by Unknown
557
RICHARD
For what hour?
ROBERT
Eight. But, like yourself, he is free and easy about time. Now, Richard, you must go there. That is all. I feel tonight will be the turningpoint in your life. You will live here and work here and think here and be honoured here — among our people.
RICHARD
(Smiling.) I can almost see two envoys starting for the United States to collect funds for my statue a hundred years hence.
ROBERT
(Agreeably.) Once I made a little epigram about statues. All statues are of two kinds. (He folds his arms across his chest.) The statue which says: How shall I get down? and the other kind (he unfolds his arms and extends his right arm, averting his head) the statue which says: In my time the dunghill was so high.
RICHARD
The second one for me, please.
ROBERT
(Lazily.) Will you give me one of those long cigars of yours?
(Richard selects a Virginia cigar from the box on the table and hands it to him with the straw drawn out.)
ROBERT
(Lighting it.) These cigars Europeanize me. If Ireland is to become a new Ireland she must first become European. And that is what you are here for, Richard. Some day we shall have to choose between England and Europe. I am a descendant of the dark foreigners: that is why I like to be here. I may be childish. But where else in Dublin can I get a bandit cigar like this or a cup of black coffee? The man who drinks black coffee is going to conquer Ireland. And now I will take just a half measure of that whisky, Richard, to show you there is no ill feeling.
RICHARD
(Points.) Help yourself.
ROBERT
(Does so.) Thanks. (He drinks and goes on as before.) Then you yourself, the way you loll on that lounge: then your boy’s voice and also — Bertha herself. Do you allow me to call her that, Richard? I mean as an old friend of both of you.
558
RICHARD
O, why not?
ROBERT
(With animation.) You have that fierce indignation which lacerated the heart of Swift. You have fallen from a higher world, Richard, and you are filled with fierce indignation, when you find that life is cowardly and ignoble. While I... shall I tell you?
RICHARD
By all means.
ROBERT
(Archly.) I have come up from a lower world and I am filled with astonishment when I find that people have any redeeming virtue at all.
RICHARD
(Sits up suddenly and leans his elbows on the table.) You are my friend, then?
ROBERT
(Gravely.) I fought for you all the time you were away. I fought to bring you back. I fought to keep your place for you here. I will fight for you still because I have faith in you, the faith of a disciple in his master. I cannot say more than that. It may seem strange to you... Give me a match.
RICHARD
(Lights and offers him a match.) There is a faith still stranger than the faith of the disciple in his master.
ROBERT
And that is?
RICHARD
The faith of a master in the disciple who will betray him.
ROBERT
The church lost a theologian in you, Richard. But I think you look too deeply into life. (He rises, pressing Richard’s arm slightly.) Be gay. Life is not worth it.
RICHARD
(Without rising.) Are you going?
ROBERT
Must. (He turns and says in a friendly tone.) Then it is all arranged. We meet tonight at the vicechancellor’s. I shall look in at about ten. So you can have an hour or so to yourselves first. You will wait till I come?
559
RICHARD
Good.
ROBERT
One more match and I am happy.
(Richard strikes another match, hands it to him and rises also. Archie comes in by the door on the left, followed by Beatrice.)
ROBERT
Congratulate me, Beatty. I have won over Richard.
ARCHIE
(Crossing to the door on the right, calls.) Mamma, Miss Justice is going.
BEATRICE
On what are you to be congratulated?
ROBERT
On a victory, of course. (Laying his hand lightly on Richard’s shoulder.) The descendant of Archibald Hamilton Rowan has come home.
RICHARD
I am not a descendant of Hamilton Rowan.
ROBERT
What matter? (Bertha comes in from the right with a bowl of roses.)
BEATRICE
Has Mr Rowan...?
ROBERT
(Turning towards Bertha.) Richard is coming tonight to the vicechancellor’s dinner. The fatted calf will be eaten: roast, I hope. And next session will see the descendant of a namesake of etcetera, etcetera in a chair of the university. (He offers his hand.) Good afternoon, Richard. We shall meet tonight.
RICHARD
(Touches his hand.) At Philippi.
BEATRICE
(Shakes hands also.) Accept my best wishes, Mr Rowan.
RICHARD
Thanks. But do not believe him.
ROBERT
(Vivaciously.) Believe me, believe me. (To Bertha.) Good afternoon, Mrs Rowan.
BERTHA
(Shaking hands, candidly.) I thank you, too. (To Beatrice.) You won’t stay to tea, Miss Justice?
560
BEATRICE
No, thank you. (Takes leave of her.) I must go. Good afternoon. Goodbye, Archie (going).
ROBERT
Addio, Archibald.
ARCHIE
Addio.
ROBERT
Wait, Beatty. I shall accompany you.
BEATRICE
(Going out on the right with Bertha.) O, don’t trouble.
ROBERT
(Following her.) But I insist — as a cousin.
(Bertha, Beatrice and Robert go out by the door on the left. Richard stands irresolutely near the table. Archie closes the door leading to the hall and, coming over to him, plucks him by the sleeve.)
ARCHIE
I say, pappie!
RICHARD
(Absently.) What is it?
ARCHIE
I want to ask you a thing.
RICHARD
(Sitting on the end of the lounge, stares in front of him.) What is it?
ARCHIE
Will you ask mamma to let me go out in the morning with the milkman?
RICHARD
With the milkman?
ARCHIE
Yes. In the milkcar. He says he will let me drive when we get on to the roads where there are no people. The horse is a very good beast. Can I go?
RICHARD
Yes.
ARCHIE
Ask mamma now can I go. Will you?
RICHARD
(Glances towards the door.) I will.
ARCHIE
He said he will show me the cows he has in the field. Do you know how many cows he has?
RICHARD
How many?
ARCHIE
Eleven. Eight red and three white. But one is sick now. No, not sick. But it fell.
RICHARD
Cows?
ARCHIE
(With a gesture.) Eh! Not bulls. Because bulls give no milk. Eleven cows. They must give a lot of milk. What makes a cow give milk?
561
RICHARD
(Takes his hand.) Who knows? Do you understand what it is to give a thing?
ARCHIE
To give? Yes.
RICHARD
While you have a thing it can be taken from you.
ARCHIE
By robbers? No?
RICHARD
But when you give it, you have given it. No robber can take it from you. (He bends his head and presses his son’s hand against his cheek.) It is yours then for ever when you have given it. It will be yours always. That is to give.
ARCHIE
But, pappie?
&nb
sp; RICHARD
Yes?
ARCHIE
How could a robber rob a cow? Everyone would see him. In the night, perhaps.
RICHARD
In the night, yes.
ARCHIE
Are there robbers here like in Rome?
RICHARD
There are poor people everywhere.
ARCHIE
Have they revolvers?
RICHARD
No.
ARCHIE
Knives? Have they knives?
RICHARD
(Sternly.) Yes, yes. Knives and revolvers.
ARCHIE
(Disengages himself.) Ask mamma now. She is coming.
RICHARD
(Makes a movement to rise.) I will.
ARCHIE
No, sit there, pappie. You wait and ask her when she comes back. I won’t be here. I’ll be in the garden.
RICHARD
(Sinking back again.) Yes. Go.
ARCHIE
(Kisses him swiftly.) Thanks.
(He runs out quickly by the door at the back leading into the garden. Bertha enters by the door on the left. She approaches the table and stands beside it, fingering the petals of the roses, looking at Richard.)
RICHARD
(Watching her.) Well?
562
BERTHA
(Absently.) Well. He says he likes me.
RICHARD
(Leans his chin in his hand.) You showed him his note?
BERTHA
Yes. I asked him what it meant.
RICHARD
What did he say it meant?
BERTHA
He said I must know. I said I had an idea. Then he told me he liked me very much. That I was beautiful — and all that.
RICHARD
Since when!
BERTHA
(Again absently.) Since when — what?
RICHARD
Since when did he say he liked you?
BERTHA
Always, he said. But more since we came back. He said I was like the moon in this lavender dress. (Looking at him.) Had you any words with him — about me?
RICHARD
(Blandly.) The usual thing. Not about you.
BERTHA
He was very nervous. You saw that?
RICHARD
Yes. I saw it. What else went on?
BERTHA
He asked me to give him my hand.
RICHARD
(Smiling.) In marriage?
BERTHA
(Smiling.) No, only to hold.
RICHARD
Did you?
BERTHA
Yes. (Tearing off a few petals.) Then he caressed my hand and asked would I let him kiss it. I let him.
RICHARD
Well?
BERTHA
Then he asked could he embrace me — even once? ..and then...
RICHARD
And then?
BERTHA
He put his arm round me.
RICHARD
(Stares at the floor for a moment, then looks at her again.) And then?
BERTHA
He said I had beautiful eyes. And asked could he kiss them. (With a gesture.) I said: Do so.
RICHARD
And he did?
563
BERTHA
Yes. First one and then the other. (She breaks off suddenly.) Tell me, Dick, does all this disturb you? Because I told you I don’t want that. I think you are only pretending you don’t mind. I don’t mind.
RICHARD
(Quietly.) I know, dear. But I want to find out what he means or feels just as you do.
BERTHA
(Points at him.) Remember, you allowed me to go on. I told you the whole thing from the beginning.
RICHARD
(As before.) I know, dear... And then?
BERTHA
He asked for a kiss. I said: Take it.
RICHARD
And then?
BERTHA
(Crumpling a handful of petals.) He kissed me.
RICHARD
Your mouth?
BERTHA
Once or twice.
RICHARD
Long kisses?
BERTHA
Fairly long. (Reflects.) Yes, the last time.
RICHARD
(Rubs his hands slowly; then:) With his lips? Or... the other way?
BERTHA
Yes, the last time.
RICHARD
Did he ask you to kiss him?
BERTHA
He did.
RICHARD
Did you?
BERTHA
(Hesitates, then looking straight at him.) I did. I kissed him.
RICHARD
What way?
BERTHA
(With a shrug.) O simply.
RICHARD
Were you excited?
BERTHA
Well, you can imagine. (Frowning suddenly.) Not much. He has not nice lips... Still I was excited, of course. But not like with you, Dick.
RICHARD
Was he?
BERTHA
Excited? Yes, I think he was. He sighed. He was dreadfully nervous.
RICHARD
(Resting his forehead on his hand.) I see.
564
BERTHA
(Crosses towards the lounge and stands near him.) Are you jealous?
RICHARD
(As before.) No.
BERTHA
(Quietly.) You are, Dick.
RICHARD
I am not. Jealous of what?
BERTHA
Because he kissed me.
RICHARD
(Looks up.) Is that all?
BERTHA
Yes, that’s all. Except that he asked me would I meet him.
RICHARD
Out somewhere?
BERTHA
No. In his house.
RICHARD
(Surprised.) Over there with his mother, is it?
BERTHA
No, a house he has. He wrote the address for me.
(She goes to the desk, takes the key from the flower vase, unlocks the drawer and returns to him with the slip of paper.)
RICHARD
(Half to himself.) Our cottage.
BERTHA
(Hands him the slip.) Here.
RICHARD
(Reads it.) Yes. Our cottage.
BERTHA
Your...?
RICHARD
No, his. I call it ours. (Looking at her.) The cottage I told you about so often — that we had the two keys for, he and I. It is his now. Where we used to hold our wild nights, talking, drinking, planning — at that time. Wild nights; yes. He and I together. (He throws the slip on the couch and rises suddenly.) And sometimes I alone. (Stares at her.) But not quite alone. I told you. You remember?
BERTHA
(Shocked.) That place?
RICHARD
(Walks away from her a few paces and stands still, thinking, holding his chin.) Yes.
BERTHA
(Taking up the slip again.) Where is it?
RICHARD
Do you not know?
BERTHA
He told me to take the tram at Lansdowne Road and to ask the man to let me down there. Is it... is it a bad place?
565
RICHARD
O no, cottages. (He returns to the lounge and sits down.) What answer did you give?
BERTHA
No answer. He said he would wait.
RICHARD
Tonight?
BERTHA
Every night, he said. Between eight and nine.
RICHARD
And so I am to go tonight to interview — the professor. About the appointment I am to beg for. (Looking at her.) The interview is arranged for tonight by him — between eight and nine. Curious, isn’t it? The same hour.
BERTHA
Very.
RICHARD
Did he ask you had I any suspicion?
BERTHA
> No.
RICHARD
Did he mention my name?
BERTHA
No.
RICHARD
Not once?
BERTHA
Not that I remember.
RICHARD
(Bounding to his feet.) O yes! Quite clear!
BERTHA
What?
RICHARD
(Striding to and fro.) A liar, a thief, and a fool! Quite clear! A common thief! What else? (With a harsh laugh.) My great friend! A patriot too! A thief — nothing else! (He halts, thrusting his hands into his pockets.) But a fool also!
BERTHA
(Looking at him.) What are you going to do?
RICHARD
(Shortly.) Follow him. Find him. Tell him. (Calmly.) A few words will do. Thief and fool.
BERTHA
(Flings the slip on the couch.) I see it all!
RICHARD
(Turning.) Eh!
BERTHA
(Hotly.) The work of a devil.
RICHARD
He?
BERTHA
(Turning on him.) No, you! The work of a devil to turn him against me as you tried to turn my own child against me. Only you did not succeed.
566
RICHARD
How? In God’s name, how?
BERTHA
(Excitedly.) Yes, yes. What I say. Everyone saw it. Whenever I tried to correct him for the least thing you went on with your folly, speaking to him as if he were a grownup man. Ruining the poor child, or trying to. Then, of course, I was the cruel mother and only you loved him. (With growing excitement.) But you did not turn him against me — against his own mother. Because why? Because the child has too much nature in him.
RICHARD
I never tried to do such a thing, Bertha. You know I cannot be severe with a child.
BERTHA
Because you never loved your own mother. A mother is always a mother, no matter what. I never heard of any human being that did not love the mother that brought him into the world, except you.
RICHARD
(Approaching her quietly.) Bertha, do not say things you will be sorry for. Are you not glad my son is fond of me?
BERTHA
Who taught him to be? Who taught him to run to meet you? Who told him you would bring him home toys when you were out on your rambles in the rain, forgetting all about him — and me? I did. I taught him to love you.
RICHARD
Yes, dear. I know it was you.
BERTHA
(Almost crying.) And then you try to turn everyone against me. All is to be for you. I am to appear false and cruel to everyone except to you. Because you take advantage of my simplicity as you did — the first time.
RICHARD
(Violently.) And you have the courage to say that to me?
BERTHA
(Facing him.) Yes, I have! Both then and now. Because I am simple you think you can do what you like with me. (Gesticulating.) Follow him now. Call him names. Make him be humble before you and make him despise me. Follow him!
567
RICHARD
