Complete Works of J. M. Barrie

by Unknown

  NANNY. But I ken.

  GAVIN (with a half-groan). Oh!

  BABBIE. Tell me!

  NANNY. Well, when the Minister was out, Jean used to take favoured parties into the study to see the rose, and they gossiped about wha the lady could be, till Tibbie Birse and Bell Dundas got so curious that they stole the rose — it being of an uncommon kind — and now they ‘re going the round o’ all the gentry’s gardens trying to match it — so as to find out wha she is!

  (GAVIN rises; BABBIE looking at him demurely.)

  You’ve no finished, sir? You’ve eaten nothing.

  GAVIN. Yes, I have made a very good tea, Mrs. Webster. Thank you. (Plays with spinning-wheel.)

  NANNY (whispering). Rise up, lassie, he’s finished.

  (Abruptly takes the cup out of babbie’s hand.) You winna tell me her name, Mr. Dishart?

  GAVIN (looking at her, then at his feet, then at her again, sharply). No! (Sends spinning-wheel going quickly.)

  (Exit NANNY sighing, with tray, BABBIE looks approvingly at him. He turns quickly, they catch each other’s eye. He sighs and folds his arms.)

  BABBIE (faintly). I think I had better go!

  (No answer, GAVIN turns wheel.)

  Goodbye.

  GAVIN (hoarsely). You should never have come.

  BABBIE (indignantly). Oh! Goodbye for ever. (Goes to door.) Unless you apologise I will never speak to you again.

  (She waits expectant; rattles door latch. He says nothing.)

  Did you apologise?

  GAVIN. I did not. (Fiercely turns wheel round.)

  BABBIE (nonplussed). Yes, you did — I heard you. (Comes down to him quaintly.) I forgive you, Mr. Gavin Dishart!

  GAVIN (meaning first to be angry and then endearingly). Babbie.

  BABBIE. What?

  (His arms go out lovingly. In alarm he checks himself and breathes heavily like one who has had a narrow escape.)

  GAVIN. YOU ARE EVERYTHING A WOMAN OUGHT NOT TO BE.

  (BABBIE hangs more and more limp with each charge he brings against her.)

  As a minister I despise you for your want of seriousness; you are no respecter of the proprieties. That humility in the presence of your superiors, which so well becomes a maiden, is totally and lamentably lacking in you. Everything about you is wrong —

  (She looks up.)

  Your very hair infuriates me —

  (She holds her hair.)

  As a wife — a wife! Can any sane man conceive you as a wife!

  (Goes down a step.)

  BABBIE (looking up suddenly). You are not proposing to me, are you?

  GAVIN. Heaven forbid! Then why is it —

  BABBIE. Why is what?

  GAVIN. I don’t know. But you — you — your hair — your eyes — (His arm rises admonishingly.)

  (Enter nanny.)

  NANNY (gleefully). Eh, but she’s catching it now.

  GAVIN. Go away! Go away!

  NANNY. Lassie, you ‘re to catch it now!

  (NANNY goes off rubbing her hands gleefully.)

  GAVIN (intensely). Babbie, I never kissed a woman before.

  BABBIE. Before what?

  (He is startled. He goes for his hat on loom, then turns to her.)

  GAVIN. Are you never serious?

  BABBIE. Yes.

  GAVIN. When?

  BABBIE (lugubriously, and in a sort of solemn burlesque). When I — when I think of how I am going to end. I have read my future, Mr. Dishart, and it is not to be a glorious one. (Sits in armchair.) This flibberty-gibbet of a Babbie is to get her licks in the end. (Reading her hand) I see him — I see my husband!

  GAVIN (going to her, eagerly). You won’t care for him?

  BABBIE (examining her hand). Will I — or won’t I? This line — but that line — no, I don’t believe I will.

  GAVIN. Then why?

  BABBIE (half serious for the first time). I suppose just for the fun of the thing. Haven’t you seen that I do everything for fun? It tosses me in the air; I am just a bubble. Some day, foof! — (making the action of blowing) — and I shall be blown out.

  GAVIN (ardently). A soldier is not the right man for you.

  BABBIE. The right man for me! I see him!

  GAVIN. Tell me, woman!

  BABBIE. He is everything I am not, and nothing that I am.

  GAVIN (seeing himself in this). Yes, yes.

  BABBIE. He must be a man — not a bubble —

  GAVIN. No!

  BABBIE. One who takes the world by the throat —

  GAVIN. All ministers do.

  (They are not looking at each other.)

  BABBIE. A man who has a mind of his own, and having once made it up, stands to it in defiance of everyone.

  GAVIN. Thomas Whamond.

  BABBIE. If I love him it must be because he has shown me what love is. If I have a soul, he has got to find it for me. He must compel me somehow to think — he must be my master —

  GAVIN (carried away). Your master! (Going close to her)

  Babbie, I am that man!

  (The awfulness of what he has said strikes them both; they stare at each other aghast, GAVIN seizes his hat and rushes in horror from the room.)

  SCENE II

  The Manse Garden: It is early evening, some days later.

  (As curtain rises JEAN is taking down towels from line. She exits with basket in one arm, apron in other, and pin in mouth. Nothing is now left of the washing except rope. While this is going on, GAVIN is seen passing and repassing window (whose blind is not drawn). He is walking up and down room composing, muttering to himself, etc. Once he stands looking out at window composing, then walks about again, BABBIE, in gipsy dress and carrying a lighted lantern and a shawl, passes along behind wall and enters at gate. Her movements and glances behind her show that she fears someone is pursuing her. She sees GAVIN at window, is delighted, but hides beneath it so that he may not see her. She mischievously flashes lantern three times. Once he is about to look out; she hides; he withdraws. Again she flashes light on window. Suddenly she starts away, hears someone, looks over wall, is alarmed, and runs off hastily, DOW passes behind wall, looking about him in wrath, and enters at gate. At that moment JEAN, the woman servant, opens door to come out. DOW pounces on her in front of Manse door.)

  JEAN (screaming). Let go!

  DOW (releasing her and backing). It’s you, Jean?

  JEAN. Wha would it be? You widow man! Wha did you think it was?

  DOW (conciliatory). Nobody. (Eagerly) I’m looking for nobody. I’ve seen nobody.

  JEAN. You’re drunk again.

  DOW (eagerly). Ay, that’s it. I’m just drunk. (Looking at window) Is he there? He hasna left the house? (Fiercely)

  Tell me!

  (jean shrinks from him gavin opens window.)

  GAVIN. Jean, was that lightning a moment ago?

  JEAN. I saw no lightning, sir. (Continues winding up clothesline).

  (DOW starts.)

  GAVIN. I could have sworn I saw several flashes on the window. Has Thomas Whamond come for the key of the church?

  JEAN. No, HE HASNA come yet.

  GAVIN. You are coming to the prayer meeting, I hope, Rob?

  DOW. Ay, of course.

  (GAVIN shuts window, pulls down blind and disappears.

  JEAN goes on rolling up the rope, which she leaves hanging on hook on Manse wall.)

  JEAN. Would you shame the kirk by coming to the prayer meeting in corduroys? Away hame and put on your blacks!

  DOW. I’M NO COMING TO THE MEETING.! HAVE OTHER WORK to do. (Darkly) If she — if she —

  JEAN. Wha? Wha are you raving about? A woman?

  DOW (going to her). No, no, there’s no woman, I tell you — I’m drunk.

  WHAMOND (off). Jean!

  DOW. That’s Tammas Whamond! If you tell him I saw a woman here I’ll throttle you! (Grips her arm.)

  (She releases herself. Enter whamond in his blacks, aged silk hat, etc.)

  WHAMOND. I’ve come for the key
of the kirk, Jean.

  JEAN (producing key from her pocket). There it is. (Gives him the key.) And it’s time I was putting on my blacks.

  (Looks admiringly at gavin’s window.) Tammas, he’s sitting there, studying to the last moment. At times I’m near terrified that some day he’ll walk straight out of that window in a fit of sublime thought. —

  (Exit into Manse, WHAMOND looks inquiringly at DOW.)

  WHAMOND (harshly). What are you prowling about here for?

  DOW. Nothing. I’ve no reason.

  WHAMOND. You have a reason, and the reason is an Egyptian trollop. I ken what makes ye haunt this garden.

  DOW (startled). You dinna mean —

  WHAMOND (going to him). I mean that I’ve been watching as well as you. I mean I ken about a lovers’ meeting in Nanny Webster’s house. Ay, and about another since then, at the Kaims o’ Erly.

  DOW (relieved). Is that all?

  WHAMOND. All! Is there mair?

  DOW (eagerly). No, no, may I be struck dead if there is.

  (WHAMOND fiercely grips DOW’S arm.)

  WHAMOND. You ‘re all in a trem’le. What is’t?

  DOW. Nothing — I swear. I was going when you cam.

  WHAMOND (grimly). Let’s see you go.

  (DOW hesitates.)

  Let’s see you go.

  (After hesitation, DOW exits through gate, DOW returns stealthily and steals through gate to see if WHAMOND has gone. He turns and WHAMOND confronts him. They look at each other, MICAH enters.)

  WHAMOND. Laddie, what’s the matter wi’ your father?

  DOW (warningly). Naething.

  MICAH. Naething.

  (WHAMOND goes off sternly.)

  MICAH (coming to DOW — entreating). Father, come awa’ hame.

  DOW. Not ME. Micah, did you SEE a woman wi’ A lantern?

  MICAH. Is it her that has bewitched the Minister?

  DOW. Speak low.

  MICAH. What is she like?

  DOW. She’s bonny — but she’s the devil.

  MICAH. You mak’ me shiver! I saw no woman wi’ a lantern, but I saw lightning.

  DOW. Lightning! Quick — whaur did you see it?

  MICAH. In the backend o’ the wood.

  DOW. It’s her again! Out o’ my way. (He seizes MICAH by the shoulders.)

  MICAH. Father, come hame! Come hame!

  DOW (flinging MICAH from him). I’ve other work to do!

  (Exit.)

  Micah. Enerty! Feenity! Fickerty Feg! El! Del! Dolmans egg. Irky! Birky! Ravens croak, Into Hell and let her smoke.

  (While he recites these lines micah goes twice round well looking into it. Enter babbie. She is flashing light on gavin’s window when she hears micah. She goes to him, puts down lantern and shawl above the well.)

  BABBIE. Hallo, hallo, little barelegs, whatever are you doing?

  MICAH (looking up at her quickly). I was wishing. This is a wishing-well. I was wishing the woman was in Hell.

  BABBIE. YOU are a dear boy! What woman is it?

  MICAH. The woman who has sent my father to the drink again. He says she should be burned for a witch.

  BABBIE. No doubt it would be a lovely end for her! But if he dislikes her so much how can she have such power over him?

  MICAH. It’s no my father she has bewitched.

  BABBIE. Who is it, then?

  MICAH. It’s Mr. Dishart.

  (babbie gets a shock. Throughout remainder of scene she is quite unemotional, merely quiet, like one a little dazed who needs time to think it all out.)

  BABBIE (after pause). Why should that send your father to the drink?

  MICAH. Because my father’s terrible fond o’ him, and when the congregation ken about the woman they’ll turn agin the Minister, and they’ll stone him out o’ Thrums.

  BABBIE. Stone him — oh, but this is nonsense.

  MICAH. It’s truth.

  (micah goes to babbie, touches her, and retreats from her in fear.)

  BABBIE. Why do you stare at me?

  (Lights in church windows appear.)

  MICAH. You ‘re — you ‘re the woman!

  BABBIE. What makes you think that?

  MICAH. You’re so bonny. (Going to her.) Are you the woman?

  BABBIE. I suppose I am the woman.

  MICAH. Oh, woman, will you no gang awa’! When my father’s wild wi’ the drink I have to sleep in the field, and it’s terrible cauld. (Appealingly.)

  BABBIE. I expect it is.

  MICAH (pleadingly). I’ll gie you my rabbit if you’ll gang awa’.

  (She turns from him. He thinks she is refusing.)

  I’ll gie you them both.

  BABBIE. Keep your rabbits, boy, and dry your eyes — I am going away. (She is thinking of gavin rather than of micah.)

  It’s really true — that they could be such savages to him?

  MICAH. I swear til’t. You’ll leave the Minister alone now for ever and ever?

  BABBIE (still subdued). High time! Yes, for ever and ever.

  (The church bell begins to ring.)

  MICAH. That’s the prayer-meeting bell. He’ll be coming out.

  BABBIE (eagerly). Will he?

  (She runs off quickly, MICAH follows and gets between her and the Manse door.)

  MICAH. YOU said YOU WOULD GANG AWA’!

  BABBIE. Yes, MUCH better. I am GOING. (She looks up at window, turns away from it. She has suddenly a fit of shivering — every bit of her shivers.)

  MICAH (after some time). What makes you shiver so terrible?

  BABBIE. Was I shivering?

  MICAH (touched). Maybe you ‘re fond o’ him?

  BABBIE. Maybe. I wonder. I hadn’t thought of it. That’s the worst of me, little boy. (She stops and addresses gavin’s window in a mixture of comedy, recklessness and feeling.) Goodbye! Did you call me? No? Doesn’t matter. It was just a bubble that floated this way to ask you kindly to blow her out. Best for you. Blow, little — master! Thank you. (She curtseys as if gavin had obeyed, then she addresses micah) I ‘m blown out, boy! The Egyptian is done for. Hurray!

  (She exits, half laughing, dancing and singing, much as she first appeared in Act I. The only words being heard—’ Hurray! Hurray!’ — are obviously done to defy her emotions. A devil-may-care exit. After pause MICAH follows her off. There is a pause in which men and women, all in Sunday clothes, pass behind wall. They move along in old-fashioned Scotch manner and only upper part of them is visible. The bell continues ringing slowly. Enter SNECKY HOBART. As he is passing behind wall BABBIE screams in distance. He stops and listens, then comes through gate, BABBIE screams again, JEAN, in Sunday clothes, comes out at Manse door going to church.) ‘ JEAN. It’S you, Snecky.

  SNECKY. Jean, did you hear onything? It sounded like a woman screaming.

  JEAN (leftily). I can neither hear nor see. I’m wearing my black alpaca.

  (JEAN passes out at gate and exits. When JEAN is at gate more churchgoers come on. SNECKY sits on seat and dusts his boots with his handkerchief. ANDREW, passing, comes to rest at gate.)

  Andrew (over wall). A grand night for the meeting, Snecky.

  SNECKY. It is, Andrew. Ah, oh! man, it is. Andrew, did you hear a woman scream? Andrew. No — I was thinking o’ higher things.

  (He passes on.)

  SNECKY. It’S QUEER.

  (He goes through gate and exits. More churchgoers come on. Lights in Manse go out. GAVIN comes out at Manse door, shutting it, and meets NANNY.)

  NANNY (in agitation). Mr. Dishart —

  GAVIN. Good evening, Mrs. Webster.

  NANNY. Mr. Dishart — the Egyptian!

  GAVIN (startled). Has anything happened?

  NANNY. Yes. In the wood. Rob Dow has got grip o’her. He’s struck her.