,405 [ PR 6037 .U95 B7 1912 Copy 1 In Great Britain only ]6ll. tSCENTl M'S ACTING EDITION il E BRACELET (ALFRED SUTRO) The Fe.e for each AMATEUR represenWtlon of ihe piece is 21/^, payable in advance to SAMUEL FRENCH, Led., 26,^()ucndtnpton Street, Strand, London, W.C. itdtion \ CjOndov : \ SAMUEL FRENCH, Ltd.. ^ PUBLISH BRS", ) as, SOUTHAMPTON STRKET. STRAND. Naw You&i '! SAMUEL FRENCH, j PDBLISHEB, ( 28, WEST 38th STREET. ) BELFAST- J.Nicnorjo.v. 26, Church L«n«. BIRMINGHAM- James Gukst, 12, Snow Hill. W. H.Smith A Som, 54, Union ftc BRADFORD- W. H. Smith k Sow. 6. Dal« Street. BlISTOL- B. ToLKMAK, t, Ruv«rt Street. DUBLIN- Morrott's Library, 12, Nassau St. EDINBURGH- H. RoBiiveoa. 11M16. Leith It. flLASGCW- Wm. Lotr, 221, Argyle Street. LBEDS- R. Jaoksov, 18, Commprcfal St. LIVERPOOL— J. HOBKWSHAW A Sons. 28-30, Oolqultt Street. HANCHBSTBR- JoHV Hbywood, Oeansgate and RUlseflel'l. NEWCASTLS-ON-TYNE- Thomaj Aixak, 18 Anekland SYDNEY- ; 8. J. KuttT. ) Ml. George Stro*!^ \ NEW OlSCRIPTIVB CATALOGUE SENT POST FREB NO lOOICS £:XC»[JLNOJE2D« Send for Catalogues, 5,000 Plays, 10,000 Recitations. Post Froo. rhe Guide to Selecting P'aysU now published annually — entirely revised and brongK p-to-date. Price Is. BETWEEN THE SOUP AND THE SAVOURY By GERTRUDE JENNINGS. Originally produced at the Playhouse, London, under th© management of Mr. Cyril Maude and the direction of the Author, on October 19, 1910. The Cook (Maria) . . Miss Margaret Murray. The Parloubmaid (Ada) . Miss Maude Buchanarx. Thb KiTCHENMAiD (Emily) • Miss Ethel Ross. Scene. — The Kitchen, Time. — Evening y during the serving of dinner. One Act, Price 6d. 30 minutes in represen- tation. One Scene. Fee, One Guinea. THE BRACELET A PLAY IN ONE ACT By ALFRED SUTRO Copyright, 1912, by Samuel French, Limited Niiw York I London SAJViUEL FRENCH SAMUEL FRENCH, Ltd Publisher 26 Southampton Street I 28-30, WEST 381H SI REEL STRAND C. SpyA <.ev.^ CHARACTERS Harvey Western. \ His Honour Judge Banket. Martin. William. Mrs. Western. Mrs. Banket. Miss Farren. Smit'hers. Time — the present. ©CIO 2'y.n4 ^ THE BRACELET The dining-room in an upper middle-class house near the Park. It is furnished in the conventional modern style, soberly and n^ithout imagination. The room is on the ground floor, facing the street ; the door is R.c, leading into the hall. To the left of this door is a sideboard, glittering u>ilh silver. Three tall windows, at the back, heavily curtained ; between them hang two or three family portraits. The table, on u'hich there is the usual debris of a meal that is over — coffee-cups, liqueur-glasses, etc. — has been laid for four persons, and their four chairs are still around it. The fireplace, with its rather crude and ambitious mantelpiece, is in tli^centre of the left wall ; and uncomfortable-looking heavy armchairs are on each side of it. On the mantelpiece are a marble clock and a few bits of china. In the angle formed at the left is a small Queen Anne writing-table, open. To the right of the room is a large sofa. The floor is heavily carpeted, and there are many rugs scattered about. When the curtain rises, the room is in darkness. Wil- liam, the footman, enters hurriedly and switches on the electric light. He rushes to the table, looks eagerly around, shifting cups and glasses, napkins, etc., then goes on his hands and knees and searches on the carpet. After a moment, Smithers, the lady's- maid, follows him. Smithers {eagerly). Can't you find it ? \\iLi.iAU [sulkily). No. Not yet. Give me time. Smithers [feeling along the table-cloth). Under one of those rugs, perhaps. 4 THE BRACELET. William. Well, I'm looking. (Motor-horn sounds sharply, off.) All right, all right ! Smithers [with a jerk of the head). Missis is telling him to do it. William [on all fours, crawling about). Veiy like her voice, too, when she's angry. Drat the thing ! Where can it be ? (He peers into tlie coal-scuttle.) Smithers. No good looking in there, stupid. William. They always say it's the unlikeliest places (Martin, the butler, comes in.) Martin. Come, come, haven't you found it ? William. No, Mr. Martin. It ain't here. Martin (bustling about). Must be, must be. She says William. I can't help what she says. It ain't. Martin (looking under the sofa). Just you hustle, young man, and don't give me any back-answers. [Having completed his examination of the sofa, he moves to the sideboard, and fusses round that.) Smithers (methodically shaking out each napkin). I tell you she's cross ! Martin (hard at work, searching). Doesn't mind disturbing us, in the midst of our supper ! William (who, all the time, has beeyi on all fours, searching). We're dirt, that's what we are— dirt. Martin (reprovingly). William, I've told you be- fore- William. Very sorry, Mr. Martin, but this is the first time I've accepted an engagement at a stock- broker's. (He has been crawling round the curtains at the back, shaking them ; pulling hard at one of them, he dislodges the lower part.) Lor ! Now I've done it ! Smithers. Clumsy ! Martin (severely). That comes of too much talk. Never mind the curtain— go on looking. (William drops on to his hands and knees again; THE BRACELET. 5. Harvey Western comes into the room, peyktfbed and restless. He is a well-preserved man of fifty.) Harvey. I say — not found it ? Martin. Not yet, sir. Harvey. Nuisance. Musi be here, you know. Martin. Is it a very valuable one, sir ? Harvey {^who has gone to the table, and is turning things over). No, no, not particularly — but that's not the point. [He looks under the table.) Martin (still seeking). When did Madam find tliat she'd lost it, sir ? Harvey. Oh, about five minutes after we'd started. And we've turned over everything in the car. It's certainly not there. [He fusses around the table.) Martin. Is Madam quite sure ^.he was wearing it, sir ? Smithers (fretfully). Yes, yes, of course she was wearing it. I put it on her myself. Martin. Where did Madam put her cloak on sir ? Smithers. In here. I brought it in. Martin. You didn't notice whether — — Smithers. No. Don't you think if we moved a// the rugs (She moves across the room and joins William, who is still grovelling on the floor, and goes on her knees by Ms side.) Harvey. It must be here somewhere. (They are all searching furiously — William by the windows, peering into the spaces between the wall and the carpets, Martin at the sideboard, Smithers gathering the rugs together, all 07i their hands and knees, while Harvey, bent double, is looking under the table. Mrs. Western comes in stonily, fol- lowed by the Judge and Mrs. Banket. Mrs. Western is a handsome woman of forty- five, ivith a 6 THE BRACELET. rather stern, cold face ; the Judge a somewhat corpulent, genial man of fifty -five ; and his wife, an amiable nullity, seven or eight years younger. They are all in evening-dress, the ladies in opera-cloaks.) Mrs. Western (pausing on the threshold). Well? Harvey (rising and dusting himself). ' No trace of it. Mrs. Western (looking around). A nice mess you've made of the room ! Martin. You told us to look, Madam. Judge (going to the fire and standing with his hack to it). I'm afraid we'll be shockingly late, Alice. Mrs. Western (firmly). I don't go without my bracelet. (She goes to the table, and- proceeds to shift the cups and glasses.) Mrs. Banket (moving to the other side of the table, and doing the sam.e) . Quite right, dear — I wouldn't. (They all search, except the Judge, who shrugs his shoulders placidly, then takes a cigarette from his case, and lights it. The three servants still are grovelling on the fl.oor.) Mrs. Western. I knoipj I had it while I was drink- ing my coffee Judge. My experience is, one should never look for things. They find themselves. Mrs. Western (shortly). Nonsense. Judge. A fact. Or at least one should pretend to be looking for something else. My glasses, now. When I lose them, I declare loudly I can't find my cigar-case. That disheartens the glasses — they re- turn at once. Mrs. Banket {reproachfully). Don't be so irrita- ting, Tom ! Judge. That's all very well — but how about me ? I was asked here to dine. I've dined — I'm not coin- plaining about the dinner. But now the curtain's up — and here am I watching half-a-dozen people look- ing very hard for a thing that isn't there. THE BRACELET. 7 Mrs. Banket. Tom, Tom, it's those laughs you get in Court that make you so fond of talking. Don't you see how you're vexing your sister ? Mrs. Western. Oh, I'm used to Tom. Harvey, I think you might be looking. Harvey. My dear, T've been turning round and round in this corner, like a bird in a cage. Martin (who, all this time, like the other servants, has been crawling around the different articles of furni- ture in the room, suddenly rises to his feet and addresses his mistress firmly but respectfully). It's not here, madam. (The other servants also rise ; and stand, each in their corner. Judge. That, I imagine, is perfectly clear ; and I congratulate the witness on the manner in which he has given his evidence. (He throii's his cigarette into the fire and steps forward.) Now, my dear Alice Mrs. Western (sitting doggedly in the chair in front of the table and proceeding to pull off her gloves). I don't go without my bracelet. Judge. Heaven forbid that I should speak slight- ingly of a gift of Harvey's — but really it isn't of such priceless value. Mrs. Western. That has nothing to do with it. Mrs. Banket. Of course not. Oh, these men ! Harvey (stepping forward). Tom's right. Let's go. Look here, I'll get you another. Mrs. Western (drily). Thanks — I want thai one. — Smithers, and you, William, just look again in the hall. Smithers. Yes, m'm. Mrs. Western. And then help the chauffeur — turn out everything in the car. Smithers. Yes, m'm. Mrs. Western. Bring the rugs into the house, and shake them. Smithers. Yes, m'm. (She and Williau go) 8 THE BRACELET. Judge {going back to the fire). vSurnptuaiy Jaws — that's what we want. If women didn't wear brace- lets, they couldn't lose them. Mrs. Western. Martin, William is honest, isn't he? Harvey (protesting). Oh, hang it, Ahce ! Martin. Quite, madam — excellent character — a httle flighty, but a most respectable young man. Mrs. Western. I've seen him reading a sporting paper. Judge. A weakness, my dear Ahce, common to the best of us. I do it myself sometimes, but I'm wilhng to be searched. Mrs. Banket. O Tom, do be quiet ! Mrs. Western (to the Judge). You're very un- sympathetic. (Turning to Martin again.) None of the other servants came in after we left ? Martin. No, madam.. Mrs. Western. You're sure ? Martin. Quite sure, madam. They were all downstairs, having their supper. Mrs. Western. Most mysterious ! Incompre- hensible ! Judge (looking at his watch). Past nine ! We shall plunge into the play — hke body-snatchers, looking for the corpse of the plot — and we shall never know what it was that the heroine did. Mrs. Western (ignoring him, to Martin). Smithers I'll answer for. Martin. Oh yes, madam. If I w/g'//i make a sug- gestion Mrs. Western. Well ? Martin. It couldn't have fallen anywher e into your dress, madam. Mrs. W^estern. Nonsense, how could it ? ( She gets up and shakes herself.) Absurd. (She sits again.) Martin. Into your cloak ? Mrs. Western. Silk ! No. That'll do, Martin. You might help the others, outside. (Martin goes.) THE BRACELET. 9 Judge (iojUIi a step forward). Now, admirable sister Mrs. Western. Didn't it strike you that Martin's manner was rather strange ? Harvey (fretfully). Really you must not suspect the servants ! Mrs. Western (turning to him) . Must not — must ! That's scarcely the way to speak to me, Harvey. Harvey (deprecatingly). My dear Mrs. Western. And I wasn't suspecting — I was merely asking a question of my brother. Judge. Come, Alice's, let's go. Mrs. Western (shaking her head). You three go. You'll excuse me. Judge (cheerfully). If you insist Mrs,. Bk^k^t (coming forward). No, no. Z)acome, Alice ! Mrs. Western. I can't — I'm so puzzled. (Willi a sudden idea.) Oh ! Harvey (xvho is behind her, to the left, between her and the Judge). What ? Have you found it? Mrs. Western. No, no — of course not. But ring, please, will you ? Harvey. Why ? Mrs. Western. I want you to ring. (He presses the bell by the fireplace). I just remember Miss Farren came in while we were having coffee. Harvey (indignantly). Ahce ! Mrs. Western. I asked her to write a card to Harrod's— she'll have written it in here. Harvey (angrily). I say — really ! Mrs. Western (coldly). No need to snub me again — before our guests ! I need scarcely say I am not suspecting Miss Farren — but in justice to her Mrs. Banket. But, AUce, she'll have gone out — you told her she might Mrs. Western. Only to her sister's close by — 10 THE BRACELET. and she rnay not have gone yet. Why don't they answer the bell ? Ring again, Harvey. Judge. The poor things are still searching. Harvey (firmly). Alice, I protest, I do indeed Mrs. Western. Don't be so foolishly sentimental — it's ridiculous at your age. The young woman is in my employ, as governess to my children. (Martin comes in.) Has Miss Farren gone out yet ? Martin. No, madam. I believe she's in her room, dressing. Mrs. Western. Ask her to come. Martin. Yes, madam. (He goes.) Judge (shaking his head). No sense of proportion, that's the truth — they've no sense of proportion. Mrs. Banket. Tom ! Judge. A fact, my dear — but you can't help it. You've every quality in the worldbut just that — ^you will always look through the wrong end of the tele- scope. Mrs. Banket. Really, Tom, this isn't the moment for your nonsense — and if you only knew how stupid you are when you try to be funny ! Harvey (going nervously to Mrs. Western). I say, I really do think Mrs. Western [roughly). I don't care what you think. Leave me alone ! {There is silence. The Judge, sitting by the fire, ivhi sties [loudly " Waltz {me around again, Willie ! " Harvey has gone moodily across the room and stands by the sideboard. Mrs. Banket is sitting behind the table. After a moment the door opens, and Miss Farren comes in, with hat and cloak on, and goes straight to Mrs. Western. She is an extremely pretty girl of twejity.) Miss Farren. You want me, Mrs. Western ? Mrs. Western. Oh, Miss Farren, I've lost my bracelet. Miss Farren. Really ! Fm so sorry ! Where ? THE BRACELET. 11 Mps. V/estern. I don't know. You didn't see it, of course, after we'd gone ? Miss Farren (shaking her head) . No — and no one came in. I was writing the letter to Harrod's. Mrs. Western. No one at all ? Miss Farren. No — I'm sure of that. And I'd hardly got to my room when I heard the car come back. Mrs. Western. Well, thank you. Miss Farren. Miss Farren. It's ver}/ annoying. You're sure it's not in the car ? Judge. My dear Miss Farren, it's not in the car, it's not anywhere, and I'm beginning to believe it never was at all. Come, Alice, let's go. We shan't see much of the play, but we can at least help the British drama by buying two programmes. Miss. Farren (with a light laugh — then turning to Mrs. Western again). Do you want rne any more, Mrs. Western ? Mrs. Western. No^ thanks. (Miss Farren ttcrns to go — Mrs. Western, who has suddenly cast an eager glance at her, as though attracted by something, calls her back.) Oh, Miss Farren ! Miss Farren (turning). Yes ? Mrs. Western. I wonder whether you'd be so good as to shift this aigrette of mine — it's hurting me. Miss Farren. Certainly, (She comes back to Mrs. Western, and stands by her side ; as she raises her arm Mrs. Western jumps up and seizes it by the wrist.) Mrs. Western. My bracelet ! (Keeping a tight hold of Miss Farren 's wrist, she holds it at arm's length. There is a general cry of amazement — the Judge and his wife start to their feet — Harvey rushes eagerly towards her.) Judge. Alice ! Mrs. Banket. Oh ! 12 THE BRACELET. Harvey. No, no {These three exelamafions are simultaneous.) Mrs. Western. There it is ! Siie took it ! Judge. Are you sure ? Harvey {breathless and urgent). Alice Miss Farren (recovering from, her shock and be- wilderment). Mrs. Western, it isn't Mrs. Vv'ESTERn (sternly, still holding the girl by the wrist).. You dare to pretend Harvey (zt'he is now at the back of his wife's chair, looking closely at the bracelet). Let me look, let me look. ... I say, Alice, you're wrong. It's not yours at all. The setting's different. Mrs. Western (angrily). What do you mean, different ? You think I don't know my own brace- let ? Are you mad ? I say it's mine — and it is ! Judge (stepping forward). Alice, be careful Mrs. Western. Careful ! You're as bad as he ! Of course the thing's mine — I've been wearing it for weeks — and you think I can make a mistake ? She found it, and took it. Miss Farren (very distressed). No, no, Mrs. Western, really ! It isn't yours ! I assure you ! Harvey. Alice, I declare to you Mrs. Western (roughly). Be quiet, and go away. This is no business of yours. Harvey (eagerly). But it is ! It was I who bought the wretched thing — well, I am prepared to swear that this isn't the one ! Mrs. Western (a little shaken, looking at it again). You're prepared to. . . . (She lifts her head.) How can you talk such utter nonsense ? There's not the least doubt — not the least ! Judge (stopping Harvey, ivho is about to protest violently). Alice, mind what you're saying. You'll get yourself into trouble. If Harveys says Mrs. Banket (contemptuously). He's saying it to shield her, that's all. THE BRACELET. 13 Harvey {indignantly). I'm not. It's not true. But 3^ou mustn't bring such an accusation. It's mon- strous. And I won't allow Mrs. Western [drawing herself up). You — won't — allow ! This girl takes my bracelet — and j^ou won't allow ! Miss Farren [trying to free herself). Mrs. Western, I haven't, I haven't ! Judge {impressively). Alice, will you listen to me ? Mrs. Western. No, I won't ! This doesn't con- cern you, or any one, but me and this girl ! Look at her — she knows ! Miss Farren. Mrs. Western, you're hurting my arm. ... Mrs. Western. Come now — confess ! I won't be hard on 5^ou if you confess [She ivrenches off the bracelet and releases the girl, who staggers back, nursing her wrist.) Harvey [almost beside himself, stamping his foot). Alice, Alice, will you hear Miss Farren. Oh, you have hurt me ! And you've no right — to sa}/ such things. . . . Harvey. No, you haven't, you haven't ! Mrs. Western. Besides, a bracelet hke that ! [She holds it up. To Miss Farren.) You won't confess ? Very well, then. I'll send for a policeman. YiARW^Y [doggedly) . The bracelet is hers. Mrs. Western [jeeringly). Turquoise and emer- alds ! Hers ! A coincidence, perhaps. Very likely. rU give her in charge at once. Harvey. The bracelet is hers, I tell you. Mrs. Western [turning furiously on him). You dare to say that ? Harvey [steadily). Yes. Because I myself — gave it her. [There is a moment's almost stupefied silence ; Harvey and Alice are face to face, Miss Farren to the 14 THE BRACELET. left of her. Mrs. Banket is still at the back, the Judge by the fire. Mrs. \^'estern breaks the silence.) Mrs. Western (sternly). You — gave — it — her? Harvey (steadily). Yes. Mrs. Western. You ask me to believe that you gave a bracelet to — this person — my children's governess ? Harvey. I did. Mrs. Western. An exact copy of the one you gave me ? Harvey. I've told you— it's not an exact copy — there's a difference in the setting. Mrs. Banket. Nonsense, nonsense, it can't be — he's just saying this Judge. Fanny, don't interfere. Harvey. I'm saying what's true. Mrs. Western. I refuse to beheve it. It's in- credible. You've not sunk as low as that. It's a lie. Harvey (indionantly). Alice! Mrs. Western. Yes, a lie. A trumped-up story. The girl has taken it Miss Farren. I have not ! Mrs. Western. You can tell that to the magis- trate — (she turns to Harvey) — and you too, if you like. (She moves to the bell.) Judge (putting out a hand to step her). Alice Mrs. Western. Leave me alone, Tom. I know what I'm doing. I'll send for a policeman. Harvey (imploringly). Alice, Alice Mrs. Western (pausing, with her hand on the bell). V\\ let the girl off, if you'll tell m.e the truth. Harvey. I have told you the truth. Mrs. Western. You persist in this silly falsehood ? Harvey. It isn't — I tell you it isn 't ! Mrs. W^estern. Very well, then. (She presses the bell. At that moment the door bursts open, and Martin comes in triumphantly, imth the THE BRACELET. I5 bracelet on a salver. Smithers and William are behind him, but do not pass beyond the threshold.) - Martin (eagerly). Ma'am, ma'am, we've found the (Mrs. Western has turned towards him, still holding the other bracelet in her hand ; Martin catches sight of it, and stops dead short, staring bcwil- deredl)> at it.) Mrs. Western [calmly). Where did you find it ? (She lakes the bracelet off the salver and lays it on the table.) Martin (with a great effort). It had fallen into the pocket of the car — there was a hole in the pocket — it had worked its way right down into the body. Mrs. W'ESTern. Very well. Thank you. (Martin goes ; the other servants have already slunk off. There is a momenVs silence. Mrs. Western suddenly flings the bracelet she has in her hand in Miss Farren's direction.) Mrs. Western (contempttiotisly). Here. I return you your property. And now pack up your things, and leave the house. Harvey (li'ho has stepped forward and picked up the bracelet, standing between Mrs. Western and Miss Farren). No. Mrs. Western (staring at him). W'hat ? Harvey (violently). I say. No ! Mrs. Western. I have told the girl to leave my house. Harvey. My house — mine ! And she shall stay in it ! Or, at least, when she goes, it shall be without the slightest stain or suspicion Mrs. Western (scornfully). I am not accusing her of theft. Harvey. But you are insinuating— I declare solemnly before you all 16 THE BRACELET. Judge (interposing). Harvey, one moment. . . . I am sure that Miss Farren would rather go to her room . . . Miss Farren. Yes. Harvey. By all means. Here take your bracelet. {He gives it to her). But you don't leave this house — you understand that ? / am master here. (Miss Farren goes quietly.) Judge. Now just listen to me, both of you. Be calm — all this excitement won't help. Harvey you too. You and Alice will have your explanation Mrs. Western. H the girl doesn't go to-night Harvey. I tell you again she shall not ! And there's no need. I was a fool to give her that bracelet — she didn't want to take it Mrs. Banket. Why did you ? Harvey. I had given Alice one on her birthday. Mrs. Western. Well ? Harvey. And so I got her one. Mrs. Western. Why ? Harvey. Because (He stops, very embarrassed.) Mrs. Western. Well ? Harvey. Because — oh, because — well, she ad- mired it — and she liked pretty things too . . . Mrs. Western. I don't think you need say any- thing more. Mrs. Banket. No. He needn't. It's clear enough. Harvey (eagerly). Look here, on my honour — I am fond of her, of course, in a way — but I'm old enough to be her father — and I swear to you all — I've seen her about, of course, a good deal — and I gave her that thing — but beyond that, nothing, nothing ! Mrs. Western (sitting, and with a shrug of the shoulder) . A ridiculous fairy tale ! Judge. My dear Alice, take my advice, and be- lieve your husband. THE BRACELET. 17 Mrs. Western. You too ! Mrs. Banket. All alike, when there's a pretty face ! Judge. Let her find another situation, by all means. . . . But to turn a girl out, at a moment's notice ! You couldn't ! Mrs. Western (turning to the Judge). You are really suggesting that I should sleep under the same roof with Judge (almost sternly). You are condemning, without the slightest evidence. And condemning, remember, an utterly defenceless creature. This girl has a claim on you ; were your suspicions justified, she would still have a claim. Mrs. Western*. Indeed ! r^RS. Banket. The nonsense he talks ! It's really too silly ! Judge. You are extraordinary, you v/omen ! You exact such rigid morality from the governess and the housemaid ! You're full of excuses when it's one of yourselves ! Mrs. Banket (indignantly). Tom ! Judge. Well, that's true — we all know it ! And here — I believe every word Harvey has said. Mrs. Western (scarcely believing her ears). You do! Judge. Because he is a man of honour, and men of honour have their code. Their children's gover- ness ... is safe. You will do well to believe it, too. Now, Fanny, we'll go. Be sensible, Alice — I tell you again, Harvey's right ; the girl must not be — summarily dismissed : it would be an act of cruel injustice. Good-bye. (He offers to kiss her — she turns away.) As you like. Good-bye, Harvey, old man. Harvey. Good-bye, Tom. (They shake hands.) And thank you. Mrs. Banket (kissing Mrs. Western). My poor, dear Alice ! 18 THE BRACELET. Mrs. Western. Good-bye, Fanny. I'm sorry that our party to-night Mrs. Banket. Oh, that doesn't matter ! Poor thing ! I promise you that Tom shall have a good talking to ! {She is too angry with Harvey to say good-bye to him : she and the Judge go. The moment the door closes, Harvey begins, feverishly and passion- ately.) Harvey. Now just listen. I'm going to speak to you — I'm going to say things — things that have been in my heart, in my life, for years. I'm not going to spare you. I'm going to tell you the truth, and the truth, and the truth ! Mrs. Western (calmly, looking ironically at him). If it's the same kind of truth you've been giving us to-night Harvey. We've been married ten years. Oh, I know, we were neither of us very young. But anyhow the last five have been nothing but misery for me. Misery — do you hear that ? You sitting there, calm and collected — not caring one damn for me- Mrs. Western (quietly). That's not true. Harvey. It is, and you know it. The mother of my children ! Satisfied with that. Never a word of kindness, or sympathy. And as for — affection ! Mrs. Western. U'e're not sweethearts — we're middle-aged people. Harvey, ^^'ell, I need something more. And, look here, I'll tell you. This girl has made Hfe worth hving. That's all. I'd come home at night dog- tired, all day in the City — sick of it, Stock Exchange, office, and the mud and the grime and the worry — there were you, with a nod, ah, Harvey, good evening — and you'd scarcely look up from your Committee Report or your Blue-Book, or damned pamphlet or other Mrs. Western (contemptuously). You are one of THE BUACELET. 10 the men who want their wife to be a mere sort of doll. Harvey (mo?'e and more vehemently). I want my wife to care for me ! I want her to smile when I come in, and be glad — I want her to love me ! You don't ! B}^ tlie Lord, I've sneaked upstairs, gone in and had a peep at the children — well, they'd be asleep. I tell you I've been hungry, hungry, for a word, for a look ! And there, in the schoolroom, was this girl. I've played it low down, I know — she's fond of me. But I couldn't help it — I was lonely — that's what it was. I've gone up there night after night. Yon didn't know where I was — and you didn't care. In my study, you thought — the cold, chilly box that you call m}^ stud}^ — glad to have me out of the way. Well, there I was, with this girl. It was something to look forward to, in the cab, coming home. It was some- thing to catch hold of, when things went wrong, in that dreary^ grind of money-making. Her eyes lit up when the}^ saw me. She'd ask me about things^if I couglied, she'd fuss me — she had pretty ways, and was pleased, oh, pleased beyond words, if I brought her home something— — ■ Mrs. Western. So this isn't the first time ! Harvey {with a. snarl). No, of course not ! She admired that bracelet of yours — by Jove, I said to m5^self, I'll get her one like it ! Whatever I brought home to you you'd scarcely say thank you — and usuall}/' it went into the drawer — I'd such shocking bad taste ! She'd beam ! Well, as ill-luck would have it, you took a fancy to this one. I told her she mustn't wear hers Mrs. Western [calmly and cuttingly). Conspiring behind my