Pft60l5 .A47C5' 1907 The Charity that began a French's International Copyrighted (in Engfland, her Colonies, and the United States) Edition of the Works of the Best Authors. t ■ - No. JI7 I ^ -tt """ ''' * BEGAN AT HOME H Comeb^ iv. jf our Hcts AUTHOR OF THE TWO MR. WETHERBYK, THE RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL,'' "the CASSILIS ENGAGEiMENT," ETC. New York SAMUEL FRENCH PUBLISHER 1( 24 WEST 22d STREET f» ' THE CHARITY THAT I I : <«* "^ ^ X ST. JOHN HANKIN | ..1 AUTHOR OF "the TWO MR. WETHERBY."^,. " " THE RHTURNf OF THR W 2 Copyright, 1907, by Samuel French ^ ... ^ .^^^ i ^ CAUTION :— Professionals and Amateurs are hereby notified ^ ^ that this play is fully copyrighted under the existing laws of ^ ^ the United States Government, and nobody is allowed to • ^ do this play without first having obtained w^ritten ^ permission of Samuel French, 24 West aad St., ^ New York City, U. S. A. J^ PRICE 25 CENTS ^ '^ $ ^ ^ London SAMUEL FRENCH, Ltd. ^ 26 Southampton St. ^ ^ STRAND IS FRENCH'S STANDARD DRAMA. Price 15 Cents each.— Bound Volumes $1.25. VOL. I. I Ion t Fulo S Th« L«dy ol Lyoni 4 Rtch.lieu t Tb« Wif« e Tht Houeymoon 1 Th« School for Scandal 8 Money VOL. II. f The Straogar 10 (]randf«t!i«r Whiteheaii 11 Rioliard III lii Love't Sacrifice IS Th« Uauietter 14 A Cure for the Heartarh 15 The Hunchback 16 Don Cwsar A» Bacan VOL. in. 17 The Poor Gentienian I^ Mainlet IV Cliirlei II SO VenicB Preierred fl I'iiarro 25 TI.e Love Chaie 53 Otl.ello 54 Lend .lie Five Shilling* VOL. IV. S.^ Vlrgitiiii. 98 Kiu(f of the Coinmoni '27 London Aisurance «8 The Rent Day a» TwoUtintleiM»n of Verona 80 The Jealou* Wifa 81 Tlie Rivalt 3J Perfection VOL. V. IDebtf RX A New Way to Pay Old S4 Look Before You Leap 36 King John 86 NerToue Man 87 Damon and PvUilai 88 Clandestine Nlarriage 31 William Tell 40 Day after the Wedding VOL. VI. 41 Speed the FIourIi 49 Romeo and Juliet 43 Fendal Tiuiei 44 Charles the Twelfth 46 The Bride 45 Tbe FoUiei of a Night 47 Iron Cheit [Fair Lady 48Falut Heart Ne— "' - VOL. VII 49 Road to Ruin 50 Macbeth 61 Temper It Evadne 6.^ Bertram 64 The Du^na 66 Much Aflo Ahoat NotbioK 6« The Critic VOL. VIII. 67 The Apoitate 68 Twelfth Night bt Brntne »(4Sinip«oii A Co 61 M»n;li»iit cf Venice es Old Heads* Young Hearts 63 Mountaineers [riagt 64 Three Weeks after Mar VOL. IX. »,S Love 66 As Yoti Like It 67 The Elder Brother •8 Werner 69 GisippuB 70 Town and Country 71 Kinir Lear li Blue Devils VOL. X. 78 Henry VIII 74 Married and Single IS Henrv IV 76 Paul >ry 77 Guy Mannerlng 78 SweethearU and Wires 79 Serious Family 80 Sue Stoops to Conqner W( VOL. XL 81 Julius C«iar S:> Vicar of Wakefield «:i Leap Year 84 The Cal»paw Ji5 The Passing Cloud 86 Drunkard 87 Rot) R.y 8ji George Barnwell VOL. XI I. 89 Ingomar yn Skmches in India 91 Two Friends 9 Jane Shore 93 Corsican Brothers S(4 Mind your own Business S.T Writing on the Wall Ll6 Hins 149 Ben the Boitswalu l&O Jonathan Bradford 151 Retribution 152 Mineral! VOL. XX. VOL. 161 All's Fair 162 Hofer 63 Self 164 Cinderella 65 Phantom I6« Franklin 167 The Gunn 168 The Love^ VOL. X.XL n Love [Mo.c< laker of it .1 Prince XXII. 1 53 French Snv 1.54 Wept of Wish-ton Wish 155 EvilGenius 156 Ben Bolt 157 Sailor of France 158 Red Mask 159 Life of an Actress ISO Wedding Day 69 Son of the .Night 170 Rory O'More 71 Golden Eagle 72 Rienw 73 Broke.i Sword 174 Rip Van Winkle 175 Isabel le 176 Heart of Mid Lothian VOL. XXllI. 177 Actress of Padua nx Floating; Beacon 179 Bride of L.immermoor 180 Cataract of Hie Ganges 1X1 Robber of the Rhine 182 School ol Reform 183 Wandering Boys M aitrppa VOL. XXIV. 185 Young New York 186 The Victims 187 Romance al'ier M.irriagi 1H8 Brigand 189 Poor of New York 190 Aifibiose Gwinett 191 Raymond and Agnes 19« Gambler's Fate VOL. XXV. 193 Fother and Son l'.»4 M,./9 I'auvrette 230 Man in the Iron Mask 231 Knight of Arra 232 Moll Pitcher VOL. XXX. 233 Black Eye.l Susan ■IM Satan in Paris 235 Rosiiia Meadows fess 236 West End, or Irish Heir- 237 .Six Degrees of Crime 238 The Lady and the Devil 289 Avenger, or Moor of SIcI 240 Masks and Faces [Ij VOL. XXXI. 241 Merry Wives of Windsor 242 Mary's Birthday 243 Shandv Maguire .'44 Wild Oato 245 Michael Erie 246 Idiot Witness 247 Willow Copse '48 People's Lavrver VOL, XXkll. 249 The Boy Martyrs Lucretia Borgia Surgeon of Paris 252 Patrician's Daughter 253 Shoemaker of Toul'ust 254 Moirieiitous Question 55 Love and Loyalty 256 Robber's Wife VOL. XXXIII. Dumb Girl of (ilenoa 2 8 Wreck Ashore 259 Clari 26*1 Rural Felicitr 261 WHllace 262 Madelaine 263 The Fireman 264 Grist to the Mill VOL. XXXIV. 265 Two Loves and a Life 2K6 Annie Blake 267 Steward 268 Cnptain Kyd 2ti9 Nirk of the Woods 270 Marble Heart 271 Second Lfive 272 Dream at Sea Vol. XXXV. 273 Breach of Promise 274 Review 275 Lady of the Lake 276 Stili Water Runs Deep 277 The Scholar 278 Helping Hands 279 Faust and Marguerite 280 Last Miin VOL. XXXVI. 281 Belle'5 Stratagem S2 Old and Young 283 Raffaella 284 Ruth Oakley - "" itif h y,lr ce 2S6 A Life's Ransom iralda 28 Time Tries All VOL. XXXVIL 289 Ella Rosenburg 29(1 W.irlock of Uu- Glen 291 Zelinn 292 Beatrice - 2H3 Ne.iglibor Jack wood 294 Wonder 295 Robert Emmet 296 (Jreen Butlies VOL. XXXVIIL 297 Flowers of the Forest 298 A Bachelor of Arts 299 The Midnight Banquet .30u Husband ol mi Hour 301 Love's Labor Lost .•«)2 Naiad Queen 303 Caprice 304 Cradle of Liberty VOL. XX XIX. 305 The Lost Ship 306 Country Squire .307 Fraud and its Victims 308 Putnam 309 King and Deserter 310 La Fiaminiiia 31 1 A Hard Struggle 312 Gwinnetie Vaughaa VOL. XL. 313 The Love Knot [Judge 314 Lavater, or Not a Bad 315 The Noble Heart 816 Coriolanus 317 The Winter's Tale 318 Eveleen Wilson 319 Ivauhoe 320 Jonathan In Gugland {French's Standard Drama Continued on 3d page of Cover.) SAMUEL FRENCH, a6 We»t aad Street, Nc'w York City. New and Explicit Descriptive Catalogfue Mailed Free on Request, THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME H ComeC)^ in four Hcts BY ST. JOHN HANKIN AUTHOR OF "THE TWO MR. WETHERBYS," "THE RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL," "THE CASSILIS ENGAGEMENT," ETC. Copyright, 1907, by Samuel French Caution:— Professionals and Amateurs are hereby notified that this play is fully copyrighted under the existing laws of the United States Government, and nobody is allowed to do this play without first having obtained written permission of Samuel French, 24 West 22d St., New York City, U. S. A. New York SAMUEL FRENCH publisher 24 WEST 22D STREET London SAMUEL FRENCH, Ltd. 26 Southampton St. STRAND jllBKARY of C0NGRES5 f I wo Copies RKflvoJ ( UCT 24 iSO." CopyriaUf Ijrbv rlawfl 1^67 CLASS^ XXc. No. COPY u. 110 / THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. Cast of Original Production at the Court Theatre, London^ Oct. 23, 1906. persons in tbe Cornet)^. Lady Denison, 48 Miss Florence Haydon. Margery, her daughter, 23 Miss May Martyn. Mrs. Eversleigh, Lady Deiii- son's sister-in-law, 45 Miss Margaret Murray. Mrs. Horrocks, 55 Miss Lizzie Henderson. Miss Triggs, 34 Miss Agnes Thomas. General Bonsor, GT Mr. Dennis Eadie. Mr. Firket, 52 Mr. Edmund Gwenn. Hugh Verreker, 29 Mr. Ben Webster. Basil Hylton, 40 Mr. Berte Thomas. So AMES, Lady Denison's Butler, 38 Mr Eugene Mayeur. William, Lady Denison's Foot- man, 26 Mr. Norman Page. Anson, Lady Denison's Maid, 28 Miss Gertrude Henriques.. The action passes at Priors Ashton, Lady Denison's house in the country. Acts I., II. and III. in the Drawing Room. Act IV. in the Dining Roc^w. ; Act I. Takes place in the afternoon. Act II. In the morning a week later. Act III. After luncheon on the same day. Act IV. After dinner a week later. properties. ACT I. Two wicker work-baskets containing wool-work. One brilliant blue woollen crochet strip about eight inches wide and six feet long (finished). One ditto (Margery) all but finished. One brilliant red strip (Lady Denison) half finished. Hank of brilliant red wool (for Firket to wind). Crochet needles, etc. Green handkerchief case (tasteful), initials B. H. half worked. Tea cups, spoons, etc., for nine. Silver cream jug, milk jug, sugar basin. Two silver teapots. Silver salver. Large silver tray. Afternoon tea cloth. Bread and butter, cake, hot tea-cake, knife. Cake stand (three tiers) for handing these. Cushion (Mrs. Horrocks). Book (Mrs. Horrocks.) ACT II. Gorman Grammar (Lady Denison). Work-basket with needles, silks, etc. Mauve handkerchief-case (tasteful), initials H. V. Cigarette case (Verreker.) ACT III. Silver salver. Three letters in envelopes that have come by post, one con- taining long letter for the General to read. Fortnightly Review. Book (Mrs. Eversleigh.) 4. PROPERTIES. ACT IV. White cloth for dinner table. Dessert service, dessert knives and forks, wine-glasses, etc., for five. Decanters. Fruit dishes, nuts, etc. A dish of grapes. Grape scissors. Silver box containing cigars and cigarettes. Matches. Four silver candlesticks with shades. Candles for these. *i THE CHAEITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. ACT I. Scene. — The drawing-room at Priors Ashton, a handsome room in the Adam style. Double doors L. lead to hall. Similar doors r. lead to Lady Denison^s own sitting-room. French windows l. c. and r. c. on to terrace of ivhich the loiv hrlclc l)oundarg icall ornamented at in- tervals by stone balls on squat brick piers is seen through open windoics. Beyond view of garden and hills in distance. The fireplace is c. between French windows but there is no fire as the month is September. Writing table in cor- ner L. c. Book on it. French windoic l. c. is open, that r. c. closed during this and the next act. There is a sofa up stage, c. between the windows sufficently far from the fireplace to leave room to pass behind it. Arm chair r. c, Note. The Stage Directions throughout this play are given from the standpoint of the audience, R. meaning the Audience's Right, L. the Audience's Left. 5 6 THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. tea tahlc near it. Small chair 'by table. An- other table R. icith two wicker baskets on it con- taining crochet wool, etc. Two chairs l. c. Electric bell r. of fireplace. Electric light switch by door l. ^o light stage, another by door R. to light Lady Denison's rooyn off. {When the Curtain rises the stage is empty. Then enter l. c. from terrace through open French window Lady Denison, a kindly com- fortable lady of about forty-eight followed by her daughter Margery, a very pretty girl of twenty-two. Lady Denison. I don't think I'll go out again, Margery. The sun is rather hot and it tires my eyes. You go if you like. Margery. I'd rather stay with you, mother. The others will get on quite well without me for a little. Where will you sit? Lady Denison. Here I think, {sits in arm- chair R. c. by table) I do hope they're enjoying themselves. Do you think they are? Margery, {nods) I think so. Lady Denison. That's right. I wonder where I put my work? MxVRGery. Here it is. Shall I bring it? {brings two wicker baskets from table r.) Lady Denison. Thank you, dear. I knew I'd left it somewhere. I wish this strip was finished. I'm getting so tired of it. {gets out long strip of "bright red woollen crochet) Margery. Poor mother! It'll soon be done now. THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. 7 (Margery sits l. c. and gets out work.) Lady Denison. {beginning to crochet) How are yours getting on? Margery, {ivho has also 'begun on bright blue strip) Nearly finished. This is my last. Lady Denison. (sighs) I've still two more to do. Margery. I'll do one of them for you, mother. Lady Denison. No, dear. I shall manage. But next time I shall give blankets. Margery. But that wouldn't be the same as making something, would it? Lady Denison. That's why I should prefer it. Margery. Lazy ! Lady Denison. I'm so glad Mr. Hylton is coming down. He'll help us to entertain all these people. Margery. Yes. Isn't it lucky he and Miss Triggs and Aunt Emily could all come by the same train! The carriage will only have to go to the station once. Lady Denison. I do hope Miss Triggs will like being here. Margery. I think she will. Poor thing her lodgings looked dreadfully poor and uncomfort- able when I went to see her. Here at least she'll have proper meals and feel she's among friends. Lady Denison. Where have you put her? Margery. In the little room next mine. It's rather small but the house is so full just now. I wanted to put her next Aunt Emily. But Aunt Emily always insists on having that room for her maid. 8 THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. Lady Denison. How long do you think she'll stay? Margery. Two or three weeks I hope. Long enough to give her a thorough rest and change. (Enter William l.) William. Can I speak to you, my lady? Lady Denison. Certainly. What is it, Wil- liam? (puts down crochet) William, {hesitating) If you please, my lady. ... I should like to give notice. Margery. Give notice, William? W^iLLiAM. Yes, miss. Lady Denison. W^hy now, William? William. I'm very sorry, my lady, to have to give notice at all. . . . after being with your ladyship so many years. . . . Lady Denison. Yes, yes. But why give notice noivf The proper time to give notice is surely ten o'clock in the morning when I am seeing the housekeeper? William. Very good, my lady, {going) Margery. Stop, William. Why do you tcant to give notice? You've always been a good serv- ant. Have you found another situation? William. No, miss. And I don't want to give notice. I hope you won't think that, Miss. Lady Denison. Then why do it, William? William, {hesitating) Well, my lady. It^s on account of Soames. {hesitates again) Margery. Soames? William. Yes, miss. As long as Wilkins was here things were better. Not but what we had our THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. 9 quarrels in the servants' hall even then. On ac- count of Thomas jou remember, miss? Margery. I remember. William. But with Soames it's different, miss. Soames and I. . . . Lady Denison. Have you spoken to the House- keeper ? William. Yes, my lady. But Mrs. Meredith says she can do nothing. Soames is that violent and his language quite awful when spoken to. So she said I had better come to you, my lady. Lady Denison, How very annojing of Mrs. Meredith. Margery. Has Soames been using bad lan- guage to you, William? William. Yes, miss. Not that I mind that. But there's other things. . . . and in fact him and me don't hit it off. So perhaps I'd better leave at the month, my lady. Margery. Nonsense, William. Why you've been with us ever since you were a boy. William. Yes, miss. And never thought to leave her ladyship so long as she was satisfied. Margery. Very well. Mother is perfectly satisfied and you must stay. And you must try and be patient with Soames. He has rather a bad temper with other servants, I know, but I'm sure he tries to conquer it. And you must help him. will you? William, {doultfully) Very well, miss. Margery. That's right. And then you'll see things will go better. Things always go better if only one tries to help people, don't they? 10 THOE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. William. Yes, miss. Lady Denison. And I'll speak to Soames to- morrow morning. William. Thank you, my lady. Thank you, miss, (going) Lady Denison. And will you please send Anson to me, WMlliam? William. Yes, my lady. (Exit L.) Lady Denison. [resuming crochet ivith a sigh) How troublesome servants are! I did think after Thomas went we should have no more quarrelling. And now it's Soames. Margery. Well of course we didn't engage Thomas because he was a good servant did we? And it's the same with Soames. Lady Denison. I suppose so. But it certainly makes helping people more difficult if they won't exercise a little self-control. Margery. If they had more self-control they wouldn't 7iced help, would they, mother dear? Lady Denison. T wonder if it would be a good thing to ask Mr. Hylton to speak to Soames? Margery. Oh yes, I'm sure it would. Mr. Hyl- ton has such a wonderful influence with people. Lady Denison. Very well. I'll ask him this evening if I remember. (Enter Anson l., a smart maid dressed in Waclc, pretty l)nt looking rather ill and rather fright- ened.) Anson. Y^ou sent for me, my lady? THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. 11 Lady Denison. Yes, Anson. I want you to look at the mantle I wore this morning. The trimming has come unstitched. Anson. Is that all, my lady? Lady Denison. Yes. I meant to tell you about it before luncheon. I thought I would speak about it now while I remember. Anson. Very good, my lady, (going) Margery. Is anything the matter, Anson? You don't look well. Anson. Nothing thank you, miss. Margery. Would you like to see the doctor? We can easily send for him. Anson, (alarmed) Oh no, miss. Margery. Y^ou're quite sure ? Anson. Quite, thank you, miss. I'd much rather not have the doctor. (Exit L.) Margery. I'm afraid something must be the matter with Anson. She's looked wretched lately and she used to be so bright. Lady Denison. I daresay she's only bilious. (Enter l c. from terrace Mrs. Horrocks followed 1)11 Yerreker. Mrs. Horrocks is a thick-set, red-faced pompous rroman of no hreeding, Yer- reker is a handsome rather devil-may-care young man of nine and ticenty.) Margery. Are you coming in, Mr. Yerreker. Yerreker. Yes. It's cooler here than on the terrace. Lady Denison. Margery give Mrs. Horrocks a cushion. 12 THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. (Margery makes Mrs. Horrocks comfortable on sofa c.) I hope you've had a pleasant afternoon? Mrs. Horrocks. Quite, thank you. Verreker. (sitting hy Margery) Mrs. Hor- rocks has had no end of a good time. She's been telling me the entire history of the Horrocks family from its remotest past. It appears the first of the Horrockses was a historian in the reign of Theodoric. His name was Orosius. Orosius-Horrocks, 3^ou perceive. Transliteration by Grimm's Law. Lady Denison. How very interesting. Verreker. It was. Margery. Have you left General Bonsor in the garden? Verreker. No. He's just coming. He wants his tea. He's enjoyed himself too by-the-way. He's been telling Mr. Firket a story about India for the last two hours — Poor Firket! and it's going on still. General Bonsor. (heard off c.) So I said to Fenuesey — Fennesey was our senior major. . . . (Enter General Bonsor and Firket l. c. in middle of this speech. General Bonsor is a Milky white-tvhiskered red- faced old, gentle- man. Firket a pale anwmic little man in spectacles.) Thorough sportsman he was! Shoot a tiger as soon as look at him. Got killed afterwards out in the Sunderbunds. Tiger ate him. Very sad. However — I said to Fennesey — " Fennesey, my THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. 13 boj, if jou don't keep that dashed Khansamah of yours in order," I said, ^' jouH\ poison the whole cantonment." Fennesey hiughed at that like any- thing. You should have seen how he did laugh ! (General Bonsor laughs immoderately.) (Mrs. HoRROCKsV/ses impatiently, gets hook from table in corner l. c, returns to sofa and pre- tends to he immersed in it.) So when the judge and I and Travers were dining with him a week or two later {turning sharply on FiRKET, tchose attention is clearly ivandering) I told you about Travers, didn^t I? Mr. Firket. (pulling himself together ivith an effort) Eh? No, I think not. General Bonsor. Ah, I must. Or you won^t understand the story. Travers was in the Guides. He married — let me see whom did he marry? I shall remember in a moment, {jmuses, cudgelling his hrain) Lady Denison. Won't you sit down Mr. Firket? You look quite tired. Mr. Firket. [faintly) Thank you. (sinks on to sofa L. c.) General Bonsor. Blake. . . . Blake. . . . Blakesley. That was the name! She was a daughter of old Tom Blakesley of the Police. But I never knew him. He was on the Bombay side. Travers died afterwards of enteric at Bundlekhund, I think, or was it Chittagong? Yes it was Chittagong, I remember, because I had a touch of fever there myself a year or two later. Well to go back to Fennesey. . . . 14 THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. Margery, (coming to the rescue) Can you spare Mr. Firket to me for a little, General? I want him to wind some wool for mother. General Bonsor. Eh? Oh certainly, cer- tainly, (goes up stage annoyed) (Mr. Firket rises ivith alacrity.) Margery. Do you mind, Mr. Firket? You did the last for her so well. Mr. Firket. Not at all, Miss Denison. On the contrary. Verreker. (to Margaret sotto voce) I call that real tact ! (Mr. Firket is set to wind red wool.) Margaret. Hush ! Mrs. Horrocks. (to Lady Denison) What a lot of work you do Lady Denison. Lady Denison. Yes, this is a crochet counter- pane for old Mrs. Buckley. It's very ugly, isn't it? (Jiolds it up disparagingly) Mcirgery and I each have to do eight strips. Then we fasten them together, like this, (puts red and hlue strip side l)y side) Mrs. Buckley's eighty-three next week and almost blind. That's why Margery chose such bright colours. So that she might be able to see them you know. Aren't they detest- ahlef Margery. There's my last finished, (holds up strip in triumph) Sure you w^ouldn't like me to do one of yours, mother? Lady Denison. No, thanks, dear. If I stopped doing this I should only have to begin on Mrs. Jackson's stocking. I'll do my share. THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. 15 Margery. All right. Then I can get on with something else, {gets handkerchief case out of hasket) Verreker. I say you're not going to begin another thing straight off? Margery. Not begin. This is half done. It's a handkerchief case. Verreker. Is it for yourself? Margery. No. It's for Mr. Hylton. Verreker. The man who's coming down this afternoon? Margery. Yes. Those are his initials, {shows them) Verreker. B. H? Margery. Yes, his name's Basil. It's a pretty name isn't it? {goes on working) Verreker. Why are you working him a hand- kerchief case? Margery. I thought he'd like one. Verreker. Well I'd like a handkerchief case. Why don't you work one for me? Margery. Perhaps you don't deserve one. Verreker. I don't. But you said this morn- ing when one did things for people one oughtn't to think of what they deserve but what they want. Margery. And you said " What rot." Verreker. Well I've changed my mind. I think you're quite right. And I ivant a handker- chief case. My initials are H. V. Margery. Isn't that rather a sudden conver- sion? Verreker. It's none the worse for that. Be- sides now I come to think of it I do deserve one. 16 THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. I plajed billiards with old Firket this morning. To please you. Margery, {working steadily) To please him. Verreker. It didn't. I made a hundred while he made eight. He simply hated it. Old Firket's a perfect ass at billiards — though he says he can get me thirty per cent off any kind of billiard table that's made. Margery. Still it was nice of you to play with him. Verreker. It was. I sha'n't do it again. And I think I ought to have a handkerchief case for doing it at all. Margery. Very well. You shall have the next. Verreker. Not the next. This one. Margery. No, no. This is Mr. Hylton's. It's the first time he's been to stay with us. He works very hard while he's in London and scarcely ever gives himself a holiday so I promised if he'd come and spend a fortnight with us this summer I'd work him something. This is it. {The General, after mooning restlessly al)out up stage ^ has seated himself on sofa hy Mrs. Hor- ROCKS, who makes room for him on her right icith obvious umcillingness. She goes on read- ing her hook ostentatiously.) General Bonsor. {looking at watch testily) I thought you had tea at five, Lady Denison? Lady Denison. So w^e do, General. Is it five yet? General Bonsor. Twelve minutes past. Twelve and a half. THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. Il Lady Denison. I'm so sorry. I suppose they're waiting for the others. My sister-in-law, Mrs. Eversleigh comes to-day. And Mr. Hylton and Miss Triggs. You've met my sister-in-law I think? General Bonsor. Yes. Met her in Madrid when Eversleigh was at the Embassy there. I was at Gibraltar. Lady Denison. He's at Vienna now. I wish he wasn't. It's such a long way off. We see simply nothing of them. General Bonsor. Not in London this Season? Lady Denison. No. And my brother can't get away even now. So Emily is coming by herself. I do hope she's not going to be late. General Bonsor. She is late. But everybody's late now-a-days. It's the fashion. And a doosid bad fashion too. When I was at Alleghur in '76— Lady Denison. I don't think it's her fault. Perhaps the train. . . . General Denison. Just so! Her train's late of course. That's the English Railway System all over. The trains run anyhow, simply anyhow. Why when / was at Alleghur. . . . Lady Denison. It may not be the train Gen- eral. Perhaps one of the horses. . . . However I really don't think we'll wait any longer. Will you ring, Mr. Verreker? (Verreker does so.) Mr. Firket. You ought to have a motor, Lady Denison. Much more reliable than horses. I can 18 THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. get you twenty per cent off any pattern you like to choose if you think of it. Lady Denison. Thank you very much, Mr. Firket. But I'm old-fashioned. I think I shall stick to horses. Mr. Firket. Well, if you should change your mind just apply to me. That's all. Lady Denison. I won't forget {Enter Soames l.) Bring tea, Soames. We won't wait for Mrs. Evers- leigh. SoAMEs. Very good, my lady. {Exit L.) General Bonsor. {clears his throat) As I was saying, when I was at Alleghur. . . . Mr. Firket. I might make it five and twenty per cent with some makers. . . . General Bonsor. {sternly) As I was saying . . . rts I was saying ... (a hush falls) When I was at Alleghur in '76 . . . {annoyed) There now! I've forgotten what I was going to say! (Mrs. Horrocks closes her hook angrily with a snap. The General starts and glares at her.) But it'll come back to me. Ever at Alleghur, Verreker, when you were in India ? (Verreker standing at ivlndoiv r. c. looking out, hack to audience.) Verreker. For a few months. Mrs. Horrocks. What was your regiment, Mr. Verreker ? THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. 19 Verreker. Beastly place I thought it. Mrs. Horrocks. What was jour regiment, Mr. Verreker ? Verreker. I beg your pardon, Mrs. Horrocks. The Munsters. General Bonsor. {delighted) Then you knew Toby Nicholson ! He commands the Mun- sters, doesn't he? Verreker. Yes. General Bonsor. Why / know Toby. First- rate chap! Knew him when he was a subaltern. I must write to the old beggar. Where are the Munsters now? Verreker. Shorncliffe, I believe. (From this point onicards the sun 'begins to set and the red glow gets gradually brighter till Margery remarks on it a few minutes later.) General Bonsor. Good! I'll write to-night by Jove. I'd like to hear from Toby again. I've not seen him since we were at Poonah together. That reminds me what I was going to tell you ! When I was at Alleghur in '76 we had a train from Goomti that was timed to arrive at Alle- ghur at G:38. Just in time to change before din- ner don't you know. Well that ti^ain was always late, always by Jove! So I said to Macpherson . . . he was superintendent of the Alleghur- Goomti line. Good chap Mac. Very good judge of a horse. Died of cholera I remember in '81 — or was it '82? Anyhow I said to him ^' Mac, my boy, I'll race your dashed little train from the Boondi Bridge to the station — that's the last 20 THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. 1 three miles into Alleghur — with my pony and trap for a hundred rupees. {During this speech Soames and William have brought in tea. A certain hostility is just visi- ble between them but very discreetly shown. They put the tea on the table by Lady Denison and go out l. Margery goes to table and pours out.) Margery. Does everyone take cream? Mrs. Horrocks. Milk for me, please. And one lump of sugar. Verreker. Ttvo lumps for me. General Bonsor. Well old Mac wasn't at all pleased at that. He was awfully proud of his little one horse line. It was opened in '72 I re- member. Pat Ellis was traffic manager. Ellis had been. . . . Margery. Will you give that to Mrs. Hor- rocks, Mr. Verreker, and this to mother. General Bonsor. Ellis had been. . . . Lady Denison. You'll find some tea cake un- der that cover, Mrs. Horrocks. General Bonsor. As I was saying. . . .. Mrs. Horrocks. Thank you. General Bonsor. As I was saying . . . (glares^ silence falls) Ellis had been on the Ben- gal-Nagpore line before he came to Goomti. He was a son of old General Ellis who was killed in the first Sikh war. He married. . . . Verreker. Your tea, General. General Bonsor. (irritably) In a moment. In a moment — he married Nellie Tremayne, THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. 21 daughter of Tremajne of the 63rd. Tremajne had four daughters I remember. . . . Lady Denison. {loud tcliisper) Will you cut that cake, Mr. Verreker, and see if anj^body would like some? (Verreker does so with elaborate precautions as to silence. General Bonsor meantime going on with his story uninterruptedly in authori- tative voice.) General Bonsor. Kitty the eldest married Molyneux, who was afterward commissioner at Ranigunj. One of his sons was gazetted the other day to the Shropshires. Another went into the navy. Maud, the second girl, married Monty Rob- ertson. He was a gunner. They lived in a little house outside Alleghur just where the road forks. One way leads to Balaghai, the other leads to . . . tut, tut, what-s the name of that place the Alleghur road goes to, Verreker? Verreker. {icho is handing tea cake) I don't know. Alleghur I suppose. General BoNsoR. (annoyed) No! no! Kupri ! that's the name. Kupri. There was one more daughter but I don't remember what became of her. No there were only three of them I recollect. It was Ainslie who had four daughters, the four Graces we used to call them — because there were four of them. Lady Denison. (still whispering) Some more tea, Mr. Firket? (Mr. Firket murmurs "'No'' tvith infinite pre- caution and puts down cup.) 22 THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. General Bonsor. Ainslie was Superintendent of Police and afterwards went to Central India. But I was going to tell you about that race. Well I took the trap. . . . {Enter Soames l.) SoAMES. Mrs. Eversleigh, Miss Triggs, Mr. Hylton. (Enter l. Mrs. Eversleigh, Miss Triggs and Mr. Hylton.) (Mrs. Eversleigh is a jrrosperous well-dressed rather hard looking woman of forty-five, Miss Triggs a lean angular lady of thirty-four tvith thin lips tightly compressed, clothed in meagre tight-fitting hlacJc garments. Hylton is a hand- some man of forty. A good face hut not in the least ascetic or solemn. Clothes quite human and unclerical.) Lady Denison. (rising) Dear Emily, how are you. (kisses her) The General's story was so in- teresting I never heard the carriage. You know General Bonsor don't you? (General Bonsor and Mrs. Eversleigh shake hands.) How do you do, Miss Triggs. How do you do, Mr. Hylton. (shakes hands with her and Hylton) Margery. How do you do, Aunt Emily (kiss) I hope you've not had a tiring journey Miss Triggs. (hand shake to her and Hylton) Lady Denison. I must introduce you all. Mrs. Horrocks this is my sister-in-law, Mrs. Eversleigh. (how) Miss Triggs, Mr. Hylton. THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. 23 General Bonsor, Mr. Firket, Mr. Verreker. {con- fused hoiclng from cveryhody) Margery. And now you'll all have some tea. You must be dying for it. Do you know you're dreadfully late? General Bonsor. I was just saying before you came in, Mrs. Eversleigh, the English railways are the most unpunctual in the world. Mrs. Eversleigh. [frigidly) Indeed? I be- lieve our train was hefore its time. But one of the horses got a stone in its shoe or something and Hollings took about half an hour getting it out. Mr. Firket. What did I tell you, Lady Deni- son. You'd much better have a motor. Margery. Your tea. Aunt Emily, (takes it to her) Cream and sugar, Miss Triggs? Miss Triggs. No tea for me, thank you. I never drink tea unless it is quite fresh made. Margery. Then I'll order some fresh for you. Mr. Verreker will you ring? Miss Triggs. (acidly) Pray don't trouble. I can do quite well without any tea. Margery. It's no trouble. (Verreker rings.) Bread and butter, Aunt Emily, (hands to Mrs. Eversleigh) Lady Denison. You look dreadfully over- worked as usual, Mr. Hylton. You must have a complete rest while you're down here, (to Miss Triggs) Mr. Hylton works a great deal among the poor in London. 24 THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. Miss Triggs. Indeed, (to Hylton) Do you find that does any good? Hylton. (smiling) I hope so. . . . Miss Triggs. What kind of work do you do? Hylton. Oh preaching and writing and so on. Miss Triggs. Preaching? Are you a clergy- man? Margery. Mr. Hylton is the Founder of the Church of Humanity. Miss Triggs. Oh. Not a real clergyman. (Enter Soames l. with teapot on salver.) Margery. Some fresh tea, Soames. Soames. Yes, miss, (puts new pot in place of old which he removes) (Exit l.) Margery. Now you can have your tea, Miss Triggs. (gives cup to her and takes Mrs. Evers- leigh's) Mrs. Horrocks. Where is the Church of Hu- manity, Mr. Hylton? I don't think I've ever been in it. Hylton. (quite simply) The Church of Hu- manity is everywhere. Mrs. Horrocks. But the Church, the building? Hylton. We have no building so far. I preach in halls and different places about London which we hire. Miss Triggs. I don't call that being every- ivhere. I call that being nowhere. Hylton. (smiling) In one sense of course. Margery. Give that to Aunt Emily, Mr. Yer- reker. THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. 25 Mrs. Eversleigh. {to Verreker^, wIw l)rmgs her hack her cup) Are you one of the Norfolk Verrekers? I met Sir Montague in London two seasons ago. Verreker. He's my uncle. Mrs. Eversleigh. I remember he was very full of some experiments he was making . . . with turnips. To combat agricultural depression I think. Verreker. I daresay. Uncle Montague's al- ways muddling round with that kind of thing. Mrs. Eversleigh. It doesn't interest you ap- parently? Verreker. Not in the least. But it amuses him. Mrs. Eversleigh. Is he working at it still? Verreker. Probably. I've not seen him for the last four years. Margery, {noticing red glow of sunset through window c.) What a lovely sunset! Come all of you. {goes to icindow l. c.) We must go out and see it. Mrs. Horrocks, General, Aunt Emily. Come. Lady Denison. Margery ! Emily hasn't fin- ished her tea yet. Nor has Miss Triggs. Miss Triggs. Thank you. I have quite done. (rises) Margery, (outside l. c.) Come to the end of the terrace. You can't see it properly from here. Be quick or it'll be gone. Come along. {All troop off L. c. save Lady Denison and Mrs. Eversleigh. They are seen to pass window r. c. before they disappear.) 2ii THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. Lady Denison. How did you leave Edward, Emily? Mrs. Eversleigh. Very well I think. He's had a lot of work to do lately, and that always seems to suit him. How have you been? Lady Dexison. Quite well, thanks. Mrs. Eversleigh. Who are all these dreadful people you've got down here? Lady Denison. Not dreadful, Emily. Mrs. Eversleigh. Aren't they? I can hardly imagine a more dreadful visitor than General Bonsor. He's the greatest bore in London. Ed- ward says he's nearly emptied three of the Serv- ice Clubs. I thought people had given up invit- ing him. Lady Denison. That's why we asked him. Mrs. Eversleigh. {puzzled) I beg your par- don? Lady Denison. That's why we asked him. You see he's getting an old man and it seemed so unkind that nobody would have him to their houses. Of course his stories are rather long but I suppose he can't make them any shorter. So Margery thought if we asked him down for ten days he might enjoy it. Mrs. Eversleigh. I think it very unlikely we shall enjoy it. {rises and puts down cup) Lady Denison. Would you mind ringing while you're up, Emily. Then Soames can take away. Mrs. Eversleigh. {does so) Who's that Miss Triggs? THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. 27 Lady Denison. She's a governess. She teaches German. Mrs. Eversleigh. Is she going to teach you? Lady Denison. {emphatically) Oh no, Em- ily. Margery did suggest it. But I refused. Miss Triggs is only here as a visitor. Mrs. Eversleigh. I see. Lady Denison. Margery met her at the Ham- monds. She taught Cecily for a few weeks — till they could get some one else. She's very poor I'm afraid and doesn't get many pupils. So Margery thought it would be kind to ask her to stay. {Enter Soames.) You can take away, Soames. And turn on the lights. Soames. Yes, my lady. {turns on electric lights and removes tea things) Mrs. Eversleigh. Are all your visitors in- vited on this penitential system? Lady Denison. Except you, Emily. Mrs. Eversleigh. Except me of course. That Mr. Firker for instance? Lady Denison. Firke*. He's something in the City. I'm not sure what. But nothing very pros- perous I'm afraid. He used to be a stockbroker but he failed. And now he sells things on com- mission. I believe that's what it's called. He's always wanting to sell me a new billiard table or a bicycle or a sewing machine. To-day it was a motor car. I shall have to buy something from him before he leaves, I know. 28 THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. Mrs. Eversleigh. Where do you pick up these extraordinary people? Lady Denison. Margery found Mr. Firket. On the Underground Railway. M«s. Eversleigh. Where? Lady Denison. At South Kensington I think. But it may have been Sloane Square. It was in a first class carriage and Mr. Firket only had a third class ticket. An inspector came round and wanted to take him up. So Margery paid his fare and th^n of course they became friends. Mrs. Eversleigh. Naturally ! Lady Denison. He's been with us nearly a week. He goes on Monday. Mrs. Eversleigh. I'm glad to hear it. Lady Denison. Mrs. Horrocks we met in a hotel at Mentone. The other people at the hotel would hardly speak to her. They were quite rude about it. Which seemed very unkind as she is only dull and rather vulgar. And she can't help that can she? So Margery said we must be nice to her, and later on when we were arranging whom to have down we thought she should be asked. Mrs. Eversleigh. Surely this is rather a new departure of yours, Muriel? You were always perfectly ridiculous about what you call being kind to people. But it never used to be as bad as this. Lady Denison. It's Mr. Hylton's idea. He calls it beginning one's charity at home. He wants everyone to do it. THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. 29 Mrs. Eversleigh. How curious. He looks sane enough. Lady Denison. Of course he's sane Emily. Mr. Hylton is a very clever man. He writes hooks. I know they must be very clever because I can so seldom understand them. But Margery does. Mrs. Eversleigh. But why does Mr. Hylton think you should fill your house with wild beasts in this way? Is it for the good of their souls, or of yours? Lady Denison. Both, I think. It was in a sermon he preached — on the true hospitality and the false. It was a beautiful sermon. Mrs. Eversleigh. Which is this? Lady Denison. The true, of course. False hospitality is inviting people because you like them. True hospitality is inviting them because they'd like to be asked. Mrs. Eversleigh. Ah ! I wish you'd thought of mentioning in your letter that you were prac- tising true hospitality just now. Then I wouldn't have come. Lady Denison. Now you're being worldly, Emily. And when people are worldly it always makes me drop my stitches. Mrs. Eversleigh. Why was Mr. Verreker invited, by the way? I suppose there's something shady about him as lie's here? Lady Denison. I don't think so. Margery met him at a dance at the Fitz Allen's. His par- ents are both dead and he's quarrelled with his uncle and altogether seems rather alone in the 30 THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. world. So Margery thought he w as quite a per- son to be asked. Mrs. Eversleigh. Why did he quarrel with his uncle? Lady Denison. About his leaving the army, I think. Mrs. Eversleigh. Why did he leave the army? Lady Denison. I don't know, Emily, I never asked. (Mrs. Eversleigh shrugs impatiently.) That's all we've got at present. Mrs. Eversleigh. And quite enough too. I hope they're all properly grateful. Lady Denison. They don't knotv. Of course we shouldn't dream of telling them. It would spoil all their pleasure. They think they're asked here because we like them. If they didn't they wouldn't enjoy it half so much. People do so love to feel they're wanted. Mrs. Eversleigh. It must be an unusual sen- sation with the General ! (pause) How long has Mr. Hylton been preaching in this absurd way? Lady Denison. He has been working among the poor for years I believe. But it was only this season that people one knew began to go to him. Mrs. Eversleigh. Does he make converts? Lady Denison. I suppose so. His services were crowded. Mrs. Eversleigh. Indeed? I must remember to take Edward when we are next in London. Edward always enjoys a new religion. THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. 31 Lady Denison. Won't you talk to Mr. Hylton while he's down here? Mrs. Eversleigh. I shall make a point of do- ing so. London is changing very much, Muriel. Twenty years ago every one in society went to Church — or at least pretended to do so. Now-a- days people seem to go anywhere! {Enter Margery l. c. folloiced hi/ Mrs. Horrocks and Miss Triggs. The sunset glow has faded from the sky.) Margery. It's been such a lovely sunset Aunt Emily. You were lazy not to come out. Mrs. Eversleigh. Your mother and I have been t:alking. Margery. Can Mrs. Horrocks write a letter in your room, Mother? The General's in the library with Mr. Firket and that's rather dis- turbing. Lady Denison. Certainly. Will you turn on the lights, Margery? You'll find note paper and things on my table Mrs. Horrocks. (Margery turns on sic itch hy door r. and opens it.) Mrs. Horrocks. Thank you so much, Lady Denison. {Exit R.) Margery, {to Miss Triggs) Noiv T can show you your room, Miss Triggs, if you will come up- stairs. 32 THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. Lady Denison. I'm afraid we have had to give you a very small room, Miss Triggs. But the house is so full just now. Miss Triggs. {acidly) Pray don't apologise, Lady Denison. Of course I know persons who are compelled to support themselves by teaching can not expect to be treated with ceremony! Anything will do for me Lady Denison. I assure you Miss Triggs. Not at all. I quite understand. Lady Denison. But really, Miss Triggs Miss Triggs. Please do not trouble to say any more. It is quite unnecessary. Shall we go, Miss Denison? (stalls out l. followed hy Margery.) Mrs. Eversleigh. What an intolerable woman ! Lady Denison. I do think she might have let me explain. Mrs. Eversleigh. Explain! I should have packed her out of the house if I'd been in your place. Lady Denison. I don't think Mr. Hylton would approve of that? Mrs. Eversleigh. Then Mr. Hylton should do his own entertaining. Why doesn't he have Miss Triggs to stay with him? Lady Denison. Emily ! Mr. Hylton is a bache- lor. Mrs. Eversleigh. So I suppose. People with absurd theories about life usually are bachelors. But I don't think Miss Triggs would have come to any harm. She's excessively plain. Lady Denison. Really Emily, what dreadful THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. 33 things jou saj. I don't think living in Vienna can be at all good for jou. Mrs. Eversleigh. What I can't understand is why, if you must be kind to people — which seems to me quite unnecessary — you shouldn't choose agreeable people instead of disagreeable ones. Lady Denison. (worried) I'm afraid I can't make it any clearer. But Mr. Hylton will tell you. (Hylton passes ivindoiv r. c.) Here he is. (Enter Hylton l. c.) Mr. Hylton will 30U kindly explain to Mrs. Ever- sleigh why I have to be kind to disagreeable people. I never can remember and Margery isn't here. Mrs. Eversleigh. (with dangerous stveetness) My sister-in-law has been telling me about ^our peculiar doctrines, Mr. Hylton. Hylton. You see, Mrs. Eversleigh, agreeable people don't need friends to be kind to them. They have plenty already. Disagreeable people have not. Mrs. Eversleigh. (hrisJcly) If people are dis- agreeable they don't deserve kindness. Hylton. It's not what people deserve but what they tvant that matters, don't you think? In fact often the less people deserve the more we ought to help them. They need it more. Mrs. Eversleigh. I'm afraid that's hardly a U THE CHARITY THAT BeCAN AT HOME. view you can expect me to take seriously, Mr. Hylton. It's very modern and original but it's not serious. Hylton. (smiling) I should hardly have called it modern. Usen't we to be taught that it was our duty to love our enemies? Mrs. Eversleigh. Yes. But only on Sundays. And no one ever dream'd of doing it. So of course that didn't matter. You wafnt Lady Den- ison to do it. Hylton. I certainly think the world would be a happier place and a better place if people helped each other because they needed help irre- spective of whether they deserved it or not. Mrs. Eversleigh. That is certainly a conven- ient doctrine for your friend Miss Triggs. Hylton. {smiling) What has my friend Miss Triggs been about? I never met her till this afternoon by the way. Mrs. Eversleigh. Still it's on your principles that she was invited. And her manners are in- sufferable. Hylton. A little brusque perhaps. But T daresay it's only shyness. She has never been here before, has she, Lady Denison? Ladi" Denison. No. Hylton. And lots of people are shy in a strange house, aren't they? Mrs. Eversleigh. Her shyness certainly takes a singularly unpleasant form. Hylton. ^Yell we must just set to work to be kind to her and make her enjoy her visit ni I in a week or two she'll be a different woman. It's THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. 35 wonderful how a little kindness and good-will softens people. Will you try? Mrs. Eversleigh. {laughing) No, no, Mr. Hylton, I'm not going to join the Church of Humanity, not even to change Miss Triggs. Though I'm sure any change would be for the bet- ter. Hylton. (quite good-tempered) We shall convert you yet, you'll see. {Enter Margery l.) Lady Denison. Is Miss Triggs better satisfied with her room now, Margery? Margery. Yes, I think so. I've put her into mine. Mrs. Eversleigh. What ! Margery. That's why I've been so long. I had to empty some of the drawers for her and move the bed. Mrs. Eversleigh. Really Margery! Margery. What is it. Aunt Emily? Mrs. Eversleigh. To turn out of your own bedroom merely to please an ill-tempered German Governess. I've never heard of such a thing. Margery. Poor Miss Triggs. I suppose she has rather a curious temper. But I daresay she can't help it. Mrs. Eversleigh. Nonsense : She's a thor- oughly ill-conditioned person. Margery, {mildly) Well Aunt Emily there's no use being angry with her about it, is there? We must just be nice to her and try and make her stay pleasant and then I daresay she'll be bet- ter. 36 THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. Mrs. Eversleigh. So Mr. Hylton was good enough to suggest. Margery. Then it's sure to be right. Mr. Hyl- ton always knows how to manage people. Hylton. {rising) After that handsome com- pliment I think I'd better go upstairs, I have a letter or two to write before post — if it's not gone, Lady Denison? Lady Denison. No. The box isn't cleared till a quarter past seven. Where have you put Mr. Hylton, Margery? Margery. In the Blue room, mother. If you'll come, Mr. Hylton, I'll show you where it is. Hylton. Thank you. {Exeunt Margery and Hylton l. pause.) Mrs. Eversleigh. {looking after them thought- full u) Margery seems to have a great admira- tion for your Mr. Hylton, Muriel. Lady Denison. Yes, she thinks a great deal of him. Mrs. Eversleigh. Um Is he staying here long? Lady Denison. For a fortnight, I hope. Mrs. Eversleigh. Is that loiscf Lady Denison. What do you mean, Emily? Mrs. Eversleigh. It would be so tiresome if there were to be any foolish entanglement be- tween him and Margery. Girls are so romantic about clergymen. And Mr. Hylton is a sort of clergyman, isn't he? Couldn't you send Margery away somewhere while he's here? THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. 37 Lady Denison. But I don't want to send Mar- gery away. How am I to entertain Miss Triggs and Mrs. Horrocks without Margery? Mrs. Eversleigpi. Nonsense, Muriel. Do please understand that Margery's future is of more importance than entertaining Miss Triggs. If Mr. Hylton were in orders it would be differ- ent. Edward might get someone to give him a liv- ing — though livings aren't what they were of course. He might even become a bishop in time. Or at least a Dean. But as he's only some kind of dissenter there's no use thinking of that. And if he were to propose to Margery w^hile he was down here it might give us a great deal of trouble. Lady Denison. But is Mr. Hylton going to propose to Margery? I've heard nothing about it. Mrs. Eversleigh. And won't — till it's too late. That kind of man has no proper feeling about these things. And of course he hasn't a sixpence. Lady Denison. Hasn't he, Emily? I thought he was quite well off. Mrs. Eversleigh. What! Lady Denison. I thought he had quite a large income. Only he gives it all away. At least that was what Lady Wrexham told me. His place is close to theirs in Shropshire. But it's let just now. Mrs. Eversleigh. My dear Muriel, why on earth didn't you say so before? Lady Denison. I didn't think you wanted to know about Mr. Hylton's income. Mrs. Eversleigh. Not want to know? Of S8 THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. course I want to know. It makes all the differ- ence. If Mr. Hylton is a rich man and has a place in Shropshire it explains everything. Lady Denison. (puzzled) Explains what? Mrs. Eversleigh. Your asking him here. And turning your house into a bear garden because he tells you to. Of course it flatters him. And it does no harm — for once. It's not as if you need know these people afterwards. Lady Denison. Emily! Mrs. Eversleigh. I wonder what his income really is. I must find out from Lady Wrexham. It'll be a great thing to have Margery properly settled. I was always afraid you might have some difficulty in finding a really suitable husband for her. She's so very good. And men don't like that. It frightens them. (rises) Yes dear, you've done quite right. And I think you've been very clever about it. I didn't know you had it in you. CURTAIN. THE CHARITY THAT BEGAiN AT HOME. S9 ACT IT. Scene. — The same. Time. Morning a weelc later. Lady Denison discovered conning a German Grammar. Lady Denison. Der Bruder, Des Bruders, Dem Bruder, Den Bruder, Bruder. {looking up from hook) Der Bruder, Des Bruder, Den Bruder. No, that's wrong, {consults hook again) Der Bruder, Des Bruders, Dem Bruder, Den Bruder, Bruder. What a language! {repeats once more with still greater stress on the ^' ".) {Enter Mrs, Eversleigh l. carrying half fin- ished letter.) Mrs. Eversleigh. Here you are, Muriel. I was just going to your room to find you. Lady Denison. Miss Triggs is in there writ- ing letters, {murmurs softly Der Bruder , etc.) Mrs. Eversleigh. Can you find a corner for me too? When General Bonsor and Mrs. Hor- rocks are in the library together I feel like Dan- iel in the Den of lions. It's impossible to write letters under those conditions Lady Denison. How tiresome. I hoped they would get on better after that scene in the draw- ing-room last night. 40 THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. Mrs. Eversleigh. I'm sure I don't know why. If you ask jnij^ossible people to stay they may be civil to you but they're i>erfectly certain to quar- rel with each other. Mr. Hylton doesn't seem to have thought of that. Lady Denison. What are they quarrelling about now? Was it about the Peerage again? Mrs. Eversleigh. Yes. Mrs. Horrocks, who* really is the most vulgar person I have ever met, was explaining to Mr. Yerreker that she could always tell whether a person was well-born or not the moment she set eyes on him. Good blood always told. Of course this was meant for the General whose father was a tailor in Regent Street as everybody knows. The General took up the challenge at once and growled out that good birth was all rubbish and good blood came from eating good butcher's meat, not from being fifth cousin to a Baronet. The refere^nce was to Sir James Horrocks who is Mrs. Horrocks's second cousin twice removed as she's never tired of telling us. At that Mrs. Horrocks flushed crim- son and said the General was no Gentleman. And then I came away. Lady Denison. Didn't Mr. Yerreker maaage to soothe them? Mrs. Eversleigh. He didn't try. He seemed rather to enjoy the carnage. Lady Denison. I wonder if / ought to go? It'll interrupt my German dreadfully. Mrs. Eversleigh. Your German? Lady Denison. Yes. I've had to learn Ger- man after all— to please Miss Triggs. She was THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. 41 getting restless at having nothing to do and 3'es- terday she said she really must be thinking of getting back to her work. Which was absurd of course, as no one wants to learn German in Sept- ember. However Margery said we ought to find her a pupil, just to keep her amused. So she's to teach me. (sighs) Mrs. Eversleigh. Why doesn't Margery learn? Lady Denison. Margery knows German al- ready. Girls seem to know everything now-a- days. {murmurs) Der Bruder, Des Bruders, Dem Bruder {Enter Mrs. Horrocks furious, l.) Mrs. Horrocks. Lady Denison ! I really must ask you to request General Bonsor to moderate his language. I have never been treated with such disrespect in any house before. Lady Denison. I'm so sorry, Mrs. Horrocks. What has the General been saying? Mrs. Horrocks. I couldn't possibly repeat it. But he has entirely forgotten the courtesy that is due to a lady, as I told him! Lady Denison. Was that wise? I should have thought it would only make the General worse. Mrs. Horrocks. It did. He became so violent that I felt obliged to leave the room at once. General Bonsor ought to understand that this is not a barrack yard. Lady Denison. You must make allowances, Mrs. Horrocks. The General's temper is violent at times, but I don't think he can help it. Mrs. Horrocks. He ought to help it. 42 THE CHARITY THAT B3GAN AT HOME. Lady Denison. Still, he's an old man. And he's been in India. And when people have done that ^ye must make allowances for them — on ac- count of the climate. I hear it's so trying. And we all have failings of some kind, haven't we? Mrs. Horrocks. {stiffly) I am not aware that / have failings. Lady Denison. Well. All the rest of us. Per- haps if you went back to him now you would find him a little cooler? Mrs. Horrocks. 1 shall certainly not do any- tliing so rash. If I go out on to the terrace do you think I shall be safe from his intrusion? Lady Denison. Perhaps that would be best. You'll find chairs out there. {Exit Mrs. Horrocks l. c.) I wonder how the General is now. Do you think I ought to send Margery to him? Mrs. Eversleigii. Certainly not. Leave him to Mr. Verreker. Lady Denison. {don'bf fully) Mr. Verreker isn't always very successful with the General. He never seems to take him seriously. And the General hates that, {rising) But Margery can always manage him. Do you know where she is. Mrs. Eversleigh. With Mr. Hylton, let's hope. Do leave her in peace. Lady Denison. Very well, Emily. Der Bruder, Des Bruders, Dem Bruder, Den Bruder, O — {Enter Margery and Verreker l. c.) Margery, Avill you please go to the library and see THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. 43 after the General? He's been quarrelling with Mrs. Horrocks. 'Yerreker. The General's not in the library now. We passed him a moment ago crossing the lawn. Mrs. Eversleigh. {severely) I thought you were with Mr. Hylton, Margery. Margery. Mr. Hylton's correcting proofs. I've been to the kitchen garden, with Mr. Verre- ker, to order the vegetables for luncheon. Mrs. Eversleigh. [tartly) I hardly think Mr. Verreker can have been of much assistance. Verreker. On the contrary, I was invaluable. I prevented Miss Denison from ordering peas and substituted beans. It's too late for peas. Be- sides I prefer beans. And I insisted on peaches. The gardener hesitated but I was firm. Lady Denison. Would you mind being quite quiet all of you for the next ten minutes? Or I shall never know this declension in time for Miss Triggs. You might go back to the library, Emily, as the General has gone. Mrs. Eversleigfi. [rising) Well, perhaps I shall be less disturbed there, [takes up unfin- ished letter) And you'd better go to the school- room and practise, Margery. You'll forget your music altogether if you aren't careful. Margery. Yery well. Aunt Emily. (Mrs. Eversleigh exit l. Lady Denison seats fierself up stage. Margery and Yerreker come down. ) Lady Denison. [murmurs) Die Schwester, 44 THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. Der Sch wester, Der Sch wester, Die ScL wester, Sch wester, (aloud) You won't mind my going on with my German, will you, Mr. Verreker? I really must get it done. V^ERREKER. Not a bit. I like seeing other people work. Margery, {laughing) Then you can stay and urtch mother while I go and practise. Verreker. I'll come and watch you. Margery. Oh no. I never allow anyone to be with me when I practise. On account of the wrong notes. Verreker. Well, don't practise then. Stay down here and talk. Margery. And waste half the morning! Cer- tainly not! Verreker. You needn't. You can work — at my handkerchief case. You're taking an awful time over it. Margery. What a shame! Why I only began it two days ago and it's half finished. Verreker. Is it? Let nre see. Margery, [takes it out of haskct) Look! Verreker. I say it is getting on. Margery, {sits hy small table doivn r.) Yes. There are the initials. H. V. Aren't they nice andsprawly? Verreker. I say it's really awfully nice of you to work it for me, Miss Denison. Margery, {beginning to ivork on it) But I like working things for people. Verreker. Not for everybody though? Margery. Oh yes, if they want them. I^m THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. 45 making a whole lot of things for the Willises^ bazaar at Christmas. Verreker. I hope you don't class me with a beastly bazaar. Margery. It'll be a very nice bazaar. It's to pay off the debt on the Parish room. {Pause. Verreker looks at her wonderingly.) Verreker. Miss Denison, don't you ever do anything to please yourself? Margery. Of course I do. Lots of things. Verreker. Do you? I wish I could catch you at i.t. Margery. What do you mean ? Verreker. Why, you seem to me to spend your whole time looking after other people. All the morning you run round doing things for your mother. Margery. , I'm not ^' running round " now, am I? Verreker. No. Because you're making me a handkerchief case. In the afternoon if I ask you to come for a walk you insist on taking Miss Triggs or that ridiculous old General because it '' wouldn't be kind not to ask them." I think that's the phrase? In the evening you play bezique to amuse Mrs. Horrocks. Don't you oc- casionally do something to amuse yourself? Margery. I don't know. I've never thought about it. Verreker. That's just it! You've never thought about it! Well I think it's not right. 46 THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. Nobody ought to be as unselfish as all that. It shows up the rest of us too much. Margery. How absurd you are. Verreker. I'm not absurd. Quite the con- trary. I like everyone to give his mind to getting a good time for himself in this wicked world. Then I know where I am. Of course I don't mind his doing someone else a good turn now and then. But he oughtn't to overdo it. You over- do it. Miss Triggs. (putting in head r.) I'm ready for you noWj Lady Denison. Lady Denison. Very well, (rising) I shall be in my room with Miss Triggs, Margery, if anyone wants me. Margery. All right, mother. Lady Denison. (repeating to herself) Der apfel, Des apfels, Dem apfel, Den apfel, apfel. (Exit R. Pause.) Margery. Mr. Verreker, why will you always pretend to be selfish and cynical? I'm sure you're not really. Verreker. I don't know about cynical, but I'm unquestionably selfish. I have no illusions whatever about that. Margery. Then, why don't you try to improve? Verreker. I don't want to improve. I'm quite contented to be as I am. Margery. Nobody can be that. TV^e all have ideals of some kind. Verreker. Only for other people. And they're usually great nonsense. If people would only THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. 47 give up bothering about ideals and face facts what a much happier world this would be for all of us. Margery. But that would be dreadful. Think what the world would lose. Think of all the saints and the martyrs who laid down their lives for ideals. Verreker. And think what a lot of harm they did! Margery. Mr. Yerreker, you canH mean that. You must feel sometimes how splendid it would be to do something heroic, to lay down your life for a great cause, to make the world better. Yerreker. I don't want to make the world better. I think the world's all right as it is. Margery. But you can't altvays feel like that? There must be times when you feel that the world is full of suffering and injustice. That it's not all right but all wrong? Yerreker. Oh yes. When I'm not well, you mean. Margery. No I don't. Seriously? Yerreker. Well, sometimes perhaps — When I'm with you for instance — I have a dim feeling that if we all put our backs into it we might im- prove things. But I struggle against it. Margery. Why struggle against it — if you think it would make things better? Yerreker. Because people who try to im- prove the world have a very uncomfortable time. Miss Denison. And I've a great dislike of being uncomfortable. Margery. Mr. Yerreker! 48 THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. Verreker. Now you're shocked. But that's inevitable, I suppose. If one only knows enough about people one always does disapprove of them. {Enter Hylton l., Verreker looks far from pleased at the interruption.) Margery. Have you finished your proofs, Mr. Hylton? Hylton. For this morning. _" Margery. Then will you come here and bring Mr. Verreker to a better frame of mind. His opinions are simply dreadful — if they are his opinions. You must convert him. Verreker. (rising) No. If I'm to be con- verted — which I sincerely ho})e will not happen — I stipulate that it shall be by Miss Denison un- aided. Two to one isn't fair. I shall go — unless Hylton does, {tcfkcs out cigarette case) Margery. You're running away. Verreker. Yes — to smoke. (Exit L. c. Pause.) Margery, (putting doivn work, thoughtfully) What a curious man Mr. Verreker is. Hylton. Is he? Margery. Yes. He looks at things so strangely. I've never met anyone quite like him before. Hylton. In what way? Margery. In what he thinks about life — if he does think it. He says he's selfish and isn't at all ashamed of it. He says ideals do more harm than good and that he thinks the world would THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. 49 get along much better if only people would leave it alone and not keep trying to improve it. Have you ever met anyone who thought like that? Hylton. Oh, yes. It's a phase many men pass through. Margery. But they do pass through it. They don't stay like that, I mean, do they? Hylton. It depends. Some men seem as if they were born blind — like kittens. Soul-blind I mean. They have no perception at all of the spiritual side of things. Then one day something opens the eyes of their soul and for the first time they see. Margery. What kind of thing? Hylton. Who can say. There are many w^ays in which a man's soul may be awakened. A word may do it sometimes. A line In a poem, a sen- tence in a book. Or perhaps, someone comes into his life, someone who is kind to him or loves him and then the eyes of his soul are opened. Margery. How wonderful ! Hylton. Yes. But terrible too. For perhaps no one comes or the person who might have helped them is careless or indifferent and then they may remain blind always. Margery, (earnestly) But Mr. Verreker — anl people like him — only need someone to come and open their eyes? Hylton. Yes. Verreker's quite a good fellow I expect, underneath. He'll turn out all right if only he falls into good hands. Margery. But if he falls into bad hands? Hylton. Then he may never make anything .^0 THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. of his life. But it won't be because there was no good in him. Only because no one came to bring it out. Margery, {thought fully) I see. Hylton. It's astonishing what a lot of good there is in every man if only you look deep enough for it. Men seem selfish and heartless and in- different on the surface and all the while there's a soul in every one of them. I could give you hundreds of instances from my work among the very poor, cases of people who seemed hopelessly brutish and degraded doing kind things and gen- erous things that would seem incredible if they were not true. Margery, {enthusiastic) How splendid! But that was you, Mr. Hylton. You've such a won- derful influence with people. You must make Mr. Verreker see. Hylton. {lightly) He didn't seem very anx- ious to listen to me, Miss Denison. You must try what you can do. {Enter Anson l. She looks pale and her eyes are suspiciously red. She hesitates on seeing who is in the room.) Anson. I beg pardon, miss. I thought I might find her ladyship here. Margery. Mother is in her room, Anson. But I think she's busy just now. Can / do anything? Anson. No, thank you, miss. I wanted to speak to her ladyship, {going) Margery. You can see if she's engaged if you like. TME CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. 51 Anson. Thank you, miss, {crosses to door r. and opens it) (Margery watches her anxiously.) Can I speak to you, my lady? Lady Denison. {off) Yes. Come in Anson. What is it? {Exit Anson r., closing door.) Margery. Poor mother. I expect she was de- lighted to be interrupted. I know / always was when / was learning German. Hylton. Is that your mother's maid? She looks as if she were in trouble of some kind. Is anything the matter? Margery. I don't know. She's not looked her- self for some time. I asked her about it a week ago. I wanted her to see the Doctor. But she wouldn't. Hylton. Has she been with you long? Margery. Four years. I daresay it's* nothing serious. Servants are so silly about what they eat. And then they wonder why they aren't well. Or she may have had some quarrel with one of the other servants. Do you find your servants quar- rel among themselves, Mr. Hylton? Hylton. No. — You see I only keep one. Margery. I sometimes wish ice did. Only last week William actually gave mother notice just because he couldn't get on with one of the others. But mother told you about that, didn't she? Hylton. No. 52 THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. Margery. She meant to. I suppose she forgot. (Re-enter Anson r., crying bitterly. She crosses stage rapidly and exit l. Margery arid Hylton look after her in amazement. Then enter r. Lady Denison much flustrated.) Lady Denison. Margery, will you go and find Annt Emily for me? She's in the library, I think. 1 want her advice about something. And don't come back, dear, for a little. Margery. Very well, mother. {Exit Margery l.) Hylton. (rising) Perhaps I'd better. . . .? Lady Denison. (fussily) No, no, please stay, Mr. Hylton. I shall want your advice, too. Hylton. Of course if I can be of any use . . . (re-seats hiinself. Lady Denison sits also. Pause) Lady Denison. (half irritably^ half plaintive) Oh, why doesn't Emily come? She said she would be in the library. Surely Margery ought to have found her by this time. (Mrs. Eversleigh enters l.) Ah, here she is. Emily, a dreadful thing has hap- pened. I thought you would advise me. (hesi- tates) Mrs. Eversleigh. (testily) Well, Muriel. What is it? Lady Denison. Anson, my maid — you remem- ber Anson? She came to me from Lady Car- berry. Mrs. Eversleigh. Yes. Yes. I know. Well? THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. 53 Lady Denison. I was in mj room doing my German. Fortunately Miss Triggs had gone out into the garden for a few minutes while I was trying to learn the second declension. When Anson came in. She was evidently upset about something and looked ready to cry. In fact she did cry. I asked her what was the matter and she said she wanted to give notice. I was very much astonished because Anson has been with me four years and has never given me notice before. So I asked her why. And then she said that she and Soames . . . well in fact that Soames had Mrs. Eversleigh. Muriel ! If you are about to say what I suppose you are about to say wouldn't it be better if Mr. Hylton ? (Hylton rises again,) Lady Denison. No, Emily. I asked Mr. Hyl- ton particularly to remain. I shall want his ad- vice about this. I shall want everybody's advice. Besides it's partly his fault. For if it weren't for Mr. Hylton I should never have engaged Soames. Hylton. I didn't know. . . . Lady Denison. Oh yes. Soames had a verp bad character from his last place. In fact no character at all — which is worse. He was with the Matthisons before he came to me and Lady Frances gave the most dreadful accounts of him when Margery was staying with her. She said the champagne had disappeared in the most re- markable manner. And as for his look no one 54 THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. could make head or tail of it. I'm not sure there wasn't something about the plate too. Anyhow she sent him away — without a character as I said. And I always think that so hard for a servant. Don't you, Emily? Mrs. Eversleigh. To have no character? Very. Lady Denison. Well, of course, he couldn't get another place. And Lady Frances got a letter from him while Margery was there saying he was almost destitute. So Margery thought he ought to be given another chance. Mr. Hylton is al- ways saying people ought to be given another chance. Aren't you, Mr. Hylton? And as Lady Frances didn't seem willing to have him back and Wilkins was leaving me just then — on account of Thomas — T engaged him. I wish I hadn't now. Mrs. Eversleigh. And now Soames hns. . . .? Lady Denison. Yes. And I think it's most wicked of him. Anson has always been a good girl and her mother is a most respectful woman. However she is willing to forgive Anson and have her home I'm glad to say, so that will be all right. She has no father, luckily. Mrs. Eversleigh. Well, Muriel, this is what your new forms of philanthropy lead to. Lady Denison. It's very unfortunate. But it's done now. The question is what are you to do? Mrs. Eversleigh. Do? Dismiss Soames, of course. I'd better ring for him at once, {docs so) I suppose we must let him give us his version of the affair before you discharge him. THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. 55 Lady Denison. I suppose so. But it's all very painful. (Pause.) Hylton. I'm extremely sorry, Lady Denison, if anything I have said has caused all this trouble, either to you or that poor girl. I never dreamed such a thing could occur. Mrs. Eversleigh. Really? Then you must be singularly lacking in imagination, Mr. Hylton. It seems to me the logical outcome of your theories — when applied to domestic service. Hylton. [meeldy) Of course there's a dan- ger. But all reforms have an element of danger in them. Mrs. Eversleigh. {triumphantly) Then why reform ? Hylton. But without reform all progress would be impossible. The world w^ould simply stagnate. We must risk something. Lady Denison. Well, I'd so much rather not have risked Anson. She was such an excellent maid. (Enter Soames l. Pause. Silence.) Soames. Did you ring, my lady? Lady Denison. (flustered) Yes. What is this, Soames, that Anson tells me about you? Soames. What has she told you, my lady? Lady Denison. That while we were in London three months ago, within a month of your coming to me in fact, you. . . . And now she's expecting a baby in the Spring. 56 THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. SoAMES. That is so, mj lady. Mrs. Eversleigh. Well! Have you nothing else to say? SoAMES. No, madam. Except of course that I'm very sorry this should have occurred? Lady Denison. Is that all? SoAMES. I think that is all, my lady. Lady Denison. Of course you're prepared to make all the amends in your power to poor An- son? Soames. Of course, my lady. Lady Denison. Very well then. You must marry her. SoAMEs. Pm afraid I can't do that, my lady. Mrs. Eversleigh. There, Mr. Hylton ! Lady Denison. Nonsense, Soames. You will be acting very wickedly if you do anything else. Anson is a good girl. A very good girl. She is the best maid I ever had, and I'm very sorry to part with her. But you have brought this dis- grace on her, poor thing, and you must certainly marry her. SoAMEs. I beg pardon, my lady. I should be perfectly willing to marry Anson. She seems a very respectable young woman as you say. Un- fortunately I am already married. Mrs. Eversleigh. What ! SoAMEs. I have a wife already, madam — I am sorry to say. Lady Denison. Really this is most unlucky. Mr. Hylton can you suggest anything? Hylton. As things stand, I'm afraid there's nothing to suggest. We must do our best for this THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. 57 poor girl, of course, and Soames must help us in any way he can. That's all that I can think of. SoAMEs. Anything Lady Denison thinks right, Sir, I shall be happy to fall in with. Lady Denison. Very well. That will do, Soanies. SoAMEs. Thank you, my lady. {Exit L.) Lady Denison. Poor Anson. I am really dreadfully sorry about her. It's such a terrible thing to happen to a girl. Mrs. Eversleigh. {acidly) If any other of your converts are engaging their servants on phil- anthropic lines, Mr. Hylton, you had better cau- tion them to choose single men. Lady Denison. James, I'm glad to say, is un- married. Mrs. Eversleigh. James? Lady Denison. The boy who helps in the garden. But then he's only sixteen. Mrs. Eversleigh. Tck! — Of course Soames must be sent away. Lady Denison. {sighs) I suppose so. Mrs. Eversleigh. Even Mr. Hylton must see that. Hylton. {thoughtfully) I'm not sure. Mrs. Eversleigh. Not sure! After this dis- graceful affair! Hylton. I am thinking of the future, Mrs. Eversleigh, not of the past. I'm very sorry for what has happened to poor Anson, sorrier than I can say. But that can't be altered now. What 58 THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. is past is past. The question is how are we to help Soames? Mrs. EvERSLEiGH. {exasperated) But w^e don't want to help Soames. Soames has behaved abominably. Hylton. (quietly) That's no reason for not helping him, is it? Mrs. Eversleigh. (gasps) It certainly seems so to me. Hylton. Surely not. Surely it's always our business to help anyone if we can, whatever he may have done. And in this case we can help Soames. If he's sent away now he may be abso- lutely ruined. You see it's the second place he's had to leave without a character. Mrs. Eversleigh. (acidly) Do I understand you to consider that in his favour, Mr. Hylton? Hylton. (mildly) No. But it gives him an added claim on our forbearance, doesn't it? — since it makes it more difficult for him to make a fresh start. Mrs. Eversleigh. Then the more a servant dis- graces himself the more we are bound to help him. And if he only does it often enough I suppose you'd pension him? Hylton. (gently) I would still try to help him, whatever he had done. Mrs. Eversleigh. Rubbish ! Lady Denison. Hush, Emily ! Mrs. Eversleigh. I beg your pardon, Mr. Hyl- ton, but really this is quite preposterous. It's trying to regulate one's life by a theory instead of by the light of common sense. THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. 59 Lady Denison. It certainly is rather confus- ing, you must admit, Mr. Hylton. Hylton. (gently) I think my view is defensi- ble even from the commonsense standpoint — though if s not a standpoint I set much store by. What I want — what we all want, don't we? — is to prevent Soames from sinking into destitution and so perhaps into crime. Lady Denison. I don't want him to do that of course. Hylton. The only way to prevent it is to get him some employment. Unhappily he is probably unfitted for anything but domestic service. The only thing to do therefore is to find him a place and give him a chance of retrieving his character. I would willingly engage him myself if I could but my establishment has no place for a highly- trained butler — or indeed for a man-servant at all. But if Lady Denison would keep him on. . . . Lady Denison. Oh no, I couldn't do that. Mrs. Eversleigh. I should think not indeed! Hylton. [earnestly) It needn't be for long. Say a year. If at the end of that time his work and his conduct generally have been satisfactory Lady Denison can then send him away with a character and he'll be able to get another place. Lady Denison. But I sha'n't want to send him away if his conduct is satisfactory. Hylton. Then why not try the experiment? Of course I^m now putting this on the lowest grounds, the commonsense grounds. Morally it needs no defence. One should always forgive wrong-doing, shouldn't one? 60 THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. Lady Denison. I can't think that, Mr. Hylton. Wicked people must be punished. If they weren't it would be so discouraging for good people. Hylton. Wicked people are only weak people, Lady Denison. If they were strong they would resist temptation. But they are weak and they yield to it. Mrs. Eversleigh. {with decision) If Soames is unable to resist temptation of this kind, I think Muriel had certainly better discharge him, on account of the other maids. Hylton. I don't think he'll offend in this way again. He's had a lesson. Mrs. Eversleigh. He had a lesson at the Mat- thi sons'. Hylton. And profited by it. He has been quite honest since he came to you, hasn't he, Lady Denison? Lady Denison. I believe so. Hylton. Very well, then. The experiment an- swered in that case. Mrs. Eversleigh. Oh come, Mr. Hylton, we must be practical. Of course this idea about being kind to unpleasant people and worthless people and in fact to everybody one doesn't like and oughtn't to like, sounds very nice. But it's not practical. Hylton. Well, Lady Denison. It's for you to decide. Lady Denison. That's just it. I do so hate deciding things. If only I could ask Margery. Mrs. Eversleigh. Certainly not. Hylton. (earnestlp^) It may save a soul. THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. 61 Lady Denison. Do you really think that? (Hylton nods.) How very annoying ! However if that's so, I sup- pose he must stay, (sighs) Mrs. Eversleigh. Muriel ! Lady Denison. Well Emily, what can I do? If Mr. Hylton thinks so. Hylton. I do think so. Thank you so much, Lady Denison. I'm sure you'll never regret it. Mrs. Eversleigh. I'm quite sure she will. And I think it's very wrong of you, Mr. Hylton, to make my sister-in-law behave in this way. She doesn't like it. Hylton. You exaggerate my influence, Mrs. Eversleigh. It is Lady Denison's own goodness of heart that makes her want to help people. Without that I should be powerless. Lady Denison. How nice of you to say that, Mr. Hylton ! But you always say the right thing. I was really feeling dreadfully dispirited about all this and you've driven it all away. There's nothing like tact, is there? {Enter General Bonsor l. c.) Is that you. General? Have you been in the garden with Mrs. Horrocks? General Bonsor. (froicning sternly) I have not, Lady Denison. Lady Denison. Oh no, to be sure, I forgot. ... I mean I remember. . . . Just so. General Bonsor. {severely) I have been in the Rose-garden smoking a cigar. 62 THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. Lady Denison. That's so kind of you. If s so good for the roses. General Bonsor. Where Mrs. Horrocks is I have no idea. {Exit L. head in air.) Lady Denison. Dear me, why did I say that! Of course I oughtn't even to have mentioned Mrs. Horrocks. But I'd forgotten all about their quar- rel this morning. This affair of Soames quite put it out of my head. And now I suppose the Gen- eral will be offended. Really what with quarrels among one's visitors and scandal in the Servants' Hall life is hardly worth living. Mrs. Eversleigh. (acidly) Mr. Hylton's sys- tem! Hylton. (rising) Shall I go and pacify the General ? Lady Denison. If you would, Mr. Hylton. It really is scarcely safe to leave him alone just now, in case Mrs. Horrocks should come in. (Exit Hylton l.) It's been a very tiring morning, hasn't it, Emily. (Miss Triggs puts her head in r.) Miss Triggs. I've been waiting for you nearly twenty minutes, Lady Denison. Is that declen- sion ready now? Lady Denison. Oh dear, I'm afraid not. I've really had no time to attend to it since you left me, Miss Triggs. Miss Triggs. {sternly, coming c.) No timet THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. 63 Lady Denison. No. I^m so sorry. I was called away on urgent business. Most urgent business. And it's no good trying to do anything before luncheon now, is it? It will be ready in two or three minutes. Miss Triggs. I am afraid it is useless for me to attempt to teach you German, Lady Denison, if YOU are unwilling to give even the small amount of time I ask to studying it. Lady Denison. (meekly) But really, Miss Triggs. . . . Miss Triggs. Apologies are unnecessary. I am accustomed to be treated in this way. It is the experience of all women, I believe, who earn their living by education, [crosses l.) Lady Denison. I assure you. . . . Miss Triggs. You need not. I quite under- stand. We will abandon our lesson until later in the day when you may have leisure to apply your- self to it. (siceeps out l.) Lady Denison. Now she^s offended. Really it's too bad ! Mrs. Eversleigh. Mr. Hylton's system ! Lady Denison. I'd no idea people who taught German were so sensitive. I ought never to have said I would learn it. Mrs. Eversleigh. You ought never to have asked Miss Ttiggs here at all. Nor any of these people. Mrs. Horrocks, General Bonsor, Mr. Yer- reker. They're all impossible. Lady Denison. I don't see what's the matter with Mr. Verreker. He^s not been doing anything tiresome, has he? 64 THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. (Margery and Verreker appear on terrace r. c. Then Margery runs in excitedly Ity window l. c. holding Verreker by hand.) Margery. Mother dear, is that you? (kisses her) Fve got such a piece of news for you. What do you think? Hugh and I are engaged to be married ! Mrs. Eversleigh. Hugh? Margery, (turning to her) Mr. Verreker. (to her mother again, speaking very rapidly and excitedly) He asked me to marry him down by the lake and I said I would. Aren't you pleased! Lady Denison. Margery ! Mrs. Eversleigh. Really! (Gong rings loudly off.) Margery. Oh, there's the luncheon gong and my hands are simply piggy. We've been grubbing up ferns for my rockery. So are yours, Hugh. Run and wash them, dear. You must wait to be congratulated till afterwards. Verreker. All right. (Exit Verreker l., Margery going also.) Mrs. Eversleigh. I must say! Margery. I can't stop now, Aunt Emily, or we shall be late and then the General will be furious. (Exit L.) Mrs. Eversleigh. And you said Margery was going to marry Mr. Hylton ! Muriel, you must be a perfect fool. THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. 65 Lady Denison. {almost iceeping) I didn't, Emily ! You said it I Mrs. Eversleigh. Well, there's no use arguing about that now. You must put a stop to this engagement without a moment's delay. Lady Denison. Yes. I shall speak to Margery about it directly after luncheon. It's very naughty of her. I shall certainly refuse to sanction the engagement. Mrs. Eversleigh. Better speak to her at once. Lady Denison. I think I'll wait till after luncheon. Mrs. Eversleigh. Mr. Hylton again. If it Averen't for him Mr. Yerreker would never have been invited to stay. Lady Denison. {regretfullij) Yes. I really must give up going to hear Mr. Hylton. The re- sults are too unpleasant. I didn't mind asking the wrong people to the house and trying to make them happy. But I can't have them proposing to my daughter. I must make a stand against it all, now, at once, while I remember, {goes to hell and rings majestically.) Mrs. Eversleigh. What are you going to do? Lady Denison. Dismiss Soames! CURTAIN. GO THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. ACT III. Scene the same. Time an hour later. Luncheon is just over. When the Ctu^tain rises the stage is empty. Then enter l., Lady Denison_, Mrs. EvERSLEiGH, Mrs. Horrocks, Miss Triggs, Mar- GERY, General Bonsor, Hylton, Verreker. {French wndows r. c. and l. c. are both open in this act.) General Bonsor. {heard off and then enter- ing) ... It was at Jubbulpore it happened. We were np there after Pig. Travers was there, I remember, and Hindley of the lOGth. No not Hindlej. He died the year before. Bellairs. First-rate chap Bellairs. In the police. I'll tell you a story about him some day. He married Molly Henderson, daughter of old Henderson the judge. Fat Henderson we used to call him be- cause he was so stout. Well, as I was saying, Travers and I were alone together. . . . Verreker. {to Margery) Poor Travers! General Bonsor. {wheeling round) What, sir ! •■ Verreker. Nothing. General Bonsor. Did I hear you remark, Poor Travers ? THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. C7 Verreker. I hope not, General. You were not intended to. General Bonsor. Did you remark it, sir? Lady Denison. I think jou must have misun- derstood Mr. Verreker, General. Mrs. Horrocks. {acidly) And anyhow the subject is scarcel}' worth pursuing, is it? Unless we are to be kept listening to this story the ivhole afternoon. General Bonsor. I had not intended to de- tain Mrs. Horrocks. {glares) Margery. Don't you think we'd better all go out for a walk while the sunshine lasts? It's a pity not to make the most of it. Lady Denison. Margery, I Margery. Yes, mother. In a moment. Mrs. Horrocks, you'll come, won't you? Mrs. Horrocks. Thank you. I shall be de- lighted. Margery. Miss Triggs? (Miss Triggs nods.) General? . General Bonsor. {decidedly) No, thank ye. {Enter William l.) Margery. Mr. Hylton? Hylton. I'm afraid I must stay at home and finish my proofs. Lady Denison. Margery, I want to speak to you before — What is it? {to William) William, (to Lady Denison, holding out sal- ver) The post, my lady. (Lady Denison takes 68 THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. them) And could Mrs. Meredith speak to you for a moment? Lady Denison. Oh, very well. (Exit L.) Margery. That makes three. Who else? William, {to General Bonsor) A letter for jou, sir. (General Bonsor takes one.) General Bonsor. Thank ye. (Exit William l.) Excuse me. (opens and begins to read) Margery. Will you come, Aunt Emily? Mrs. Eversleigh. No, thanks. I am going to drive with your mother. Margery. Very well. Hugh, four. That'll be all. Verreker. You don't ask whether / want to come. Margery. You've got to come whether you like it or not. As a penance. Verreker. All right. If it's clearly under- stood that it's a penance. I'd rather like a walk. Margery. Let's all go and get ready then. Come, Mrs. Horrocks. Meet in the hall in five minutes. (Exeunt l., Mrs. Horrocks, Miss Triggs, Mar- gery and Verreker, pause, Hylton has picked up a review and is glancing at one of the arti- cles idly. General Bonsor is reading his letter.) THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. 69 Hylton. This article in the Fortnightly on Farm Colonies is worth reading, Mrs. Eversleigh. Mrs. Eversleigh. Thank jou. I've had quite enough philanthrophj lately without that! {an- other pause) (Mrs. Eversleigh takes up hooJc and appears to read.) General Bonsor. {looking up from letter) Well ! ! ! Mrs. Eversleigh. {irritably) Really, Gen- eral Bonsor, these sudden exclamations are most disconcerting. Is anything the matter? General Bonsor. Mrs. Eversleigh is Lady Denison aware of the character of that young man? Mrs. Eversleigh. Of Mr. Hylton? General Bonsor. K'o ! No ! Of that young man who has just left tlie room. What's his name? Yerreker. Mrs. Eversleigh. I don't know. You'd better ask her. General Bonsor. I shall certainly do so. I venture to think she is not aware of it. I venture to think that when she has read what my old friend Nicholson, Toby Nicholson, says about him {taps letter fiercely) she will scarcely consider him a fit person to invite to meet me! Mrs. Eversleigh. I shouldn't build on that if I were you. My sister has peculiar views about hospitality. General Bonsor. Can you tell me where I shall find her? 70 THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. Mrs. Eversleigh. She'll be back in a moment. I believe she only went to speak to the house- keeper. Here she is. (Re-enter Lady Denison l.) General BoNSOR. (hrealcing out) Lady Deni- son. . . . Lady Denison. (to Mrs. Eversleigh, fussily) Emily, the cooA: wants to leave now. She has found out about Anson and says she can't remain with me after the month. I told her Soames was leaving, but she said ... I beg your pardon, General. I thought Emily was alone. Mrs. Eversleigh. General Bonsor has some news to communicate to you about Mr. Yerreker. I needn't say of an unfavourable character. Lady Denison. Emily! (collapses) Hylton. (rising) Perhaps I'd better. . . . Mrs. Eversleigh. (acidly) On the contrary. Mr. Hylton had better remain. It's all his doing, as usual. Hylton. Mine? Lady Denison. Never mind that now, Emily. But General if you have anything unpleasant to say, will you say it as quickly as possible? Then we shall get it over. General Bonsor. I will do so, Lady Denison. (clears his throat) I have just received a letter from my friend Colonel Nicholson who com- mands the Munster Regiment. Nicholson is an old friend of mine. I met him first at Poonah in '72 . . . or was it '73. . . . THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. 71 Mrs. Eversleigh. (acidly) Please do not bother about dates, General Bonsor. If you will kindly come to the point. General Bonsor. Certainly, Mrs. Eversleigh. I wrote to Colonel Nicholson a week ago. And as I happened to hear Verreker say he had been in the Munsters I mentioned that he was staying down here. The Munsters are the Old 43rd, you know. The Fighting Forty-Third. I remember them in the old days when Tom Ferguson was in command. Ferguson and I. . . . Lady Denison. (pathetically) General would you mind leaving that part out and telling us what Colonel Nicholson said about Mr. Verreker — if he said anything? If s really important. General Bonsor. (stiffly) I was about to do so — when you interrupted me, Lady Denison. I will do so now. Colonel Nicholson says . . . where the deuce does he say it? I'll give it you in his own words, (fiimhles for glasses. Lady Denison tvild with nervous impatience) " I'm surprised to hear you've got young Verreker stay- ing with you — (looks up at Lady Denison) he means with you, of course — I thought people fought rather shy of asking him. Small blame to 'em. He got into an ugly scrape while he was with us. Spent money belonging to the mess which he couldn't pay back. Might have gone to prison if the thing hadn't been hushed up. Had to send in his papers. Deuced ugly business alto- gether. Old Wakley whom you remember at Dum Dum. . . . That's all. Mrs. Eversleigh. There, Mr. Hylton! 72 THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. Hylton. (puzzled) What is it, Mrs. Evers- leigh? Fill really quite in the dark. Lady Denison. Hush, Emilj. You forgot Mr. Hylton doesn't know jet. Nobody knows. Gen- eral, would you mind leaving us with Mr. Hylton for a few minutes. My sister-in-law and I would like to consult him. We are very much obliged to you for letting us hear the letter — and would you please go at once? General Bonsor. Certainly. (Exit L. c, much offended.) Lady Denison. Mr. Hylton, what is to be done ! You heard what General Bonsor said about Mr. Verreker just now? Mr. Yerreker proposed to my daughter this morning and she accepted him. Hylton. Impossible ! Lady Denison. I wish it were. Margery came and told us about it just before luncheon. Ofl course I was most indignant and meant to tell her at once that I couldn't think of allowing it, but the luncheon gong rang and I've had no oppor- tunity of speaking to her since. And it's all your fault, Mr. Hylton, as Emily says, for if it hadn't been for you I should never have asked Mr. Verre- ker to the house. I really knew nothing about him and only did it out of kindness. And now the General tells us this ! Hylton. Lady Denison, I can't say how dis- tressed I am that this has occurred. I would have done anything to prevent it. THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. 73 Mrs. Eversleigh. (acidly) I'm glad to find there are limits even to your toleration, Mr. Hyl- ton. Hylton. Surely you never supposed I could approve of such a marriage? Mrs. Eversleigh. {sarcastically) I don't know. You champion Miss Triggs as a visitor — and Soames as a Butler. Why not Mr. Verreker as a son-in-law? Hilton, (distressed) You can't really think that, Mrs. Eversleigh. Knowing what I now know about Verreker how could I possibly think him a fit husband for a girl like Miss Denison ! Mrs. Eversleigh. Well, well, you don't think so. That's the main thing. The question is what is to be done? Lady Denison. Of course I shall forbid the engagement. I meant to do so before. But this puts it absolutely out of the question. Mrs. Eversleigh. And Mr. Hylton must use his influence with Margery. It's the least he can do. Hylton. Anything I can do, Mrs. Eversleigh, you may be quite sure will be done. Mrs. Eversleigh. And let's hope she'll prove amenable for everybody's sake. Hylton. I've no fears on that score. When Miss Denison learns Verreker's true character she won't wish to marry him any longer. It would be impossible. Lady Denison. (eagerly) Yes. Wouldn't it! It's not as if Margery were an unprincipled girl or a had girl in any way. She's a very good girl. 74 THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. And a religious girl. And so she'll do what we tell her. Hylton. (tcho has been pacing restlessly about and is now by window r. c.) Here is Miss Deni- son coming across the lawn. With Verreker. Lady Dennison. With Mr. Verreker? How unfortunate! Mrs. Eversleigh. I don't see that it matters. He would have to be told what we think about him in any case. Whj not now? Lady Denison. (flustered) Very well. You must help me, Mr. Hylton. I'm so unaccustomed to having to manage Margery. She generally manages me. {Enter Margery l. c, helping Verreker, who limps a little.) Margery. Is that you, mother? Poor Hugh has sprained his ankle, {to Verreker) Be care- ful of that step, {to Lady Denison) Isn't it un- fortunate? He slipped as we were going down the bank in the old Spinney. I sent the others on and brought him back by the short way across the lawn, {to Verreker) Is it hurting much? Verreker. Oh no. It's nothing. Margery. Sit down here. {drags up sofa) And you must put your foot up and give it a complete rest. And if it's not better this evening we'll send for Dr. Jenkins. Wasn't it lucky we hadn't got farther from the house when it hap- pened, mother. It's so bad to walk with a sprain. Verreker. It's not a sprain really, Margery. Just a twist. That's all. THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. 75 Lady Denison. Will you please not call my daughter Margery, Mr. Verreker. Margery. Not call me Margery? But, mother we're engaged! Lady Denison. You are not engaged, Margery. I cannot allow you to be engaged — at least not to Mr. Verreker. Margery. Why not, mother? Lady Denison. He knows quite well. And I think he's not behaved honourably in asking you to be engaged to him. When you know his true character you will think so too. Marqery. Do you mean about his leaving the army? Lady Denison. Yes. Margery. But I know about that. Lady Denison. I don't think you do. Not all about it. You imagine, as I did, that he left the army because he had been foolish or got into debt or something. It was not that. Mr. Verreker left the army for a far more serious reason which you know nothing about. Margery. Oh yes T do, mother dear. Hugh told me all about it this morning. Mrs. Eversleigh. He told you ! Margery. Yes. Before he asked me to marry him. Mrs. Eversleigh. Eeally! Lady Denison. Margery ! It's impossible. You would never have accepted him if he had told you. Mr. Verreker is not a fit person for any girl to marry. He is dishonest. 76 THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. Margery. {laying hand instinctively on Hugh's shoulder) Mother! Lady Denison. He spent money that didn't be- long to him, money that had been entrusted to him. Margery; I know. And when the time came he couldn't pay it back. He told me all that quite fully before he proposed to me. I thought it was very honourable of him. Mrs. Eversleigh. Honourable! Margery. Yes. Wasn't it honourable? To tell me I mean. He might have said nothing about it, or at least concealed the worst part hoping we should never find out. But he didn't. He told me everything. I think that was partly what made me say " yes." Mrs. Eversleigh. Margery ! You must be out of your senses. Margery. Why? It's all over now, quite over and done with. What is past is past. It happened four years ago. Surely we might forget it now? Lady Denison. No, Margery. A thing like this can never be forgotten. Margery. I can't think that. One should al- ways forgive wrong-doing, shouldn't one? And if one forgives why not forget? Mrs. Eversleigh. Rubbish! Lady Denison. Mr. Yerreker I must speak very seriously to my daughter about this. But there's no need for you to stay if you'd rather not. It would only be painful for you to hear. Would you rather leave us for a little? Verreker. {calmly) Thank you, Lady Deni- THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. 77 son. I don't mind, {settles himself on Jiis sofa, pause) Margery. Mother, aren't jou all being rather hard on poor Hugh? We all do things we're ashamed of sometimes. Not quite the same things as this perhaps, but still wrong things. And if we're sorrj and try not to do them again oughtn't that to be enough? Mrs. Eversleigh. {s7iaps) No! Margery, (confidently) I'm sure Mr. Hjlton thinks so. Hylton. No, Miss Denison. In this matter I agree with Mrs. Eversleigh. Margery. Mr. Hjlton! Hylton. Your mother has told you what she wishes. I think you should obey her. It is jour duty, (pause) Margery. (slotcly) Of course one should obey one's parents I know.' . . . But there are other duties as well. Hylton. (earnestly) Miss Denison I've no right to speak to you about this or to urge you in any way. And if you resent it I cannot complain. But the friendship I feel for you and your mother, the kindness you have always shown me, makes me risk that. Break off this engagement! Break it off I beg of you. It is impossible that a girl like you should be happy with such a man as Mr. Verreker. Margery, (quite simply) But one shouldn't only think of happiness when one marries should one ? Hylton. What do you mean? ^8 THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. Margery. I mean there are other things. One would like to be happy of course. But other things are more important. Helping people for instance. Mrs. Eversleigh. (scandalised) Are you go- ing to marry Mr. Verreker because you want to help him? Margery. Of course. This morning when Mr. Hylton and I were talking about Hugh he said there was so much that was good in him that only needed bringing out. That the eyes of his soul had not been opened yet. And he said that if he fell into good hands he would be all right, but if he fell into bad hands he might go on being care- less and indifferent always. So I thought if he married me I might prevent him from falling into bad hands. Hylton. {inucli distressed) But when I was talking to you about Mr. Verreker this morning I never dream'd of your marrying him. Margery. Nor did I— then. But afterwards, when he asked me, I remembered. And so I said yes. I'm sure I did right, [lays hand on Ver- reker 's) Hylton. Miss Denison, this is terrible. I as- sure you what you are doing is not right but wrong. It is quite right that you should want to help Mr. Verreker, of course. But it is not right that you should marry him. Margery. But perhaps it is only by marrying Hugh that I can help him? You see it's not easy for a girl to help a man however much she may wish to. They see so little of each other. And if THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. 79 jou're really to influence people you must be witfi them, mustn't you? But when people are married they are always together and then it's easy. So I'm sure I'm doing right in marrying Hugh. When a girl marries she should choose someone she can do good to, someone who tieeds her. Now I think perhaps Hugh does need me for he's not always been a very good man so far. He's been lazy and rather selfish and not very thoughtful for others. I'm going to cure him of that! Am I not, Hugh? Verreker. {half smiling) If you can, Mar- gery. Margery. And that's really worth doing, isn't it! You see if I married a good man — like you, Mr. Hylton — I couldn't help him at all. He'd be quite good already. But Hugh has done foolish things and wrong things as we know. I can help him. Lady Denison. Margery, I think you ought to listen to what Mr. Hylton says and what I say and do what we ask. It's very wrong of you to be so obstinate. You know we're thinking only of your good. Margery. Yes, but are you thinking of Hugh's good, mother? Lady Denison. (plaintively) What docs she mean? Margery. Would it help hitn if I broke it off? Mrs. Eversleigh. Tck! Who ever heard of marrying a man to help him. Margery. Why not, Aunt Emily? Mr. Hyl- 80 THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. ton always sa3's the only real way of helping people is to love them. And if one loves people of course one should marry them. Mrs. Eversleigh. Loves them ! So that's it, is it ! You're not marrying Mr. Verreker because you want to help him but because you've fallen in love with him. And you ought to be ashamed of yourself. Margery. Of course I love Hugh. What is there to be ashamed of in that? Mrs. Eversleigh. (angrily) Is there nothing to be ashamed of in wanting to marry a worthless man knowing him to be worthless? You have heard of men marrying worthless women I sup- pose? Nobody thinks they^re performing a moral duty and setting an example to their fellows. On the contrary we think them weak or vicious. What you are doing is exactly what they do. Only they have the grace not to talk morality about it. Margery. I don't expect you to understand, Aunt Emily. You never do like the way mother and I look at things, do you? Lady Denison. (plaintively) Oh, don't bring me into this, please. Margery. Very well, mother. But I did think you would be on my side. And Mr. Hylton. I love Hugh and I want to help him. There's nothing strange in that is there? When one wants to help people one always does get to love them. That's the splendid thing about helping people, (pause) Mrs. Eversleigh. Well, there's no use argu- THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN At HOME. 8l ing with Margery while she's like this. She evi- dently has no moral sense whatever! Lady Denison. Mr. Verreker, I appeal to you. You see what Margery is doing. Release her from this engagement She is merely sacrificing her- self from a fantastic sense of duty. Verreker. {icith dangerous politeness) Surely not? If so I have gravely misunderstood Mrs. Eversleigh. I thought it was Margery's fan- tastic sense of affection she objected to? Margery. Hugh dear! Mrs. Eversleigh. If you are going to insult me, Mr. Verreker. ... ! Verreker. I really beg your pardon. Perhaps I oughtn't to have said that. But some not very pleasant things have been said about me, haven't they? Mrs. Eversleigh. And with reason. A man of your antecedents has no right to propose to the daughter of the house in which he is staying. It is taking advantage of her inexperience. It is dishonourable. Verreker. Is that so? Then I'm probably rather lacking in the finer sense about these things. . . But I suppose everyone is inclined to find excuses for his own misdeeds while remaining inflexibly severe towards his neighbours'. That's the foundation of all morality, isn't it, Hylton? Mrs. Eversleigh. I should have thought steal- ing. . . ! Verreker. Yes. Stealing's an ugly word, isn't it? It even makes me uncomfortable. . . And yet if you understood the whole circum- S2 THE CHAnifY That Began at home. stances you might take a more lenient view. But that of course would be a very bad thing for morality. So no doubt you'd rather not. Hylton. Lady Denison, if Mr. Verreker has anything to tell you that will put a more favor- able light on the General's story. . . . Verreker. The General's? So he told you? Lady Denison. He heard it from Colonel Nicholson who commands your old regiment. Verreker. Yes, yes. I remember. He said he was writing to him. Poor General, so he really has been able to finish a story for once! Hylton. I was going to say that it would be only fair to give Mr. Verreker every chance of defending himself. Verreker. Oh I don't think it amounts to a defence. Merely a statement of the case frecn the person who knows most about it — the criminal as Mrs. Eversleigh would say. — I was an extrava- gant young fool. The regiment w^as an expensive one. I had a small allowance. I had lost money over cards — and other things — to richer men than I was — who by the way ought never to have played with me at all. Like an idiot I thought I must pay my debts to them whatever happened. You know the nonsense that is talked about a debt of honour. To do that I used money belonging to the mess which happened to be in my hands. Of course I hoped to pay it back at once or I shouldn't have done it. Equally of course I failed to do so. The horse that was simply bound to win lost and I played cards for a whole week and never held a trump. The usual thing. When THE CHARITY THAT BECIAN AT HOME. 83 things were pretty desperate I cabled to Uncle Montague — I was in India at the time — asking him to send me a hundred pounds by return. Of course I lied to him about the reason. Everybody does lie I suppose about that sort of reason. I said I owed it to tailors and people I remember. Naturally Uncle Mont didn't see the force of sending me a hundred pounds without haggling about it. Uncles always do haggle about money, I believe. At least mine do. So Uncle Mont haggled and like a young ass instead of going straight to the Colonel or the money-lenders I faked the accounts. It was purely a temporary expedient. I knew the money would turn up in a week or two. It was merely a question of gain- ing time. But as luck would have it someone with an elementary knowledge of arithmetic hap- pened to glance at the accounts. He spotted some- thing was wrong and told the others and instead of coming to me they went to the Colonel. The Colonel sent for me and there was no end of a row. I tried to make him understand but he couldn't. The stupidity of military men has been proverbial in all ages. I'm a bit of a fool myself as you will have noticed. He stormed and I was sulky. My borrowing the money intending to repay it he could just understand but faking the accounts to conceal the fact was beyond him. Though it was the logical consequence of the other if the thing was to be kept dark. When the fat was in the fire Uncle Mont's cheque turned up. But by that time we'd all lost our tempers, 84 THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN At HOMfi. the Colonel was prancing round about the honour of the Regiment, and I had to send in mv papers. Hylton. (half to himself) Poor fellow. Verreker. Eh? Hylton. Nothing. Margery, {triumphant) Mr. Hjlton I knew you'd understand. Thank you. (pause) Mrs. Eversleigh. (acidly) Well Mr. Verre- ker you've made out a very clever case and you've put it very glibly. It must have taken you some time to prepare. Verreker. Just four years, Mrs. Eversleigh. It happened four years ago and I've not had much else to think of since. It was a confoundedly silly thing to do as I said and I've been w^onder- ing ever since how I came to do it. The result of my consideration is the story I've told you. I don't ask you to believe it of course. But it's quite true. Hylton. / believe it, Verreker. And I'm more sorry for you than I can say. If I've said any- thing that was harsh or unjustifiable please for- give me. Verreker. Not at all, my dear fellow. Lady Denison. It's all dreadfully sad, Mr. Verreker. I see that. But still it doesn't alter the facts, does it? You have had to leave the army. Your reputation is ruined. And that makes you not a fit husband for Margery. Verreker. I feel that. Lady Denison. Margery. Hugh ! Mrs. Eversleigh. Then why did you propose to her? THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. 85 Verreker. (shrugs) A sudden impulse I suppose. That's how most people propose isn't it? If they stopped to think they'd think better of it, and then no one would ever marry at all. Which would perhaps be the wisest plan for all parties. Lady Denison. Still in your case you must admit there were special reasons? Verreker. I don't know. How many men are fit husbands for the girls they marry? One in a hundred? One in a thousand? Girls are so ridiculously innocent. And men are so ridicu- lously depraved. I'm not so very much worse than the others. Only I was stupider. And that ruined me. But it was four years ago. And I'm not likely to do it again. A man doesn't play the fool like that twice. One pays too dear for if. Considered as a husband I'm probably the better for the experience. I've learnt by it. (pause) Lady Denison. Mr. Verreker, what you say is quite true and I daresay you're not really worse than many men, though the world judges things like this more hardly than other things. But we are in the world and we must accept its judg- ment as we cannot alter it. If you marry Mar- gery she will have to suffer for what you have done. I don't think you want her to do that. Be generous and release her from her promise. Verreker. My dear Lady Denison I put my- self entirely in Margery's hands. If she wishes to end our engagement she is absolutely free to do so. I assert no claim over her whatever. I agree with you that she would only be acting 86 THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. wisely to break it off and I sha'n't dream of blam- ing her if she does so. But you mustn't ask me to break it off. A man can't do that. But if Margery wants her freedom she has only to speak. Hylton. (enthusiastic) That's fine of you, Verreker. That's noble on my soul. You really are a good fellow. I know what it must cost you to give up a girl like Miss Denion. I honour you for it. (Holds out hand) Verreker. (taking it) Thanks, my dear chap. But you mustn't be too precipitate. I haven't given her up yet. Margery hasn't spoken. Lady Denison. Margery dear you will break it off? Margery. No, mother. As long as Hugh wants me I shall stand by him. Lady Denison. Then you don't love your mother. (Margery runs impulsively to her mother and kisses her.) Margery. Of course I love you, mother dear. But I love Hugh too. (pause) Mrs. Eversleigh. Well, I suppose there's no more to be said. If Margery is determined to ruin herself nobody can prevent her. You of course will continue to forbid the engagement, Muriel, but Margery is of age and if she chooses to defy you and marry this Mr. Verreker she can do so. But in that case I hope you will en- tirely refuse to make her any allowance and in fact will disinherit her. Lady Denison. What nonsense, Emily. Of THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. 87 course Margery must have an allowance. What else is she to live on? Especially as I suppose Mr. Verreker has nothing? Verreker. Next to nothing. Lady Denison. Very well then. Naturally I shall have to help them. x4nd as for disinherit- ing her that's impossible even if it were just, as I*ve no other children. No, Margery must be pro- vided for in any case. I'm sorry she is unwilling to do as I wish and I think this engagement ter- ribly unwise and unsuitable. But I suppose she's very fond of Hugh just as I was very fond of Charlie — before I married him. And so she must do as she likes. (Mrs. Eversleigh gives up the struggle in de- spair and opens her hook again with a shrug.) Margery. Darling mother! {embraces her) Now you're being like yourself again instead of being like Aunt Emily — which doesn't suit you one bit. I always knew you'd agree with me really — and Mr. Hylton — though you took rather longer than I expected. Hugh, give mother a kiss like a dutiful son-in-law and say you think her the best woman in the world. Verreker. {drily) I think I'll spare poor Lady Denjson that. She's had a great deal to put up with during the past hour. Margery. Poor mother, I suppose she has. Verreker. I hope however later on she'll get more reconciled to things. She can't really dis- like me as much as she thinks, otherwise she wouldn't have asked me here. 88 THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. (Mrs. Eversleigh closes her hook deliberately with a smile of malicious satisfaction.) Mrs. Eversleigh. {with hitter politeness) Vm afraid I really must disabuse you of that idea, Mr. Verreker. My sister-in-law has curious views of hospitality. She doesn't ask people to her house because she likes them or thinks them pleasant acquaintances, but because they are dis- agreeable or disreputable or haven't anywhere else to go. It's a new form of philanthropy. Mr. Hylton invented it. (Verreker hursts into a shout of delighted laugh- ter.) (icily) You seem amused. Verreker. I am. How delicious! So that's why I was invited ! Because I was down on my luck and wasn't asked to many houses. And I thought it was because of my delightful society. Mrs. Eversleigh. (venomously) You were certainly strangely mistaken. Verreker. (laughing again) So it seems. And that explains why all these other people are here I suppose? I thought they were rather a damaged lot. Old Bonsor, Miss Triggs, Firket, that appalling Mrs. Horrocks, Hylton, who's an excellent chap but quite mad. And you too, I dare say, Mrs. Eversleigh. . . . ? Mrs. Eversleigh. I, sir! Certainly not! I am here because I am Lady Denison's sister-in- law. Verreker. That's no reason. Lots of people THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME, 89 hate their sisters-in-law. 1 know 1 simply loathe my brothers. Mrs. Eversleigh. I am glad to think that Lady Denison is unlike you in that as in every respect. Lady Denison. Of course, Emily. I asked you because I like to have you here. And Mr. Hylton too. I must invite the people I like oc- casionally. Verreker. I see. Well, Lady Denison, I think it's a splendid idea of yours, far more amusing than the ordinary way of inviting people. And the more dreadful they are the more amus- ing it must be. Margery and I must certainly take to it when we have a house. Lady Denison. I don't see anything amusing in it, Mr. Verreker. In fact it's often extremely unpleasant and leads to most regrettable com- plications. Verreker. Such as my getting engaged to Margery? Mrs. Eversleigh. (acidly) That among other things. Verreker. Do none of them know? Lady Denison. No. Verreker. Why not? They'd be awfully amused. (General is heard approaching window r. c. hum- ming a song.) By Jove, here is the General. I must tell him. Lady Denison. Please ! Please ! Verreker. Yes I must. I owe him one for % THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. telling jou all that about me. You owe him one too. He's given jou a most uncomfortable after- noon. {Enter General r. c.) General Bonsor. {taking out watch) Isn't it tea time, Lady Denison? I think so. Verreker. Long past. I say, General, why have you been telling tales about me to Lady Denison? General Bonsor. {gohhling) If it comes to my knowledge, sir, that a man who is staying in a lady's house with me is not a person whom otJier people wish to meet I make it a rule to in- form my hostess of the fact. Verreker. {heartily) And a very good rule too. Only Lady Denison doesn't ask people to her house whom other people wish to meet. It's against her principles. Lady Denison. {protesting) Mr. Verreker! General Bonsor. {gobbling again) Upon my word, Sir ! (Mrs. Horrocks and Miss Triggs enter unnoticed L. c. and stand listening.) Verreker. Lady Denison selects her visitors on philanthropic grounds — because they're dis- agreeable or disreputable or merely boring. It's a form of self-denial with her. That's why she asked you. That's why she asked me. That^s why she asked all of us. General Bonsor. What! Mrs. Horrocks. What! ! ! * Verreker. {seeing Mrs. Horrocks for the THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. 91 first time. To himself) Good Heavens! Mrs. Horrocks ! Mrs. Horrocks. (with aivful dignity) Yes, Sir, Mrs. Horrocks. Miss Triggs and I returned from our walk just in time to hear your extra- ordinary statement, (bleat from Miss Triggs) May I ask what truth, if any, it contains? Verreker. Really, Mrs. Horrocks, I'm very sorry you should have heard what I said. . . . Mrs. Horrocks. [sternly) Is it true, sir? (Verreker makes hopeless gesture, hut says noth- ing) Lady Denison, perhaps you will inform me? General Bonsor. (more in sorrow than in an- ger) Why was I invited here. Lady Denison? Miss Triggs. And I? Lady Denison. (completely flustered) I never meant you to know. I never meant Mr. Verreker to know. It's very unfortunate. Please accept my apologies all of you. I'm most dis- tressed this should have happened. Mrs. Horrocks. Then it is true! Miss Triggs. Really ! Lady Denison. (meekly)' I don't think Mr. Verreker need have told the General. It was most inconsiderate of him. But I hope you won't hold mc responsible. Miss Triggs. (icily) Will you kindly order the carriage to take me to the station, Lady Den- ison? I shall leave by the six o'clock train. Mrs. Horrocks. Of course you will not expect me to remain. General Bonsor. Nor me! Boring! Lady Denison. (much distressed) Oh need 92 THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. you all go like that? After all there's nothing so very dreadful in what you've heard. It was Mr. Hylton's idea. Miss Triggs. That dissenting person! I al- ways felt he was an impostor. He tried to make me believe he was a clergyman I remember. Lady Denison. He meant it kindly. We all meant it kindly. Mrs. Horrocks. Lady Denison, if you cannot understand how insulting this is to me I cannot make you do so. But I should have thought, con- sidering my birth and connections, I might have claimed a somewhat different treatment. The carriage please for the six o'clock train. (Stceeps out l.) Miss Triggs. And will you please send some tea to my room. I shall not come down again before 1 leave. {Exit L.) General Bonsor. Boring! {Exit L.) Mrs. Eversleigh. This, Muriel, is what comes of beginning one's Charity at Home! CURTAIN. THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. 93 ACT IV. Scene. — The Dining-room at Priors Ashton. A week has passed since Act III. There is a round dining-tahle about c. round which are sitting at dessei't Lady Denison, Yerreker, Margery, Hylton and Mrs. Eversleigh. Lady Denison faces the audience. The rest sit each on the other's right in the order given above. There is a side-board l. c. A door to Mtchen regions up r. The double doors to hall are down L. There is a large window, curtained up L. and another r. c. The big fireplace is r. tcith armchairs on either side of it. The room is lighted by electric lights on the walls but there are also shaded candles in silver candlesticks on the table. Silver cigar box on mantelpiece. When curtain rises Willi a ai is handing fruit. William, {to Mrs. Eversleigh) Grapes, madam? Mrs. Eversleigh. (taking some) What fine grapes you have this year, Muriel ! (William hands to others.) Margery. Aren't they? I took some to old Biddy Porter to-day. She's been ill. Mrs. Eversleigh. Who is old Biddy Porter? 94 THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. Margery. She lives at Ashton Parva, in one of those little houses before you get to the church. And she's had influenza so I thought it would be nice to take her some grapes. She was so pleased. Verreker. ( grimly) The gardener wasn't. Margery. No. Poor Thomson. He's so funny about the fruit. He seems to think we grow it entirely for ourselves. He's quite angry when I give any of it away. He doesn't even like my sending any to the cottage hospital. Lady Denison. You will be careful with Thomson, won't you, Margery. He's so easily offended. I remember last year when you took all the early peaches to the Workhoyse infirmary just before we were giving some dinner parties he nearly gave warning. And I don't want to lose him. He's such an excellent gardener. (William having finished his duties goes out r.) Mrs. Eversleigh. The new butler hasn't come yet? Lady Denison. No. We expect him to-mor- row. I do hope he'll be a success. He has the highest references. Mrs. Eversleigh. That must be very distress- ing to Mr. Hylton. Margery. Aunt Emily you're not to scratch Mr. Hylton. He's been working at proofs all day and now he wants a rest. Verreker. Lucky chap! Margery. What do you mean? Verreker. To have you prescribing rest for him. You don't prescribe much rest for me! THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. 95 Lady Denison. Has Margery been workng you very hard, Hugh? Margery. Of course not mother. Hugh's only talking nonsense. Verreker. Am I! Just you listen. This morning I left some soup with Mrs. Green while Margery was taking Biddy Porter her grapes. She stopped the carriage at Mrs. Green's and dropped me there. It was nearly half an hour before she came back for me and I had to hear the history of every disease from which the old lady had ever suffered and to look at her bad leg. Mrs. Eversleigh. Really, Mr. Verreker! Verreker. Arm, then. I know it was some part of her poor old body though I couldn't recognize it. It was quite disgusting. I should have gone away only Mrs. Green lives four miles from here and I hate walking when its hot. How- ever the carriage came back at last and then we drove on to the church which Margery is decorat- ing for some reason or other. I think because the harvest has failed. There I sat in a pew and made a wreath of mangel-wurzels to adorn the font. Margery. Not mangel-wurzels. Verreker. Well, some kind of vegetable. We got back to lunch at last — late of course. The wreath took so long. And in the afternoon — after a brief interval of repose — I wrote letters on behalf of a certain Mary Gamage who wants to get into an orphanage at Basingstoke — which seems an odd taste. I wrote twenty-five of them. 9G THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. Margery. Only after you'd been coaxed for a whole quarter of an hour. You were quite cross about it and said you weren't a galley slave. Verreker. Well, I was wrong. Margery. You were very disagreeable. Verreker. I know. I hoped we were going to quarrel. But you wouldn't. That's the worst of Margery. She never will quarrel. Hylton. It's a good fault. Verreker. Is it! However I wrote twenty- five letters on behalf of Mary Gamage as I said. And I've got seventy-five still to do. They were to ask subscribers to the orphanage for their votes. I gather some five hundred other people are busily engaged in writing the same number of letters on behalf of their orphans and the sub- scribers in common politeness will have to write to the whole five hundred of us to say they have given their votes to the 501st. They can only vote once. The mere expenditure in postage stamps would suffice to endow another orphanage, not to speak of the waste of my time and their's. Moreover I'm given to understand that this ritual is gone through every time the orphanage has a vacancy and that there are more than a hundred orphanages similarly conducted in this distracted country. Who ever heard of such tomfoolery ! Margery. It is troublesome of course. But I don't see how else you could settle whom to let in. There are so many orphans. Verreker. You could put the names in a hat, shake it and take the one that fell out first. Lady Denison. But would people subscribe to orphanages if they didn't get a vote? THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. 97 VerreevER. What on earth do they want votes for? Lady Denison. In order that their orphans may get in instead of the others. Verreker. Another illusion gone! I used to think charitable people gave their money because they were genuinely anxious to do good. I now find on the highest authority that they do it to keep out each other's orphans. Margery I won't write another letter. Margery. Oh, Hugh, how horrid of you. If you don't / shall have to do them and you said you would. Verreker. Very well, I suppose I must as I said so. But my faith in charity is shattered. Nothing survives a closer acquaintance. Not even orphanages. Margery. How absurd you are, Hugh. You know you only talk like that because you think it will shock us. And it doesn't shock us one bit. We only think it silly. Verreker. As you please, dear. But if that's the only way in which orphans can be kept alive I think you'd better drown them — and I've been an orphan myself. Lady Denison. Do you mind talking about something else for a moment Hugh? I think I hear William with the coffee and he mightn't like it. (William enters r. and hands coffee.) Hylton. (to Mrs. Eversleigh) Did you get as far as Croome this afternoon, Mrs. Eversleigh ? 9S THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. Mrs. Eversleigh. Yes. Poor Lady Seath- waite is still in bed. But the doctor says she may be able to come down on Monday. Verreker. What's the matter with Lady Seathwaite? (Mrs. Eversleigh ignores him.) Lady Denison. She has a bad attack of gout. She has it every autumn. Verreker. I see. Over-eats herself. Mrs. Eversleigh. Mr. Verreker will you kindly remember that Lady Seathwaite is a friend of mine? And that I do not care to hear her insulted? Verreker. I'd no intention of insulting her, Mrs. Eversleigh. It was only a suggestion to account for her indisposition. Mrs. Eversleigh. A most uncalled-for sugges- tion. Verreker. Very well. I withdraw it. I dare- say she eats too little and suffers from poverty of the blood. Margery shall drive me over to- morrow afternoon and we'll ask her which it is. Margery. Hugh, Hugh, you're not to laugh at Aunt Emily. She doesn't like it. And we can't possibly go over to-morrow afternoon because you're coming with me to tea at the Vicarage. Verreker. Let's skip the tea. Margery. Certainly not. The Willises would be dreadfully hurt if we didn't go. And its so unkind to disappoint people. {The electric light suddenly goes out, leaving only the candles on the table alight.) THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. 99 Mrs. Eversleigh. Good Heavens! What's that? Lady Denison. (calmly) Only the electric light, Emily. Mrs. Eversleigh. Only the electric light! Lady Denison. It does happen sometimes. You see Basset, who looks after the dynamo, isn't really an electrician. He was a footman. Mrs. Eversleigh. Then why does he look after the dynamo? Lady Denison. Well, he was out of a place — Mrs. Eversleigh. Muriel ! Lady Denison. What's the matter now, Em- ily? Nothing else has happened, has it? He was out of a place as I said. He had been second footman at the Fox-Wilkinsons' at Abbots Ashton. But I'm afraid he sometimes took more to drink than was good for him. At last he was found one day after luncheon in the dining-room quite intoxicated. So they had to send him away. When Margery heard of it she wanted to have him here — under Soames. But Soames didn't seem to like the idea. He was quite indignant about it in fact. So as the electric light was being put in just then Margery said that Basset could be taught to look after the engine. But he's not very skilful as yet so the light sometimes goes out for hours at a time. I hope it isn't going to to- night. {The light comes on again, goes out, comes on. Finally remains steady.) That's better Now it's gone again. . . . That's right! 100 THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. Mrs. Eversleigh. {acidly) I thought you had given up engaging your servants on altruis- tic principles, Muriel? Lady Denison. So I have. But I couldn't send Basset aicay, could I? T don't think he could get another place. And besides he's really wonderfully improved. He hardly ever takes too much now. Shall we go? (rises) (Lady Denison, Mrs. Eversleigh^ and Margery go out L. Fylton holding open door. Verre- KER strolls to fireplace and leans against man- telpiece, stretches himself. Hylton moves to Lady Denison^s seat.) Verreker. Lady Denison is the most absurd person in the world. Hylton. Is she? Verreker. Yes. But good people always are more or less absurd, aren't they? Hylton. {smiling) The children of this world are wiser than the children of light cer- tainly. Verreker. Exactly. And she'll never learn wisdom now, poor lady. She's listened to you too long. She'll never get the poison out of her sys- tem. Hylton. She dimissed Soames. Verreker. But keeps Basset. You've won after all. Cigar? {brings silver hox from man- telpiece) Hylton Thanks, {they light up) Verreker. Poor Mrs. Eversleigh ! How she THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. 101 loathes me! She'll never forgive me for having proposed to Margery. Hylton. It doesn't matter. YouVe Lady Den- ison on your side. Verreker. Thanks to you. Hylton. I don't think /'d much to do with it. Verreker. I know better. If it hadn't been for you Lady Denison would be still unreconciled. I've no illusions on that point. Hylton. Miss Denison would have made your peace for you. Verreker. Yes. Margery has been a brick all through. She always would be. But you backed her up. I wonder why. {pause) Why w^as it? Hylton. {hesitates) Perhaps I felt I owed you some amends for the way I behaved when I first heard of your engagement. Verreker. I don't know. Your attitude was a perfectly reasonable one. It was a most rid- iculous engagement for Margery. Is in fact. Hylton. Oh no. Verreker. Oh yes. I am a young man with a discreditable past and no future. Margery will have a good deal of money one day. Considered as a match for her its preposterous. Hylton. {shrugs) I wasn't thinking of money. Verreker. You never are, my dear fellow. Hylton. {laughing) Besides you won't be able to squander Miss Denison's money even if you want to. It'll all be tied up strictly in trust. Verreker. Yes — I shall be like a dog with a 102 THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT* HOME. biscuit perpetually on his nose and nobody ever saying " paid for." Hylton. (laughing) Something like that. Verreker. However I didn't propose to Mar- gery for her money, so I don't know that that matters. Hylton. Of course not. You proposed to her because you loved her. Because you couldn't help seeing how good and unselfish and noble she is. Verreker. (raises his eyebrows.) Hylton. (enthusiastic) No one could help loving Miss Denison. She has all sweet and love- able qualities. She is the most wonderfully good woman I've ever known. Verreker. Yes. — It's a great pity. Hylton. What do you mean? Verreker. People really ought to have some redeeming vices, don't you think? But Margery's quite impeccable, poor dear. I remember I spoke to her about it before I ever thought of proposing to her. Hylton. Scoffer ! Verreker. Not at all Margery's simply riddled with philanthrophy and unselfishness and the Devil knows what. / call it morbid. I don't believe she ever thinks of herself at all. I've never known anyone like her before. I don't believe there is anyone like her. Hylton. (quite simply) Miss Denison has a curiously perfect character. Verreker. That's what worries me. Hylton. Tck ! t-HE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. 103 Verreker. It^s all very well for you, Hylton. YouVe not got to live up to it. And if you had I daresay you wouldn't mind. You're a bit of a saint yourself. But for a healthy easy-going mortal like me it's rather alarming. Hylton. You'll get used to it. Verreker. You think so? • Hylton. Yes — with Miss Denison's help. Why she's helped you already more than you realize. You're a different man from what you were a week ago. Verreker. I know. That's what's so annoy- ing. Fancy me distributing soup to old ladies and soliciting votes for a blighted orphan! It's simply disgusting. Hylton. Nonsense, my dear fellow. You like it really, you know. Verreker. I beg your pardon ! My whole soul — I think that's what you call it? — revolts against it. But I do it. That's the miracle. — And I did think the age of miracles was past ! Hylton. {enthusiastic) The age of miracles will never pass while there are men and women like Miss Denison iu the world ! (Pause.) Verreker. (looking at him keenly) You're a queer chap, Hylton. Hylton. Why ? Verreker. Nothing. . . . Hylton. Yes. Faith can move mountains, now as always. And Miss Denison has faith, faith in goodness and in truth and in self-surrender. She'll convert you yet. 104 THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. Verreker. {firmly) No! Hylton. She will. You laugh at Altruism now. In a year you'll be an altruist yourself. And it's your marriage that will have done it. Verreker. So that^s why you approve of this absurd marriage. Hylton. Yes: It's to save a soul. Verreker. More philanthropy ! Hylton. (nods) More philanthrophy. This marriage is going to be the making of you. It will help you to find yourself. Your true self. Verreker. (sardonically) I should have thought I'd managed that. Hylton. You're wrong. Your real self is not the healthy easy-going person you talk of. It's the strong, self-restrained, self-denying man, Miss Denison will put in his place. There's nothing the love of a really good woman can't do for a man. It brings out all that is fine in his nature and drives out all that is base. That is what your marriage will do for you! Verreker. The deuce it will ! Hylton. {collapsing from his enthusiasm un- der this cold douche) But I must apologise for talking to you like this. I'm afraid it bores you. Verreker. Not a bit. I like it. Hylton. {shaking his head) No. Verreker. Yes, I do. In fact I'm rather in- terested in the Psychology of Benevolence just now. Please go on. Hylton. (laughing) "Not to-night. Besides we ought to be moving, (rises) Verreker. Perhaps so. (rises, pause) Will THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. 105 Margery always be as good as she is now, do you suppose ? Hilton, {unhesitatingly) I'll stake my life on it. Verreker. No chance of her outgrowing it? Hylton. None ! Verreker. Ah ! I hoped she might Well, Hylton, I'm glad to have had this chat with you. You reall}' are a good chap' you know. And if you can go on being friends with a sweep like me I shall be grateful. Hylton. I think I shall manage that. .Verreker. {half to himself) I'm not so sure. {Enter Margery l.) Margery. You rude people! You've stayed much too long over your cigars. How is poor William to clear away? Verreker. Can't he do that to-morrow morn- ing? Margery. That shows how much you know about managing a household! Hylton. We were just coming, Miss Denison. Margery. You're too late now. Mother's gone to bed. She's tired. And Aunt Emily's going too. She's cross. And so am I. I'm offended. Verreker. Stay five minutes. Sit down here. Margery. No ! Verreker. Yes. {puts her gently in his own chair. He sits on arm of armchair) And give me a cigarette. Margery. Ought you to smoke any more? Verreker. No. But I will, {does so) 106 THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. Margery. I've been getting some more letters done for Mary Gamage. Verreker. That infernal orphan ! Margery. Hush! So you won't have quite seventy-five more to write. Verreker. Thank heaven ! Margery. I think you might get up and do a few before breakfast to-morrow, just to show your gratitude? I'll help. I should like to get them all off before we go to the Vicarage. Verreker. Margery, I refuse! Margery. Very well. But you're very foolish. Before breakfast is the nicest part of the day at this time of year. You lazy people who don't come down till half-past nine don't know what you're missing. Verreker. We'll take your word for it. Margery. Will you come to tea at the Mack- worths' on Friday, Mr. Hylton? Hylton. Certainly if you like. Margery. You must come too, Hugh. Verreker. All right. Who are the Mack- worths? Margery. They live in a funny little house in the village. Old Mrs. Mackworth's very deaf and he can't hear much either so they don't have many visitors. It's so tiring talking to deaf people, isn't it? One has to shout so. But I always try to go at least once when we're down here. It cheers them up I think. I'm glad you're both coming. (Verreker groans. She rises.) And now I really must go to bed. Good-night. THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. 107 Verreker. No. Stop a bit longer. Margery. Can't. Verreker. Yes, you can. Just till I've fin- ished this. Besides I've something rather par- ticular to say to you. Hylton. {rising) In that case perhaps I'd better retire to the library. Verreker. Do. I'll be with you in two minutes. {Exit Hylton l. Pause.) Margery. Well? What is this important thing you've got to say to me? Verreker. I'll tell you. {jmuse. Looks at her fixedly for a moment or two) By Jove, you are pretty, Margery. Margery. I don't think that's very important. Verreker. Then you're very much mistaken! . . . However that's not what I had to say. (pause) Margery, I want you to break off our en- gagement. Margery. Hugh ! Verreker. My dear, I don't like saying it and I hope you don't like hearing it — though I don't want it to hurt you too much either. But I've been thinking things over and I'm quite sure we two oughtn't to marry. Margery. Why not? Verreker. For lots of reasons. I'm not good enough for you, Margery, and that's the long and short of it. Margery. What nonsense! Verreker. It's not nonsense at all unfortu- 108 THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. nately. It's a painful truth. Mrs. Eversleigh was right. I ought never to have proposed to you. Margery, [sadly] Do you mean you don't love me, Hugh, as you thought you did? Verreker. No. I don't mean that. I love you as much as ever, more perhaps, now that I'm go- ing to lose you. But on every ground except love I'm quite unfit to marry you. Margery. Surely love is enough? Verreker. No, it isn't. Margery, let's face facts and not shirk them as everyone else seems to do. Marriage isn't a thing to be romantic about. It lasts too long. Margery. Hugh ! Verreker. My dear, it may last forty years. Surely that's long enough in all conscience. Very well then. As one marries for a long time one should choose carefully, reasonably. One mustn't be carried away by passion. Passion's a great thing in marriage but commonsense is a greater. Now what sort of a life should we make of it to- gether if we married, you and I ? Why, my dear, we've not an idea or a taste in common. Every- thing you say makes me laugh and almost every- thing I think would make you blush. It's simply absurd for a girl like you to marry a fellow like me. Let's say so franky and end it. Margery, (puzzled) But, Hugh, you liked being engaged to me at first, didn't you? Why have you changed your mind? Have / done any- thing? Verreker. No, dear. You've been absolutely sweet and good, as you always would be. Only you're too good and that's all about it. THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. 109 Margery. Now you're laughing at me. Verreker. I never was further from laughter in my life. I say you're too good and I mean it. You look on life as a moral discipline. I look on it as a means to enjoyment. You think only of doing what you imagine to be right. I think only of getting what I know to be pleasant. They call it incompatibility of temper in the Law Courts, I believe. Margery. I don't understand you, Hugh. Sometimes you seem quite serious 'and then you say something horrid that spoils it all. Verreker. I know, dear. You don't under- stand me and it's just as well you don't. But that makes the idea of marriage between us rather ridiculous, doesn't it? The sort of man you ought to marry is Hylton — who by the way is over head and ears in love with you. You should have heard his eulogies over you ten minutes ago. He was simply lyrical ! Yes, you must marry Hylton. Will you? Margery, [half laughing, half crying) I am still engaged to you, dear, so far. Verreker. I'll release you. And you really will be happy with Hylton. He's a first-rate chap. Promise me that when you've stopped mourning for me, — say in about a fortnight's time — you'll seriously consider the possibilities of Hylton. Margery. Are you really heartless, Hugh, or do you only pretend to be? Verreker. I don't know. Ask Hylton. Margery, (sadly) I thought we'd been so happy together since we've been engaged. no THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. Verreker. (heartily) So we have, dear — in spite of Mary Gamage. But then we've only been engaged a week. And I feel years older for it. Margery, (hurt) Seriously, Hugh? Verreker. I'm serious enough. You think everybody can be as self-denying as you are, Margery. You're wrong. Some people are born self-denying just as other people are born self- indulgent. I belong to the latter variety. Margery. But you may change? Verreker. "Men don't change^ Margery. They repent but they don't reform. And so our engage- ment has been a mistake. It's my fault I know. I ought to have thought of all this before I asked you to marry me. But you were so pretty and — w^ell I didn't. Will you forgive me? Margery. Of course I forgive you, Hugh. It's not your fault. You thought you loved me and you asked me to marry you. Now you find you don't and you ask me to release you. You've been quite kind and straight-forward. There's nothing to forgive. Verreker. My dear, my dear, it's not that. I loved you before. I love you still. I believe I shall always love you — so long as I don't marry you. But married we should be miserable. Margery, [gently) I don't think I should be miserable. Verreker. (hrisJdy) I know / should. At first I should be as unselfish as the deuce just to oblige you. But after a bit I shouldn't be able to stand it and I should strike. And then you'd be disappointed and I should be disagreeable and THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. Ill our marriage would become a tragedy. I don't want that to happen. Vd rather you found me out now while you're still fond of me than later when you had come to hate me. Margery. I should never hate you, Hugh. Verreker. You couldn't help yourself, my dear. An unhappy marriage would demoralize even you. They say some forms of suffering ennoble people, and putting up with what one doesn't like is supposed to be good for the character — though I'm sure I don't know why. But an unhappy mar- riage never ennobled man or woman. It makes them peevish and unreasonable. It sours their tempers and ruins their digestions. Mi/ parents didn't get on together, and I know. If the par- sons cared two straws about morality instead of thinking only of their dogmas, they'd make divorc- ing one's wife as easy as dismissing one's cook. Easier. Margery. Hugh ! Verreker. They would! When married peo- ple don't hit it off they jar. There's no middle course. And when the jarring has gone on for a certain length of time it gets past bearing. Hu- man nerves won't stand it. Nothing will enable them to stand it. Not love, nor religion, nor all the seven deadly virtues. Socrates was a good man but he made his wife pretty unhappy. Margery, [sadly) And you think I should make you unhappy? Verreker. (hrisldy) I'm sure of it. So let's behave accordingly. (rising) Come Margery, say you release me and get it over. 112 THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN AT HOME. Margery, (slowly) Very well. If you really wish it . . . you're sure you do wish it? Verreker. Quite. Thanks, dear. You've be haved like a trump as you always do. And I think I must kiss you good-bye. (does so ten- derly) Don't say anything to the others till after I've left. I rather dread Mrs. Eversleigh's unconcealed satisfaction. I shall go to-morrov/. Margery. Very well. If you'd rather not. Verreker. (looking at her half ironically) I'm afraid you think I've been a selfish beast about this? Margery, (wistfully) A little selfish, per- haps. Verreker. You're wrong. For the first and I hope the last time in my life I've done an unselfish action. I'm a pauper, you know, and you're some- thing of an heiress. And I've given you up with- out compensation. It's rather to my credit. Margery. Only because you wouldn't be happy. Verreker. No. Because yoti wouldn't be happy. / should have been all right. But I had to put it the other way or you wouldn't have let me go. / should have given up philanthrophy after the first six weeks and had no end of a good time. But you'd have been wretched. We've done the right thing, (rising) And you won't forget about Hylton will you? Shall we go in? (he goes l. and opens door for her. They go out as curtain falls) CURTAIN. SEND FOR A NEW 1 DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. {Frenches Standard Drama Continued from 2d page of Cover.) VOL. XLI. 321 The Pirate's Leescy Z'i-2 The Chjireoal Burner 3*i3 Adelgitba 3'24 Senor Valiunte 8'i5 Forest Rose 3S8 Duke's Daughter 3^1 Camilla's Husband 328 Pure Gold VOL. XLII. 32» Ticket ol Leave Man 330 Fooi's Revenge 331 O'Neil the Great 332 Handy Andy 3;« Pirate of the Isles 33* f anchon 335 Little Barefoot 336 Wild Irish Girl VOL. XLIIL SST Pearl of Savoy 3.iii Dead Heart 339 Ten Nighu in a Bar-room 340 Dumb Boy of Manchester 341 Belphegof theMounteb'k 3+2 Cricket on the Hearth 343 Printer's Devil 844 Meg's Diversion VOL. XLIV. ;545 Drunkard's Doom 346 Chininey Corner H-, Fifteen Yearsof a Drunk- 348 No Thoroughfare fard's 349 Peep O' Day l_Life 350 Everybody's Friend 351 Gen. Grant 362 Katlileeu Mavoumoeh VOL. XLV. 363 Nick Whiffles 354 Fruits of the Wine Cup 355 Drunkard's Warning 356 Temperance Doctor 357 Aunt Dinah. ■.ibS Widow Freeheart 359 Frou Frou 360 Long Strike VOL. XLVr. 361 Lancers 36i Lu. ille 363 Randall's Thumb 364 Wicked World 365 Two Orphans 366 Ciilleen Bawn .%7 'Twixt Axe and Crown 363 Lady Clancarthy VOL. XLVIL 369 Saratoga 370 Never Too Late to Mend 371 Lily of France 372 Led Astray 373 Henry V 374 Unequal Match i75 May or Dolly's Delui 376 AUatoona VOL. XLVin. 377 Enoch Arden 378 Under the Gas Light 179 Daniel Rochat $80 Caste 381 School 382 Home 383 David Garrick 384 Ours VOL. XLIX. :85'Social Glass 386 Daniel Druce !87 Two Roses 388 Adrit'une 189 The Bells 390 Uncle ',91 Court.-hip J92 Not S[ith a Fool VOL. L. 393 Fine Feathers 394 Prompter's Box 395 Iron Master 396 Engaged .97 Pygmalion h G»}»tea 398 l.eab :!99 Scrap of Paper 400 Lost in Lonilsn VOL. LL 401 Octoroon 402 Confederate Spy 403 Mariner's Reti»r« 404 Ruined by Drink 405 Dreams 406 M. P. 407 War 408 Birth VOL. LU. 409 Nightingale Progress 1 Play 412 Midnight Charge 413 Confidential Clerk 414 Snowball 415 Our Regitnent 416 .Married for Money Hainlet in Three Aot« ' Guttle & Gulpit FRENCH'S INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHTED EDITION OF THE WORKS OF THE BEST AUTHORS. The follbwing very successful plays have just been issued at 25 cents per copy. A PAIR OF SPECTACLES. Comedy in 3 Acts by Syd.ney Grundy, author of "Sowing the Wind," Ac. 8 male, 3 female characters. A FOOL'S PARADISE. An original play In 3 Acts by SvDNKY Grunhy, anthor of "Sowing the Wind," Ac. 5 male, 4 female characters. THE SILVER SHIELD. An original comedy in 3 Acts by Sypnkv Grunoy, author of ''Sowingthe Wind," &c. 5 male, 3 female characters. THE GLASS OP FASHIOM. An original com- edy in 4 Acts by Sypnkv Ori;st)Y, author of "Sowing the Wind," &c^ 5 male. 5 female characters. THE BALLOON. Farcical comedy in 3 Act* by J. H, Darni-kY and Manville Fknn. 6 male, 4 female characters. MISS CLEOPATRA. Farce in 3 AcU by Akthur Shiki.ev. 7 male, 3 fe/nale characters. SIX PEBSONS. Comedy Act by I. Zang-will. 1 male, I female character. FASHIONABLE INTELLIGENCE. Comedi- etta in 1 Act by Pebcy Fkndall. 1 male, 1 female character. HIGHLAND LEGACY. Comedy in 1 Act by Brandon Thomus, author of "Charley's Annt." 5 male, 2 female characters. Contents of Catalogue which is sent Free. Amateur Drama Amateur Operas Articles Needed by Amateurs Art of Scene Painting Baker's Reading Club Beards, Whiskers, Mustaches, etc. Bound Sets of Plays Bulwer Lytton's Plays Burlesque" Dramas Burnt Cork Cabman's Story Carnival of Authors Charade Plays Children's Plays Comic Dramas for Male Characters only Costume Books Crape Hair Cumberland Edition Darkey Dramas Dramas for Boys Drawing-room Monologues Elocution, Reciters and Speakers EtUopian Dramas Kvenine's Entertainment F.niry and Home Plays French's Costumes French's Editiotis French's Italian Operas French's F'arlor Comedies French's Standard and Minor Drama French's Standard and Minor Drama, bound French's Scenes for Amateurs Frobisher's lopular Recitals Grand Army Dramas (^uide Book's for Anrntetirs Guide to Selecting Pkiys Hints on Costumes Home Plays for Ladies Irish Plays Irving's Plays .Juvenile Plays Make-Up Book Mttke-Up Box Mock Trial Mrs. Jarley's W^ai Works New Plays New Recitation Books Nigger Jokes and Stump Speecke* Parlor M.agic Parlor Pantomimes Pieces of Pleasantry Poems for Recitations Plays for Male Characters •sly Round Games Scenery Scriptural and Historical Dramw SeBsation Dramas Serio-Comic Dramas Shadow Pantomimes Shakespeare's Plays for Amatears Shakespeare's Plays Stanley's Dwarfs Spirit Giwn Tableaux Vivants ' Talma Actor's Art Temperance Plavs Vocal Music of Jihakespeare's Plays Webster's Acting Edition Wigs, etc. {French's Minor Drama Continued from 4th page of Cover.) 'OL. XLI. 321 Adventures of a Love 322 ' ost Child [Letter 323 Court Cards .'124 Coi and Box 325 Fortv Winks 396 Wonderful Woman 397 Curious Case 328 Tweedleton'i Tail Coat VOL. XLir. 329 As Like as Two Peas 330 Presumptive Evidence 331 Happy Band .332 Pinafore .333 Mock Trial 3.34 My Uncle's Will 335 Happy Pair 3:36 My Turn Next VOL. XLIH. 337 Sunset .338For Half a Million .339 C-vble Car :140 Early Bird .341 Alumni Play 342 Show of Hand* 343 Barbara 344 Who's Wto VOL. XLIV. 346 Who's To Win HI* .346 Which i. Whioh 347 Cup of Tea 3 i!i Sarah's Voung M»« 349 He;irts 350 In Honor Bound [Law 361 Freezing a Moth«r-lB- 352 My Lord in Livery SAMUEL FRENCH, 26 West 22d St., New York City. }3^ N^.^ »Dd Explicit Descrijptive Catalogue Mailed Free on Request. FRENCH'S MIXOR DRAMA. Price 1 5 Cents each.— Bound \ LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS ;'ep- VOL. I. 1 The Irish Attorney 2 Bo«ts Ht tl\e Swan 3 How to I'ay the Rent 4 The Loan of a Lover 6 The Dead Shot ( His Last Let;! 7 The Inri^ibie Prince 8 The OoIJen Farmer VOL. IL 9 Pride of llie ivUrliet I« Used Up 1 1 The Irish Tntir 12 Tlie Barrack Room 13 Lulie the La lor^r 14 Beauty and the Beast 15 St. Patrick's Hve 16 Captain of the Watch VOL. 11 L n The Secret [p 18 VThite Horse of the P. 19 The Jacobite 20 The Bottle 21 Box and Coi 22 Bamboozling 23 Widow's Victim 24 Robert .\I icaire VOL IV. 25 Secret .-service 2« Ornnilnis 27 Irish LI,)Q 2«Maidof Croissy a^-The Old Guard 30 Raising the Wind 31 Slasher and Cr:isher 88 Naval E igigements Vt)L. V. 33 Coeknies in California 34 Who Spe.iks First 36 Bombast^s Furioso 39 Maclieih Travestie 37 Irish Afu'i.-vss idor . ;-l8 Delicate Ground .■^9 The Weathercock [Oold 40 All that Wlitteri is Mot VOL. VI. tl Griinshaw, Bagshaw aad Bradshaw ♦2 Rougii Diamond 13 Bloomer Costume i4 Two Bounycastles »5 B irn to 'jrood Luck lb K.is6 in the Dark [jurer 47 Twould Puzzle a Con- 18 Kil! or Cure VOL. VII. 49 Box and Cox Married and 60 St. Cupid [Settled 51 Qo-to-hed Tom 52 "The Lawyers 53 Jack Sheppard 64 The Toodles 65 The Mobeap bi Ladies Beware VOL. vm. 57 Morning Call 68 Popping the QuestioE .59 Deaf «s a Post 60 New Footman 81 Pleasant Neighbor 62 Paddy the Piper S3 Brian O'Linn 6k Irish Assurance VOL. IX. 65 Tea-ijttation 66 Paddv Carey 67 Two Gregiriea 68 King Charii.mg 69 Pin;a-hon-tas 70 Clockmaker's K ♦ 71 Married Rake 72 Love and Murder VOL. X. 73 Ireland and America 74 Pretty Piece of Business 75 Irish Broom-maker 7« To Paris and Back Fire Pounds 77 That Blessed Baby 78 Our Gal 711 Swiss Cf'ttage 80 Young Widow VOL. XI. 81 O'Flannigan and the Fa( b2 Irish Post [ries 83 .My -Veighbor's Wife 84 Irish Tiger 85 P. P., or Man and Tiger 86 To Oblige Benson 87 State Secrets 88 Irish Y.-inkee VOL. XU. 89 A Good Fellow 90 Cherry and Fair Star 9) Gale Breeiely 92 Our Jemiuiy 93 Miller's Maid 94 Awkward Arrival 95 Crossing the Liue 96 Conjugal Lesson VOL. xai. 97 My Wife's .Mirror 98 Life in New York 99 Middy Ashore 100 Crown Prince 101 Two Quesns 102 Thumping Lt^acv 103 Uiitinished '^-'utlein au 104 House Dog VOL. XIV. 05 The De non Lover , 106 Matrimony 07 In aad Out of Place 108 1 Dine with .My .Vljther 09 Hi-a-wa-tha 110 Andy Blake Luve' in '76 [ties 112 Romance under Difficul- VOL. XV. 113 One Coat f)r ^ Suits 114 A Decided Case 115 Daughter [no ritv 116 No; or, the Glorious Mi- ll? C'lroaer's Inquisition 118 Love in HumUle Life 119 Family Jars 120 Personation VOL. XVI. 121 Children in the Wood 122 Winning a Husband 123 Dav After the Fair 124 Mak.! Your Wills 125 Rendezvous 126 My Wife's Husband 27 Monsieur Tonson 98 lllujtrious Stranger VOL. XVII. 129 Mischief-Making [Mi nes "30 A Live Woman ia th il The Corsair 1.32 Shylock 133 Spoiled Child 1,^4 F,vil Eye 135 Nothing to Nurse 136 Wanted s Widow VOL. XVIIL 137 Lottery Ticket 1.38 Fortune's Frolic 139 Is he Jealous? 140 M.arried Bachelor 141 Husband at Sight 142 Irishman in London 143 Ani nal Magnetism 144 Highways and By-W ays VOL. XIX. 145 Columbus 146 Harlequin Bluebeard 147 Ladies at Home 148 Phenomenon in a Smock Frock 149 Comedy and Tragedy 150 Opposite Neighbors 151 Dutchman's Ghost 152 Persecuted Dutchman VOL. XX. 1 sn Musard Ball 154 Great Tragic Revival for|l55 High Low Jack * Game 156 A Gentleman from Ire 157 Tom and Jerry [lanr 158 Village Lawyer 159 Captain's not .\-ml8s 160 Amateurs and Actors 1 V( 181 Promol 162 A Fas 163 Mrs. C 164 Shakes 166 Nrptur 166 Ladv u '.67 Take 168 Irish V VG 169 Yankee Peddler 170 Hiram Hireout 171 Double-Bedded Room 178 The Drama Defended 173 Vermont Wool Dealer 174 Ebenezer Venture [tti 175 Principles from Charac I7« Lady of the Lake (Trav) Vol. xxiu. 177 Mad Dogs 178 Barney tlie Baron 179 Swiss Swains 180 Bnchelor's Bedroom 181 A Roland for an Oliver 182 More Bli/nders than One 183 Dumb Belle 1»4 Limt-rick buy VOL. XXIV. 165 Nature and Philosophy 186 Teddy the Tiler 187 Sperlre Bridegroom 188 NIatteo Falcone H9 >unv Lind 190 Two'Buiiards 191 Happy .\lau 192 Betsv" Baker Vol. x.xv. 193 No. 1 Round the Corner 1 94 Teddy Roe 195 Object of Interest 1-6 Mv Fellow Clerk 197 Bengal Tiger I'^S Laughing Hyena 199 The Victor Vanquished ■200 Our Wife VOL. XXVL 201 My Husband's Mirror 202 Yankee Land 203 Norah Creina 204 (iood for Nothing 205 The First Night 206 The Eton Boy 207 Wandering Minstrel 208 Wanted, 1000 Milliners VOL. xxvn. 209 Poor Pilcoddy 210 The Mummy [Glasse-: 211 Don't Forget your Opera 212 Love in Livery 213 Anthony and Cleop atra V'14 Trying It On ^■'*^* 215 Stage Struck Yankee 216 Y.mng Wife 4 Old Um- brella VOL. xxvnr 217 Crinoline 218 A Family Falling 219 AdoptedChild ' 220 Turned Heads •>21 A Match in the Dark 222 Advice to Husbands 223 Siampfe Twin? 224 .Sent to the Tower VOL. XXIX. 225 Somebody Else 2 6 Ladies' Battle 227 *rt of Acting 228 The Lady of the Lions 229 The Rights of Man 2.30 Mv Husband's Ghost 231 Two Can Play at that Game 232 Fighting by Proxy VOL XXX. 233 Unprotected Female 2.34 Pet of the Petticoats 235 Forty and Fifty [book 236 Who Stole the Pocket- 237 My Son Diann [sion 238 Unwarrantable Intra- 2,39 Mr. and Mrs. White 240 A Quiet Family 014 676 219 41 249 Dr. Dil worth 250 Out to Nurse 251 A Lucky Hit 252 The Dowager 2.53 Metamora (Burlesque) 264 Dreams of Delusion 255 The Shaker Lovers 256 Ticklish Times VOL. XXXIII. ■^67 20 Minutes with a Tiger 258 Miralda; or, the Justice of Tacon 269 A Soldier's CourUhip - 260 Servants by Legacy 261 Dying for Love 262 Alarming Sacrifice 263 Valet de Shhm 264 Nicholas Nickleby VOL. XXXIV. 265 The Last of the Pigtails 266 King Rene's Daughter 267 The Grotto Nymph 268 A Devilish Good Joke 269 A Twice T«ld Tale 270 Paj de Fascination ■^71 Revolutionary Soldier 272 A Man Without a Head VOL. XXXV. 273 The Olio, Part 1 974 The Olio, Part 2 275 The Olio, Part 3 [ter 276 The Trumpetw's Daugh-. 277 Seeing Warren 278 0 Tom Noddy's Secret VOL. XXXVL 281 Shocking EvenU 282 A Regular Fix 283 Dick Turpin 284 Young Scamp 285 Young Actress 2H6 Call at No. 1—7 287 One Touch ol Nature 288 Two B'hoys VOL. xxxvn. 289 All the World's a Stage 290Qnash, or Nigger prac- 291 Turn Him Out [tice 292 Pretty Girls of Stillberx 293 Angel of the Attic 294 CircumstancesalterCMes 295 Katty O'Sheal 096 A Supper in Dixie VOL. XXXVIIJ. 297 In on Parle Francals 298 Who Killed Cock Robin 299 Declaration of Independ- ^00 Heads or Tails [ence 301 Obstinate Family :<02MyAnnt ;W3 That Rascal Pat :<04 Don Paddv de Baiail VOL. XXXIX. [tare 305 Too Much for Good N«- 306 Cure for the Fidgets .307 Jack's the Lad .308 Much Ado AboiitNothlng 309 Artful DtHourbe--J 316 Masquerade [fore Dawn 317 Crowding the Season 318 Good NIeht'sRest 319 Man with the Carpet Bag' 320 Terrible Tinker (French's Minor Drama Continued on ^d page of Cover.) SAMUEL FRENCH 26 West 32d Street. New York City. New and Explicit Descriptive Catalog^ue Mailed Free on Reqiuest. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS \ 1, : 014 676 219