.Just one moment. You don't mind me, Miss Ann, do you?

ann.I don't mind much.

mr. tatton.We said distinctly... To the orchard end of the garden and back and if frightened—that's the word—so much as to scream...! Now, what I want to know is...

lord john.Consider the bet off.

mr. tatton.Certainly not. And we should have added... Alone.

carnaby.Tatton has persistence.

sarah.Mr. Tat, do you know where people go who take things seriously?

mr. tatton.Miss Leete, were you frightened when Lord John kissed you?

george.Damnation!

carnaby.My excellent Tatton, much as I admire your searchings after truth I must here parentally intervene, regretting, my dear Tatton, that my own carelessness of duennahood has permitted this—this... to occur.

After this, there is silence for a minute.

lord john.Can I borrow a horse of you, Mr. Leete?

carnaby.My entire stable; and your Ronald shall be physicked.

sarah.Spartans that you are to be riding!

lord john.I prefer it to a jolting chaise.

mr. tatton.You will have my mare.

lord john.[Ignoring him.]This has been a most enjoyable three weeks.

carnaby.Four.

lord john.Is it four?

carnaby.We bow to the compliment. Our duty to his grace.

lord john.When I see him.

george.To our dear cousin.

mr. tatton.[To lady cottesham.]Sir Charles at Brighton?

sarah.[Not answering.]To be sure... we did discover... our mother was second cousin... once removed to you.

carnaby.If the prince will be there... he is in waiting.

lord john.Any message, Lady Cottesham?... since we speak out of session.

sarah.I won't trust you.

carnaby.Or trouble you while I still may frank a letter. But my son-in-law is a wretched correspondent. Do you admire men of small vices? They make admirable husbands though their wives will be grumbling—Silence, Sarah—but that's a good sign.

sarah.Papa is a connoisseur of humanity.

ann.[To the company as before.]No, Mr. Tatton, I wasn't frightened when Lord John... kissed me. I screamed because I was surprised, and I'm sorry I screamed.

sarah.[Quietly to ann.]My dear Ann, you're a fool.

ann.[Quietly to sarah.]I will speak sometimes.

sarah.Sit down again.

Again an uncomfortable silence, a ludicrous air about it this time.

mr. tatton.Now, we'll say no more about that bet, but I was right.

lord john.Do you know, Mr. Tatton, that I have a temper to lose?

mr. tatton.What the devil does that matter to me, sir... my lord?

lord john.I owe you a saddle and bridle.

mr. tatton.You'll oblige me by taking the mare.

lord john.We'll discuss it to-morrow.

mr. tatton.I've said all I have to say.

george.The whole matter's ridiculous!

mr. tatton.I see the joke. Good-night, Lady Cottesham, and I kiss your hand.

sarah.Good morning, Mr. Tat.

mr. tatton.Good morning, Miss Ann, I...

sarah.[Shielding her sister.]Good morrow is appropriate.

mr. tatton.I'll go by the fields.[To carnaby.]Thank you for a pleasant evening. Good morrow, George. Do we start at mid-day, my lord?

lord john.Any time you please.

mr. tatton.Not at all.[He hands the candlestick—of which he has never before left go—to george.]I brought this for a link. Thank you.

carnaby.Mid-day will be midnight if you sleep at all now; make it two or later.

mr. tatton.We put up at Guildford. I've done so before. I haven't my hat. It's a day and a half's ride.

tatton goes quickly up the other steps and away. It is now quite light. george stands by the steps, lord john is on one of the seats, carnaby strolls round, now and then touching the rose trees, sarah and ann are on the other seat.

george.Morning! These candles still smell.

sarah.How lively one feels and isn't.

carnaby.The flowers are opening.

ann.[In a whisper.]Couldn't we go in?

sarah.Never run away.

ann.Everything looks so odd.

sarah.What's o'clock... my lord?

lord john.Half after four.

ann.[To sarah.]My eyes are hot behind.

george.What ghosts we seem!

sarah.What has made us spend such a night?

carnaby.Ann incited me to it.[He takes snuff.]

sarah.In a spirit of rebellion against good country habits...

ann.[To her sister again.]Don't talk about me.

sarah.They can see that you're whispering.

carnaby.... Informing me now she was a woman and wanted excitement.

george.There's a curse.

carnaby.How else d'ye conceive life for women?

sarah.George is naturally cruel. Excitement's our education. Please vary it, though.

carnaby.I have always held that to colour in the world-picture is the greatest privilege of the husband. Sarah.

sarah.[Not leaving ann's side.]Yes, Papa.

carnaby.Sarah, when Sir Charles leaves Brighton...

sarah rises but will not move further.

carnaby.[Sweetly threatening.]Shall I come to you?

But she goes to him now.

carnaby.By a gossip letter from town...

sarah.[Tensely.]What is it?

carnaby.You mentioned to me something of his visiting Naples.

sarah.Very well. I detest Italy.

carnaby.Let's have George's opinion.

He leads her towards george.

george.Yes?

carnaby.Upon Naples.

george.I remember Naples.

carnaby.Sarah, admire those roses.

sarah.[Cynically echoing her father.]Let's have George's opinion.

Now carnaby has drawn them both away, upon the terrace, and, the coast being clear, lord john walks towards ann, who looks at him very scaredly.

carnaby.Emblem of secrecy among the ancients.

sarah.Look at this heavy head, won't it snap off?

The three move out of sight.

lord john.I'm sober now.

ann.I'm not.

lord john.Uncompromising young lady.

ann.And, excuse me, I don't want to... play.

lord john.Don't you wish me to apologise quietly, to you?

ann.Good manners are all mockery, I'm sure.

lord john.I'm very much afraid you're a cynic.

ann.I'm not trying to be clever.

lord john.Do I tease you?

ann.Do I amuse you?

lord john.How dare I say so!

ann.[After a moment.]I was not frightened.

lord john.You kissed me back.

ann.Not on purpose. What do two people mean by behaving so... in the dark?

lord john.I am exceedingly sorry that I hurt your feelings.

ann.Thank you, I like to feel.

lord john.And you must forgive me.

ann.Tell me, why did you do it?

lord john.Honestly I don't know. I should do it again.

ann.That's not quite true, is it?

lord john.I think so.

ann.What does it matter at all!

lord john.Nothing.

george, sarah and then carnaby move into sight and along the terrace, lord john turns to them.

lord john.Has this place been long in your family, Mr. Leete?

carnaby.Markswayde my wife brought us, through the Peters's... old Chiltern people... connections of yours, of course. There is no entail.

lord john walks back to ann.

sarah.George, you assume this republicanism as you would—no, would not—a coat of latest cut.

carnaby.Never argue with him... persist.

sarah.So does he.

The three pass along the terrace.

ann.[To lord john.]Will you sit down?

lord john.It's not worth while. Do you know I must be quite twice your age?

ann.A doubled responsibility, my lord.

lord john.I suppose it is.

ann.I don't say so. That's a phrase from a book ... sounded well.

lord john.My dear Miss Ann...[He stops.]

ann.Go on being polite.

lord john.If you'll keep your head turned away.

ann.Why must I?

lord john.There's lightning in the glances of your eye.

ann.Do use vulgar words to me.

lord john.[With a sudden fatherly kindness.]Go to bed... you're dead tired. And good-bye... I'll be gone before you wake.

ann.Good-bye.

She shakes hands with him, then walks towards her father who is coming down the steps.

ann.Papa, don't my roses want looking to?

carnaby.[Pats her cheek.]These?

ann.Those.

carnaby.Abud is under your thumb, horticulturally speaking.

ann.Where's Sally?

She goes on to sarah, who is standing with george at the top of the steps. carnaby looks lord john up and down.

lord john.[Dusting his shoulder.]This cursed powder!

carnaby.Do we respect innocence enough... any of us?

george comes down the steps and joins them.

george.Respectable politics will henceforth be useless to me.

carnaby.My lord, was his grace satisfied with the young man's work abroad or was he not?

lord john.My father used to curse everyone.

carnaby.That's a mere Downing Street custom.

lord john.And I seem to remember that a letter of yours from... where were you in those days?

george.Paris... Naples... Vienna.

lord john.One place... once lightened a fit of gout.

carnaby.George, you have in you the makings of a minister.

george.No.

carnaby.Remember the Age tends to the disreputable.

george moves away, sarah moves towards them.

carnaby.George is something of a genius, stuffed with theories and possessed of a curious conscience. But I am fortunate in my children.

lord john.All the world knows it.

carnaby.[To sarah.]It's lucky that yours was a love match, too. I admire you. Ann is 'to come,' so to speak.

sarah.[To lord john.]Were you discussing affairs?

lord john.Not I.

george.Ann.

ann.Yes, George.

She goes to him; they stroll together up the steps and along the terrace.

sarah.I'm desperately fagged.

lord john.[Politely.]A seat.

sarah.Also tired of sitting.

carnaby.Let's have the Brighton news, Carp.

lord john.If there's any.

carnaby.Probably I still command abuse. Even my son-in-law must, by courtesy, join in the cry... ah, poor duty-torn Sarah! You can spread abroad that I am as a green bay tree.

carnaby paces slowly away from them.

lord john.Your father's making a mistake.

sarah.D'you think so?

lord john.He's played the game once.

sarah.I was not then in the knowledge of things when he left you.

lord john.We remember it.

sarah.I should like to hear it.

lord john.I have avoided this subject.

sarah.With him, yes.

lord john.Oh!... why did I desert the army for politics?

sarah.Better fighting.

lord john.It sat so nobly upon him... the leaving us for conscience sake when we were strongly in power. Strange that six months later we should be turned out.

sarah.Papa was lucky.

lord john.But this second time...?

sarah.Listen. This is very much a private quarrel with Mr. Pitt, who hates Papa... gets rid of him.

lord john.Shall I betray a confidence?

sarah.Better not.

lord john.My father advised me to this visit.

sarah.Your useful visit. More than kind of his Grace.

lord john.Yes... there's been a paragraph in the "Morning Chronicle," 'The Whigs woo Mr. Carnaby Leete.'

sarah.We saw to it.

lord john.My poor father seems anxious to discover whether the Leete episode will repeat itself entirely. He is chronically unhappy in opposition. Are your husband and his colleagues trembling in their seats?

sarah.I can't say.

lord john.Politics is a game for clever children, and women, and fools. Will you take a word of warning from a soldier? Your father is past his prime.

carnaby paces back towards them.

carnaby.I'm getting to be old for these all-night sittings. I must be writing to your busy brother.

lord john.Arthur?... is at his home.

sarah.Pleasantly sounding phrase.

carnaby.His grace deserted?

sarah.Quite secretaryless!

lord john.Lady Arthur lately has been brought to bed. I heard yesterday.

sarah.The seventh, is it not? Children require living up to. My congratulations.

lord john.Won't you write them?

sarah.We are not intimate.

lord john.A good woman.

sarah.Evidently. Where's Ann? We'll go in.

lord john.You're a mother to your sister.

sarah.Not I.

carnaby.My wife went her ways into the next world; Sarah hers into this; and our little Ann was left with a most admirable governess. One must never reproach circumstances. Man educates woman in his own good time.

lord john.I suppose she, or any young girl, is all heart.

carnaby.What is it that you call heart... sentimentally speaking?

sarah.Any bud in the morning.

lord john.That man Tatton's jokes are in shocking taste.

carnaby.Tatton is honest.

lord john.I'm much to blame for having won that bet.

carnaby.Say no more.

lord john.What can Miss Ann think of me?

sarah.Don't ask her.

carnaby.Innocency's opinions are invariably entertaining.

lord john.Am I the first...? I really beg your pardon.

george and ann come down the steps together.

carnaby.Ann, what do you think... that is to say—and answer me truthfully... what at this moment is your inclination of mind towards my lord here?

ann.I suppose I love him.

lord john.I hope not.

ann.I suppose I love you.

carnaby.No.. no.. no.. no.. no.. no.. no.

sarah.Hush, dear.

ann.I'm afraid, papa, there's something very ill-bred in me.

Down the steps and into the midst of them comes john abud, carrying his tools, among other things a twist of bass. A young gardener, honest, clean and common.

abud.[To carnaby.]I ask pardon, sir.

carnaby. So early, Abud!... this is your territory. So late... Bed.

ann starts away up the steps, sarah is following her.

lord john.Good-bye, Lady Cottesham.

At this ann stops for a moment, but then goes straight on.

sarah.A pleasant journey.

sarah departs too.

george.[Stretching himself.]I'm roused.

carnaby.[To abud.]Leave your tools here for a few moments.

abud.I will, sir.

abud leaves them, going along the terrace and out of sight.

carnaby.My head is hot. Pardon me.

carnaby is sitting on the fountain rim; he dips his handkerchief in the water, and wrings it; then takes off his wig and binds the damp handkerchief round his head.

carnaby.Wigs are most comfortable and old fashioned ... unless you choose to be a cropped republican like my son.

george.Nature!

carnaby.Nature grows a beard, sir.

lord john.I've seen Turks.

carnaby.Horrible... horrible! Sit down, Carp.

lord john sits on the fountain rim, george begins to pace restlessly; he has been nursing the candlestick ever since tatton handed it to him.

carnaby.George, you look damned ridiculous strutting arm-in-arm with that candlestick.

george.I am ridiculous.

carnaby.If you're cogitating over your wife and her expectations...

george paces up the steps and away. There is a pause.

carnaby.D'ye tell stories... good ones?

lord john.Sometimes.

carnaby.There'll be this.

lord john.I shan't.

carnaby.Say no more. If I may so express myself, Carp, you have been taking us for granted.

lord john.How wide awake you are! I'm not.

carnaby.My head's cool. Shall I describe your conduct as an unpremeditated insult?

lord john.Don't think anything of the sort.

carnaby.There speaks your kind heart.

lord john.Are you trying to pick a quarrel with me?

carnaby.As may be.

lord john.Why?

carnaby.For the sake of appearances.

lord john.Damn all appearances.

carnaby.Now I'll lose my temper. Sir, you have compromised my daughter.

lord john.Nonsense!

carnaby.Villain! What's your next move?

For a moment lord john sits with knit brows.

lord john.[Brutally.]Mr. Leete, your name stinks.

carnaby.My point of dis-ad-vantage!

lord john.[Apologising.]Please say what you like. I might have put my remark better.

carnaby.I think not; the homely Saxon phrase is our literary dagger. Princelike, you ride away from Markswayde. Can I trust you not to stab a socially sick man? Why it's a duty you owe to society... to weed out... us.

lord john.I'm not a coward. How?

carnaby.A little laughter... in your exuberance of health.

lord john.You may trust me not to tell tales.

carnaby.Of what... of whom?

lord john.Of here.

carnaby.And what is there to tell of here?

lord john.Nothing.

carnaby.But how your promise betrays a capacity for good-natured invention!

lord john.If I lie call me out.

carnaby.I don't deal in sentiment. I can't afford to be talked about otherwise than as I choose to be. Already the Aunt Sally of the hour; having under pressure of circumstances resigned my office; dating my letters from the borders of the Chiltern Hundreds... I am a poor politician, sir, and I must live.

lord john.I can't see that your family's infected ... affected.

carnaby.With a penniless girl you really should have been more circumspect.

lord john.I might ask to marry her.

carnaby.My lord!

In the pause that ensues he takes up the twist of bass to play with.

lord john.What should you say to that?

carnaby.The silly child supposed she loved you.

lord john.Yes.

carnaby.Is it a match?

lord john.[Full in the other's face.]What about the appearances of black-mail?

carnaby.[Compressing his thin lips.]Do you care for my daughter?

lord john.I could... at a pinch.

carnaby.Now, my lord, you are insolent.

lord john.Is this when we quarrel?

carnaby.I think I'll challenge you.

lord john.That will look well.

carnaby.You'll value that kiss when you've paid for it. Kindly choose Tatton as your second. I want his tongue to wag both ways.

lord john.I was forgetting how it all began.

carnaby.George will serve me... protesting. His principles are vile, but he has the education of a gentleman. Swords or...? Swords. And at noon shall we say? There's shade behind a certain barn, midway between this and Tatton's.

lord john.[Not taking him seriously yet.]What if we both die horridly?

carnaby.You are at liberty to make me a written apology.

lord john.A joke's a joke.

carnaby deliberately strikes him in the face with the twist of bass.

lord john.That's enough.

carnaby.[In explanatory apology.]My friend, you are so obtuse. Abud!

lord john.Mr. Leete, are you serious?

carnaby.Perfectly serious. Let's go to bed. Abud, you can get to your work.

Wig in hand, mr. leete courteously conducts his guest towards the house. abud returns to his tools and his morning's work.