j^ ^-' ^ ^ ' " J CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY _ Cornell University Library PR4074.Q1 1913 Quality street; a comedy In four acts.lll 3 1924 013 211 457 ^^1 Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924013211457 Quality Street Copyrighted, in its dramatic form, in England and in America, by Charles Frohman, 1901 Phoebe Sergeant, I am ■ wishful to scold you, but would you be so obliging as to stand on this paper while I do it? ixr .1(1' \0- \N Illustrations in Colour ACT I The Blue and White Room PHOEBE Sergeant, I am wishful to scold you, but would you be so obliging as to stand on this paper •while I doit? Page 14 . . Frontispiece Page Now and again ladies pass in their pattens, a maid perhaps protecting them with an umbrella, for flakes of snow are falling discreetly. Page 3 ... 3 111 Quality Street Page Miss Fanny is reading aloud from a library book while the others sew or knit. Page 4 6 MISS WILLOUGHBY We are known everywhere now, Susan, you and I, as the old maids of Quality Street. Page 7 . . . . .10 MISS SUSAN / think I hear their voices in dispute. Page 12 14 PHOEBE You know how gallantly he swings his cane. Page 21. . . . .16 PHOEBE He is absolutely fearless. Susan, he has smoked his pipe in this room.. Page 26 . . 24 PHOEBE It was raining, and my face was wet. Page 31 32 iv Quality Street VALENTINE Page To see her on her knees decorating the little legs of the couch with frills as if it were a child f Page 38 . . . .40 ACT II The School Miss Phoebe is giving a dancing lesson to half a dozen pupils, and is doing her very best. Page 49 . . . . .48 PHOEBE Unhappy boy — Are you ashamed of yourself ? Page 53 . . . . .56 ARTHUR If any boy says you cant cane I will blood him, Miss Phoebe. Page 56 . . .64 Quality Street Page A soldier with a girl passes — yokel follows angrily. Page 58 . . . . 72 Patty ushers in the sisters Willoughby and Miss Henrietta. Miss Henrietta is wear- ing the new veil, which opens or closes like curtains when she pulls a string. Page 93 80 MISS WILLOUGHBY We shall probably spend the evening here with Miss Susan at the card table. Page 95 . 88 ACT III The Ball There is coming and going through this opening, and also through slits in the canvas. Page 103 . . .104 Ensign Blades appears, frowning, and Char- lotte ventures to touch his sleeve. Page 107 112 ■\.r\ Quality Street MISS SUSAN Page They have suspected for a -week. Page 1 16 . 120 PHOEBE As soon as you see a lady -with a pretty nose you cannot help saying that you adore her. Page 129 . . . . . 128 ACT IV The Blue and White Room VALENTINE / regret that they are out, Patty, but I will await their return. Page 163 . . 160 Miss Henrietta and Miss Fanny, encouraged by his sympathy, draw nearer the door of the interesting bed-chamber. Page 176 . 168 VALENTINE She will recover. Page 186 . . .176 vii CHARACTERS VALENTINE BROWN ENSIGN BLADES LIEUTENANT SPICER A RECRUITING SERGEANT MASTER ARTHUR WELLESLEY TOMSON ISABELLA MISS SUSAN THROSSEL MISS PHOEBE THROSSEL MISS WILLOUGHBY MISS FANNY WILLOUGHBY MISS HENRIETTA TURNBULL MISS CHARLOTTE PARRATT PATTY Now and again ladies pass in their fattens, a maid perhaps protecting them with an umbrella, for flakes of snow are falling discreetly Act I THE BLUE AND WHITE ROOM The scene is the blue and white room in the house of the Misses Susan and Phoebe Throssel in Quality Street: and in this little country town there is a satisfaction about living in Qtiality Street which even religion cannot give. Through the bowed window at the back we have 'a glimpse of the street. It is pleasantly broad and grass-grown, and is linked to the outer world by one demure shop, whose door rings a bell every tim,e it opens and shuts. Thus by merely peeping, every one in Quality Street can know at once who has been buying a Whimsy cake, and tisually why. This bell is the most familiar sound of Quality Street. Now and again ladies pass in their pattens, a m-aid perhaps protecting them with an umbrella, for flakes of snow are falling discreetly. Gentlemen in the street are an event ; but, see, just as we raise the curtain, there goes the recruiting sergeant to remind us that we are in the period of the Napoleonic wars. If he were to look in at the window of the blue and white room all the ladies there assembled would draw themselves up ; they know him for a rude fellow who smiles at the approach of 3 Quality Street [act maiden ladies and continues to smile after they have passed. However, he lowers his head to-day so that they shall not see him, his present design being con- verse with the Misses Thros set's maid. The room is one seldom profaned by the foot of m,an, and everything in it is white or blue. Miss Phoebe is not present, but here are Miss Susan, Miss Willoughby and her sister Miss Fanny, and Miss Henrietta Turnbull. Miss Susan and Miss Willoughby , alas, already wear caps ; but all the four are dear ladies, so refined that we ought not to be discussing them without a more formal introduction, and there seems no sufficient reason why we should choose Miss Phoebe as our heroine rather than any one of the others, except, perhaps, that we like her name best. But we gave her the name, so we must support our choice and say that she is slightly the nicest, unless, indeed, Miss Susatt is nicer. Miss Fanny is reading aloud from a library book while the others sew or knit. They are making garments for our brave soldiers now far away fighting the Corsican Ogre. MISS FANNY '. . . And SO the day passed and evening came, black, mysterious, and ghost-like. The wind moaned unceasingly like a shivering spirit, and the vegetation rustled uneasily as if something weird and terrifying were about 4 I.J Quality Street to happen. Suddenly out of the darkness there emerged a Man. {She says the last word tremulously but without looking up. The listeners knit more quickly)^ The unhappy Camilla was standing lost in reverie when, without pausing to advertise her of his intentions, he took both her hands in his. {By this time the knitting has stopped, and all are listening as if mes- merised.) Slowly he gathered her in his arms — (miss SUSAN gives an excited little cry) MISS FANNY And rained hot, burning — ' MISS WILLOUGHBY Sister I MISS FANNY {Greedily) ' On eyes, mouth, ' MISS WILLOUGHBY {Sternly) Stop. Miss Susan, I am indeed surprised you 5 Quality Street [act should bring such an amazing, indelicate tale from the library. MISS SUSAN {With a slight shudder) I deeply regret, Miss Willoughby [Sees miss fanny reading quickly to herself) Oh, Fanny ! If you please, my dear. [Takes the book gently from her) miss willoughby I thank you. [She knits severely) miss fanny [a little rebel) Miss Susan is looking at the end. (miss SUSAN closes the book guiltily) miss SUSAN {Apologetically) Forgive my partiality for romance, Mary. I fear 'tis the mark of an old maid. miss willoughby Susan, that word. MISS SUSAN {Sweetly) 'Tis what I am. And you also, Mary, my dear. 6 Miss Fanny is reading aloud from a library book while the others sew or knit ! I.] Quality Street MISS FANNY {Defending her sister) Miss Susan, I protest. MISS WILLOUGHBY {Sternly truthfttl) Nay, sister, 'tis true. We are known everywhere now, Susan, you and I, as the old maids of Quality Street. {General discomfort?) MISS SUSAN I am happy Phoebe will not be an old maid. MISS HENRIETTA {JVistfully) Do you refer, Miss Susan, to V. B. ? (miss SUSAN smiles happily to herself) MISS SUSAN Miss Phoebe of the ringlets as he has called her. MISS FANNY Other females besides Miss Phoebe have ringlets. MISS SUSAN But you and Miss Henrietta have to employ papers, my dear. {Proudly) Phoebe, never. 7 Quality Street [act MISS WILLOUGHBY {In defence of Fanny) I do not approve of Miss Phoebe at all. MISS SUSAN {Flushing) Mary, had Phoebe been dying you would have called her an angel, but that is ever the way. 'Tis all jealousy to the bride and good wishes to the corpse. {Her guests rise, hurt.) My love, I beg your pardon. MISS WILLOUGHBY With your permission, Miss Susan, I shall put on my pattens. (miss SUSAN gives permission almost haughtily, and the ladies retire to the bedroom, miss fanny remaining behind a moment to ask a question.) MISS FANNY A bride? Miss Susan, do you mean that V. B. has declared ? MISS SUSAN Fanny, I expect it hourly. 8 I.J Quality Street (miss SUSAN, left alone, is agitated by the terrible scene with miss willoughby.) Enter phoebe in her bonnet, and we see at once that she really is the nicest. She is so flushed with delightful news that she almost forgets to take off her pattens before crossing the blue and white room. miss SUSAN You seem strangely excited, Phoebe. PHOEBE Susan, I have met a certain individual. MISS SUSAN V. B. ? (phoebe nods several times, and her gleaming eyes tell miss susan as much as if they were a romance from the library^ My dear, you are trembling. phoebe {Bravely) No — oh no. miss SUSAN You put your hand to your heart. b 9 Quality Street [act PHOEBE Did I? MISS SUSAN [In a whisper) My love, has he offered ? PHOEBE {Appalled) Oh, Susan. Enter miss willoughby, partly cloaked. MISS WILLOUGHBY How do you do. Miss Phoebe? [Porten- tously) Susan, I have no wish to alarm you, but I am of opinion that there is a man in the house. I suddenly felt it while putting on my pattens. MISS SUSAN You mean — a follower — in the kitchen? {She courageously rings the bell, but her voice falters^ I am just a little afraid of Patty. Enter patty, a buxom young woman, who loves her mistresses and smiles at them, and knows how to terrorise them. Patty, I hope we may not hurt your feelings, but lO Miss Willoughby We are known everywhere now, Susan, you and I, as the old maids of duality Street i.j Quality Street PATTY {Sternly) Are you implicating, ma'am, that I have a follower ? MISS SUSAN Oh no, Patty. PATTY So be it. MISS SUSAN {Ashamed) Patty, come back. {Humbly) I told a falsehood just now ; I am ashamed of myself. PATTY {Severely) As well you might be, ma'am. PHOEBE {So roused that she would look heroic if she did not spoil the effect by wagging her finger at patty) How dare you. There is a man in the kitchen. To the door with him. patty A glorious soldier to be so treated I PHOEBE The door. patty And if he refuses ? {They look perplexed) II Quality Street [acti. MISS SUSAN Oh dear I PHOEBE If he refuses send him here to me. {Exit PATTY. MISS SUSAN Lion-hearted Phoebe. MISS WILLOUGHBY A soldier. {Nervously) I wish it may not be that impertinent recruiting sergeant. I passed him in the street to-day. He closed one of his eyes at me and then quickly opened it. I knew what he meant. PHOEBE He does not come. MISS SUSAN I think I hear their voices in dispute. {She is listening through the floor. They all stoop or go on knees to listen, and when they are in this position the RECRUITING SERGEANT enters Unob- served. He chuckles aloud. In a moment phoebe is alone with him.) 12 That impertinent recruiting sergeant SERGEANT {With an Irish accent) ma'am. Your servant, 13 Quality Street [act PHOEBE {Advancing sternly on him) Sir — [She is perplexed, as he seems undismayed^ Ser- geant {She sees mud from his boots on the carpet.) Oh I oh 1 {Brushes carpet.) Sergeant, I am wishful to scold you, but would you be so obliging as to stand on this paper while I do it? SERGEANT With all the pleasure in life, ma'am. PHOEBE {Forgetting to be angry) Sergeant, have you killed people? SERGEANT Dozens, ma'am, dozens. PHOEBE How terrible. Oh, sir, I pray every night that the Lord in His loving-kindness will root the enemy up. Is it true that the Corsican Ogre eats babies ? SERGEANT I have spoken with them as have seen him do it, ma'am. 14 Miss Susan / think I hear their voices in dispute I.] Quality Street PHOEBE The Man of Sin. Have you ever seen a vivandiere, sir ? {Wistfully) I have sometimes wished there were vivandieres in the British Army. {For a moment she sees herself as one.) Oh, Sergeant, a shudder goes through me when I see you in the streets enticing those poor young men. SERGEANT If you were one of them, ma'am, and death or glory was the call, you would take the shilling, ma'am. PHOEBE Oh, not for that. SERGEANT For King and Country, ma'am ? PHOEBE {Grandly) Yes, yes, for that. SERGEANT {Candidly) Not that it is all fighting. The sack of captured towns — the loot. 15 Quality Street [act PHOEBE {Proudly) An English soldier never sacks nor loots. SERGEANT No, ma'am. And then — the girls. PHOEBE What girls ? SERGEANT In the towns that — that we don't sack. PHOEBE How they must hate the haughty conqueror. SERGEANT We are not so haughty as all that. PHOEBE {Sadly) I think I understand. I am afraid, Sergeant, you do not tell those poor young men the noble things I thought you told them. SERGEANT Ma'am, I must e'en tell them what they are wishful to hear. There ha' been five, ma'am, i6 Phoebe Ton know how gallantly he swings his cane ijfK n 4?-L f . i ' i: M ,^''-» -3 SU-^^ ■! % \^'i %. I^Gfe'-wi' I.J Quality Street all this week, listening to me and then showing me their heels, but by a grand stroke of luck I have them at last. PHOEBE Luck? (miss SUSAN Opens door slightly and listens^ SERGEANT The luck, ma'am, is that a gentleman of the town has enlisted. That gave them the push forward. (miss SUSAN is excited^ PHOEBE A gentleman of this town enlisted? {Eagerly) Sergeant, who ? SERGEANT Nay, ma'am, I think it be a secret as yet. PHOEBE But a gentleman I 'Tis the most amazing, exciting thing. Sergeant, be so obliging. SERGEANT Nay, ma'am, I can't, c 17 Quality Street [act MISS SUSAN {At door, carried away by excitement) But you must, you must ! SERGEANT {Turning to door) You see, ma'am {The door is hurriedly closed.) PHOEBE {Ashamed) Sergeant, I have not been say- ing the things I meant to say to you. Will you please excuse my turning you out of the house somewhat violently. SERGEANT I am used to it, ma'am. PHOEBE I won't really hurt you. SERGEANT Thank you kindly, ma'am. PHOEBE {Observing the bedroom door opening a little, and speaking in a loud voice) I protest, sir ; i8 I.J Quality Street we shall permit no followers in this house. Should I discover you in my kitchen again I shall pitch you out — neck and crop. Begone, sir. {The SERGEANT retires affably. All the ladies except miss Henrietta come out, admiring phoebe. The wiLLOUGHBYS are attired for their journey across the street)} MISS WILLOUGHBY Miss Phoebe, we could not but admire you. (phoebe, alas, knows that she is not admirable)} phoebe But the gentleman recruit ? MISS SUSAN Perhaps they will know who he is at the woollen-drapers. MISS FANNY Let us inquire. {But before they go miss willoughby has a duty to perform) 19 Quality Street [act MISS WILLOUGHBY I wish to apologise. Miss Phoebe, you are a dear, good girl. If I have made remarks about her ringlets, Susan, it was jealousy. (pHOEBE and MISS SUSAN wish to embrace her, but she is not in the mood for it.) Come, sister. MISS vpciiWi {the dear woman that she is) Phoebe, dear, I wish you very happy. (pHOEBE presses her hand.) MISS HENRIETTA {Entering, and not to be outdone) Miss Phoebe, I give you joy. {The three ladies go, the two younger ones a little tearfully, and we see them pass the window!) PHOEBE {Pained) Susan, you have been talking to them about V. B. MISS SUSAN I could not help it. {Eagerly) Now, Phoebe, what is it you have to tell me ? 20 ij Quality Street PHOEBE {In a low voice) Dear, I think it is too holy to speak of. MISS SUSAN To your sister ? PHOEBE Susan, as you know, I was sitting with an unhappy woman whose husband has fallen in the war. When I came out of the cottage he was passing. MISS SUSAN Yes? PHOEBE He offered me his escort. At first he was very silent — as he has often been of late. MISS SUSAN IVe know why. PHOEBE Please not to say that I know why. Suddenly he stopped and swung his cane. You know how gallantly he swings his cane. MISS SUSAN Yes, indeed. 21 They are interrupted by the entrance of Patty with tea ACTi.j Quality Street PHOEBE He said : ' I have something I am wishful to tell you, Miss Phoebe ; perhaps you can guess what it is.' MISS SUSAN Go on I PHOEBE To say I could guess, sister, would have been unladylike. I said : ' Please not to tell me in the public thoroughfare ' ; to which he instantly replied : 'Then I shall call and tell you this afternoon.' MISS SUSAN Phoebe ! {They are interrupted by the entrance of PATTY with tea. They see that she has brought three cups, and know that this is her impertinent way of implying that mistresses, as well as maids, may haue a 'follower! When she has gone they smile at the daring of the woman, and sit down to tea.) PHOEBE Susan, to think that it has all happened in a single year. 23 Quality Street [acti. MISS SUSAN Such a genteel competency as he can offer ; such a desirable establishment. PHOEBE I had no thought of that, dear. I was recalling our first meeting at Mrs. Fotherin- gay's quadrille party. MISS SUSAN We had quite forgotten that our respected local physician was growing elderly. PHOEBE Until he said : 'Allow me to present my new partner, Mr. Valentine Brown.' MISS SUSAN Phoebe, do you remember how at the tea- table he facetiously passed the cake-basket with nothing in it ! PHOEBE He was so amusing from the first. I am thankful, Susan, that I too have a sense of humour. I am exceedingly funny at times ; am I not, Susan ? 24 'HOEBE He is absolutely fearless. Susan, he has smoked his pipe in this room Our first meeting at Mrs. Fotheringay' s quadrille party MISS SUSAN Yes, indeed. But he sees humour in the most unexpected things. I say something so ordinary about loving, for instance, to have everything either blue or white in this room, and I know not why he laughs, but it makes me feel quite witty. PHOEBE {A little anxiously) I hope he sees nothing odd or quaint about us. D 25 Quality Street [act MISS SUSAN My dear, I am sure he cannot. PHOEBE Susan, the picnics. MISS SUSAN Phoebe, the day when he first drank tea in this house. PHOEBE He invited himself. MISS SUSAN He merely laughed when I said it would cause such talk. PHOEBE He is absolutely fearless. Susan, he has smoked his pipe in this room. {They are both a little scared^ MISS SUSAN Smoking is indeed a dreadful habit. PHOEBE But there is something so dashing about it. 26 I.J Quality Street MISS SUSAN iJVith melancholy) And now I am to be left alone. PHOEBE No. MISS SUSAN My dear, I could not leave this room. My lovely blue and white room. It is my husband. PHOEBE {JVho has beco7ne agitated) Susan, you must make my house your home. I have something distressing to tell you. MISS SUSAN You alarm me. PHOEBE You know Mr. Brown advised us how to invest half of our money. Miss SUSAN I know it gives us eight per cent., though why it should. do so I cannot understand, but very obliging, I am sure. 27 Quality Street [act PHOEBE Susan, all that money is lost ; I had the letter several days ago. MISS SUSAN Lost? PHOEBE Something burst, dear, and then they absconded. MISS SUSAN But Mr. Brown PHOEBE I have not advertised him of it yet, for he will think it was his fault. But I shall tell him to-day. MISS SUSAN Phoebe, how much have we left ? PHOEBE Only sixty pounds a year, so you see you must live with us, dearest. MISS SUSAN But Mr. Brown — he 28 ij Quality Street PHOEBE {Grandly) He is a man of means, and if he is not proud to have my Susan I shall say at once: ' Mr. Brown — the door,' {She presses her cheek to miss susan's.) MISS SUSAN {Softly) Phoebe, I have a wedding gift for you. PHOEBE Not yet ? MISS SUSAN It has been ready for a long time. I began it when you were not ten years old and I was a young woman. I meant it for myself, Phoebe. I had hoped that he — his name was William — but I think I must have been too unattractive, my love. PHOEBE Sweetest — dearest MISS SUSAN I always associate it with a sprigged poplin I was wearing that summer, with a 29 Quality Street [act breadth of coloured silk in it, being a naval officer; but something happened, a Miss Cicely Pemberton, and they are quite big boys now. So long ago, Phoebe — he was very tall, with brown hair — it was most foolish of me, but I was always so fond of sewing — with long straight legs and such a pleasant expression. PHOEBE Susan, what was it ? MISS SUSAN It was a wedding-gown, my dear. Even plain women, Phoebe, we can't help it ; when we are young we have romantic ideas just as if we were pretty. And so the wedding-gown was never used. Long before it was finished I knew he would not offer, but I finished it, and then I put it away. I have always hidden it from you, Phoebe, but of late I have brought it out again, and altered it. {She goes to ottoman and unlocks it.) PHOEBE Susan, I could not wear it. (miss susan brings the wedding-gown^! Oh I how sweet, how beautiful ! 30 I.J Quality Street MISS SUSAN You will wear it, my love, won't you ? And the tears it was sewn with long ago will all turn into smiles on my Phoebe's wedding day. {They are tearfully happy when a knock is heard on the street door.) PHOEBE That knock. MISS SUSAN So dashing. PHOEBE So imperious. {She is suddenly panic- stricken.) Susan, I think he kissed me once. MISS SUSAN [Startled) You think ? PHOEBE I know he did. That evening — a week ago, when he was squiring me home from the concert. It was raining, and my face was wet ; he said that was why he did it. Miss SUSAN Because your face was wet ? 31 Quality Street [act PHOEBE It does not seem a sufficient excuse now. MISS SUSAN {Appalled) O Phoebe, before he had offered. PHOEBE {III distress) I fear me it was most unlady- like. (valentine brown is shown in. He is a frank, genial yovmg man of twenty- five who honestly admires the ladies, though he is amused by their qtiaint- ness. He is modestly aware that in the blue and white room alone is he esteemed a wit) brown Miss Susan, how do you do, ma'am ? Nay, Miss Phoebe, though we have met to-day already I insist on shaking hands with you again. MISS SUSAN Always so dashing. (valentine laughs and the ladies ex- change delighted smiles) 32 Phoebe // was raining, and my face was wet I J Quality Street VALENTINE {To MISS susan) And my other friends, I hope I find them in health? The spinet, ma'am, seems quite herself to-day ; I trust the ottoman passed a good night ? MISS SUSAN {Beaming) We are all quite well, sir. VALENTINE May I sit on this chair, Miss Phoebe? I know Miss Susan likes me to break her chairs. MISS SUSAN Indeed, sir, I do not. Phoebe, how strange that he should think so. PHOEBE {Instantly) The remark was humorous, was it not ? VALENTINE How you see through me. Miss Phoebe. {The sisters again exchange delighted smiles, valentine is about to take a seat) E 33 Quality Street [act MISS SUSAN {Thinking aloud) Oh dear, I feel sure he is going to roll the coverlet into a ball and then sit on it. (valentine, who has been on the point of doing so, abstains and sits guiltily) valentine So I am dashing. Miss Susan ? Am I dashing, Miss Phoebe? PHOEBE A— little, I think. valentine Well, but I have something to tell you to-day which I really think is rather dashing, (miss SUSAN gathers her knitting, looks at phoebe, and is preparing to go.) You are not going, ma'am, before you know what it is ? MISS SUSAN I — I — indeed — to be sure — I — I know, Mr. Brown. PHOEBE Susan ! 34 I] Quality Street MISS SUSAN I mean I do not know. I mean I can guess — I mean Phoebe, my love, explain. {She goes out) VALENTINE {Rather disappointed) The explanation be- ing, I suppose, that you both know, and I had flattered myself 'twas such a secret. Am I then to understand that you had foreseen it all. Miss Phoebe ? PHOEBE Nay, sir, you must not ask that. VALENTINE I believe in any case 'twas you who first put it into my head. PHOEBE {Aghast) Oh, I hope not. VALENTINE Your demure eyes flashed so every time the war was mentioned ; the little Quaker sud- denly looked like a gallant boy in ringlets. {A dread comes over phoebe, but it is in her heart alone ; it shows neither in face nor voice) 35 Quality Street [act PHOEBE Mr. Brown, what is it you have to tell us ? VALENTINE That I have enlisted, Miss Phoebe. Did you surmise it was something else ? PHOEBE You are going to the wars ? Mr. Brown, is it a jest ? VALENTINE It would be a sorry jest, ma'am, I thought you knew. I concluded that the recruiting sergeant had talked. PHOEBE The recruiting sergeant ? I see. VALENTINE These stirring times. Miss Phoebe — he is but half a man who stays at home. I have chafed for months. I want to see whether I have any courage, and as to be an army surgeon does not appeal to me, it was enlist or remain behind. To-day I found that there were five waverers. I asked them would they take the shilling if I took it, and they assented. 36 I.J Quality Street Miss Phoebe, it is not one man I give to the King, but six. PHOEBE {Brightly) I think you have done bravely. VALENTINE We leave shortly for the Petersburgh barracks, and I go to London to-morrow ; so this is good-bye. PHOEBE I shall pray that you may be preserved in battle, Mr. Brown. VALENTINE And you and Miss Susan will write to me when occasion offers ? PHOEBE If you wish it. VALENTINE {Smiling) With all the stirring news of Quality Street. PHOEBE It seems stirring to us ; it must have been merely laughable to you, who came here from a great city. 37 Quality Street [act VALENTINE Dear Quality Street — that thought me dashing I But I made friends in it, Miss Phoebe, of two very sweet ladies. PHOEBE {Timidly) Mr. Brown, I wonder why you have been so kind to my sister and me ? VALENTINE The kindness was yours. If at first Miss Susan amused me {Chuckling) To see her on her knees decorating the little legs of the couch with frills as if it were a child ! But it was her sterling qualities that impressed me presently. PHOEBE And did — did I amuse you also ? VALENTINE Prodigiously, Miss Phoebe. Those other ladies, they were always scolding you, your youthfulness shocked them. I believe they thought you dashing. 38 I.J Quality Street PHOEBE {Nervously) I have sometimes feared that I was perhaps too dashing. VALENTINE {Laughing at this) You delicious Miss Phoebe. You were too quiet. I felt sorry that one so sweet and young should live so grey a life. I wondered whether I could put any little pleasures into it. PHOEBE The picnics ? It was very good of you. VALENTINE That was only how it began, for soon I knew that it was I who got the pleasures and you who gave them. You have been to me, Miss Phoebe, like a quiet, old-fashioned garden full of the flowers that Englishmen love best because they have known them longest : the daisy, that stands for innocence, and the hyacinth for constancy, and the modest violet and the rose. When I am far away, ma'am, I shall often think of Miss Phoebe's pretty 39 Quality Street [act soul, which is her garden, and shut my eyes and walk in it. {She is smiling gallantly through her pain when miss susan returns^ MISS SUSAN Have you — is it — you seem so calm, Phoebe. PHOEBE {Pressing her hand warningly and implor- ingly) Susan, what Mr. Brown is so obliging as to inform us of is not what we expected — not that at all. My dear, he is the gentleman who has enlisted, and he came to tell us that and to say good-bye. MISS SUSAN Going away ? PHOEBE Yes, dear. VALENTINE Am I not the ideal recruit, ma'am : a man without a wife or a mother or a sweetheart ? MISS SUSAN No sweetheart ? 40 Valentine 'To see her on her knees decorating the little legs of the couch with frills as if it were a child I i] Quality Street VALENTINE Have you one for me, Miss Susan ? PHOEBE {Hastily, lest her sister' s face should betray the truth) Susan, we shall have to tell him now. You dreadful man, you will laugh and say it is just like Quality Street. But indeed since I met you to-day and you told me you had something to communicate we have been puzzling what it could be, and we concluded that you were going to be married. VALENTINE Ha I ha I ha I Was that it. PHOEBE So like women, you know. We thought we perhaps knew her. {Glancing at the wedding- gown^ We were even discussing what we should wear at the wedding. VALENTINE Ha ! ha I I shall often think of this. I wonder who would have me. Miss Susan. (Rising) But I must be off ; and God bless you both. F 41 Quality Street [act MISS SUSAN {Forlorn) You are going ? VALENTINE No more mud on your carpet, Miss Susan ; no more coverlets rolled into balls. A good riddance. Miss Phoebe, a last look at the garden. {Taking her hand and looking into her face.) PHOEBE We shall miss you very much, Mr. Brown. VALENTINE There is one little matter. That investment I advised you to make, I am happy it has turned out so well. PHOEBE {Checking miss susan, who is about to tell of the loss of the money) It was good of you to take all that trouble, sir. Accept our grateful thanks. VALENTINE Not at all, but I am glad that you are so comfortably left; I am your big brother. Good- 42 I.] Quality Street bye again. {Looks round.) This little blue and white room and its dear inmates, may they be unchanged when I come back. Good-bye. {He goes, miss susan looks forlornly at PHOEBE, who smiles pitifully.) PHOEBE A misunderstanding ; just a mistake. {She shudders, lifts the wedding-gown and puts it back in the ottoman, miss susan sinks sobbing into a chair.) Don't, dear, don't — we can live it down. MISS SUSAN {Fiercely) He is a fiend in human form. PHOEBE Nay, you hurt me, sister. He is a brave gentleman. MISS SUSAN The money; why did you not let me tell him? PHOEBE {Flushing) So that he might offer to me out of pity, Susan ? 43 Quality Street [act MISS SUSAN Phoebe, how are we to live, with the quartern loaf at one and tenpence ? PHOEBE Brother James MISS SUSAN You know very well that brother James will do nothing for us. PHOEBE I think, Susan, we could keep a little school — for genteel children only, of course. I would do most of the teaching. MISS SUSAN You a schoolmistress — Phoebe of the ring- lets ; every one would laugh. PHOEBE I shall hide the ringlets away in a cap like yours, Susan, and people will soon forget them. And I shall try to look staid and to grow old quickly. It will not be so hard to me as you think, dear. 44 T.J Quality Street MISS SUSAN There were other gentlemen who were attracted by you, Phoebe, and you turned from them. PHOEBE I did not want them. MISS SUSAN They will come again, and others. PHOEBE No, dear; never speak of that to me any more. {In woe) I let him kiss me. MISS SUSAN You could not prevent him. PHOEBE Yes, I could. I know I could now. I wanted him to do it. Oh, never speak to me of others after that. Perhaps he saw I wanted it and did it to please me. But I meant — indeed I did — that I gave it to him with all 45 Quality Street [acti. my love. Sister, I could bear all the rest ; but I have been unladylike, (miss susan tries to comfort her, but knows that it is true. The curtain falls, and we do not see the sisters again for ten years) End of Act I. Miss Phoebe is giving a dancing lesson to half a dozen pupils, and is doing her very best 'm ! ■' .: Act II THE SCHOOL Ten years later. It is the blue and white room still, but many of Miss Susans beautiful things have gone, some of them never to return ; others are stored upstairs. Their place is taken by grim, scholastic furniture: forms, a desk, a globe, a blackboard, heartless maps. It is here that Miss Phoebe keeps school. Miss Susan teaches in the room, opening off it, once the innocent spare bedroom, where there is a smaller blackboard {for easier sums) but no globe, as she is easily alarmed. Here are the younger pupils unless they have grown defiant, when they are promoted to the blue and white room to be under Miss Phoebe s braver rule. They really frighten Miss Phoebe also, but she does not let her sister know this. It is noon on a day in August, and through the window we can see that Quality Street is decorated with flags. We also hear at times martial music from- another street. Miss Phoebe is giving a dancing lesson to half a dozen pupils, and is doing her very best ; now she is at the spinet while they dance, and again she is showing them the new step. We know it is Miss Phoebe because some of her pretty airs and graces still cling to her in a forlorn way, but she is much changed. G 49 Quality Street [acth. Her curls are out of sight under a cap, her manner is prim, the light has gone from her eyes and buoyancy from her figure ; she looks not ten years older but twenty, and not an easy twenty. When the children are not looking at her we know that she has the headache. PHOEBE ( Who is sometimes at spinet and sometimes dancing) Toes out. So. Chest out, Georgy. Point your toes, Miss Beveridge — so. So — keep in line ; and young ladies, remember your toes, (georgy in his desire to please has protruded the wrong part of his person. She writes a Q on his chest with chalky C stands for chest, Georgy. This is S. (miss SUSAN darts out of the other room. She is less worn than miss phoebe.) MISS SUSAN {Whispering so that the pupils may not hear) Phoebe, how many are fourteen and seventeen ? PHOEBE {Almost instantly) Thirty-one. MISS SUSAN I thank you. {She darts off) 50 She writes a C on his chest with chalk Quality Street [act PHOEBE That will do, ladies and gentlemen. You may go. ( They bow or curtsey, and retire to miss Susan's room, with the exception of ARTHUR WELLESLEY TOMSON, who is standing in disgrace in a corner with the cap of shame on his head, and ISABELLA, a forbidding-looking, learned little girl. Isabella holds up her hand for permission to speak) ISABELLA Please, ma'am, father wishes me to acquire algebra. PHOEBE (JVith a sinking) Algebra! It — it is not a very ladylike study, Isabella. ISABELLA Father says, will you or won't you ? PHOEBE And you are thin. It will make you thinner, my dear. ISABELLA Father says I am thin but wiry. 52 n.j Quality Street PHOEBE Yes, you are. {IVith feeling) You are very wiry, Isabella. ISABELLA Father says, either I acquire algebra or I go to Miss Prothero's establishment. PHOEBE Very well, I — I will do my best. You may go. (ISABELLA goes, and phoebe sits wearily) ARTHUR {Fingering his cap) Please, ma'am, may I take it off now ? PHOEBE Certainly not. Unhappy boy (arthur grins) Come here. Are you ashamed of yourself? ARTHUR {Blithely) No, ma'am. PHOEBE {In a terrible voice) Arthur Wellesley Tom- son, fetch me the implement, (arthur goes 53 Quality Street [act briskly for the cane, and she hits the desk with it.) Arthur, surely that terrifies you ? ARTHUR No, ma'am. PHOEBE Arthur, why did you fight with that street boy? ARTHUR 'Cos he said that when you caned you did not draw blood. PHOEBE But I don't, do I ? ARTHUR No, ma'am. PHOEBE Then why fight him? {Remembering how strange boys are) Was it for the honour of the school ? ARTHUR Yes, ma'am. PHOEBE Say you are sorry, Arthur, and I won't punish you. {He bursts into tears.) 54 II.] Quality Street ARTHUR You promised to cane me, and now you are not going to do it. PHOEBE {Incredulous) Do you wish to be caned ? ARTHUR {Holding out his hmtd eagerly) If you please, Miss Phoebe. PHOEBE Unnatural boy. {She canes him in a very unprofessional manner.) Poor dear boy. {She kisses the hand) ARTHUR {Gloomily^ Oh, ma'am, you will never be able to cane if you hold it like that. You should hold it like this, Miss Phoebe, and give it a wriggle like that. {She is too soft- hearted to follow his instructions) PHOEBE {Almost in tears) Go away. ARTHUR {Remembering that women are strange) Don't cry, ma'am ; I love you, Miss Phoebe. {Sh£ 55 Quality Street [act seats him on her knee, and he thinks of a way to please her.) If any boy says you can't cane I will blood him, Miss Phoebe. (pHOEBE shudders, and miss susan again darts in. She signs to phoebe to send ARTHUR away.) MISS SUSAN {As soon as Arthur has gone) Phoebe, if a herring and a half cost three ha'pence, how many for elevenpence ? PHOEBE {Instantly) Eleven. MISS SUSAN William Smith says it is fifteen ; and he is such a big boy, do you think I ought to con- tradict him ? May I say there are differences of opinion about it ? No one can be really sure, Phoebe. PHOEBE It is eleven. I once worked it out with real herrings. {Stoutly) Susan, we must never let the big boys know that we are afraid of them. To awe them, stamp with the foot, speak in a 56 ^sx^^^^nt^^ Phoebe Unhappy boy — Are you ashamed of yourself? ii.j Quality Street ferocious voice, and look them unflinchingly in the face. {Then she pales.) Oh, Susan, Isabella's father insists on her acquiring algebra. MISS SUSAN What is algebra exactly ; is it those three cornered things ? PHOEBE It is X minus y equals z plus y and things like that. And all the time you are saying they are equal, you feel in your heart, why should they be. {The music of the band swells here, and both ladies put their hands to their ears.) It is the band for to-night's ball. We must not grudge their rejoicings, Susan. It is not every year that there is a Waterloo to celebrate. MISS SUSAN I was not thinking of that. I was thinking that he is to be at the ball to-night ; and we have not seen him for ten years. PHOEBE {Calmly) Yes, ten years. We shall be glad to welcome our old friend back, Susan. I am H 57 Quality Street [act going in to your room now to take the Latin class. {A soldier with a girl passes — yokel follows angrily.) MISS SUSAN Oh, that weary Latin, I wish I had the whipping of the man who invented it. {She returns to her room, and the sound of the music dies away, miss phoebe, who is not a very accomplished clas- sical scholar, is taking a final peep at the declensions when miss susan reappears excitedly) • PHOEBE What is it ? miss SUSAN {Tragically) William Smith ! Phoebe, I tried to look ferocious, indeed I did, but he saw I was afraid, and before the whole school he put out his tongue at me. PHOEBE Susan ! {She is lion-hearted ; she remembers Arthur's instructions, and practises with the cane) 58 II.] Quality Street MISS SUSAN {Frightened) Phoebe, he is much too big. Let it pass. PHOEBE If I let it pass I am a stumbling-block in the way of true education. MISS SUSAN Sister. PHOEBE {Grandly) Susan, stand aside. {Giving the cane Arthur's most telling flick, she marches into the other room. Then, while miss susan is listening nervously, captain valen- tine brown is ushered in by patty. He is bronzed and soldierly. He wears the whiskers of the period, and is in uniform. He has lost his left hand, but this is not at first noticeable^ PATTY Miss Susan, 'tis Captain Brown I miss susan Captain Brown ! 59 Quality Street [acth. VALENTINE {Greeting her warmly) Reports himself at home again. MISS SUSAN {Gratified) You call this home ? VALENTINE When the other men talked of their homes, Miss Susan, I thought of this room. {Looking about him) Maps — desks — heigho ! But still it is the same dear room. I have often dreamt, Miss Susan, that I came back to it in muddy shoes. {Seeing her alarm) I have not, you know. Miss Susan, I rejoice to find no change in you ; and Miss Phoebe — Miss Phoebe of the ringlets — I hope there be as little change in her? MISS SUSAN {Painfully) Phoebe of the ringlets ! Ah, Captain Brown, you need not expect to see her. VALENTINE She is not here? I vow it spoils all my home-coming. {At this moment the door of the other room is flung open and phoebe rushes out , followed by william smith who 60 Phoebe rushes out, followed by William Smith who is brandishing the cane Quality Street [act is brandishing the cane, valentine takes in the situation, and without looking at phoebe seizes william by the collar and marches him out of the school.) MISS SUSAN Phoebe, did you see who it is ? PHOEBE I saw. {In a sudden tremor) Susan, I have lost all my looks. {The pupils are crowding in from miss Susan's room and she orders them back and goes with them, valentine returns, and speaks as he enters, not recognising phoebe, whose back is to him.) valentine A young reprobate, madam, but I have deposited him on the causeway. I fear — {He stops, puzzled because the lady has covered her face with her hands.) PHOEBE Captain Brown. valentine Miss Phoebe, it is you ? 62 nj Quality Street {He goes to her, but he cannot help showing that her appearance is a shock to him.) PHOEBE {Without bitterness) Yes, I have changed very much, I have not worn well. Captain Brown. VALENTINE {Awkwardly) We — we are both older, Miss Phoebe. {He holds out his hand warmly, with affected high spirits) PHOEBE {Smiling reproachfully) It was both hands when you went away. {He has to show that his left hand is gone : she is overcome) I did not know. {She presses the empty sleeve in remorse) You never mentioned it in your letters. VALENTINE {Now grown rather stern) Miss Phoebe, what did you omit from your letters ? that you had such young blackguards as that to terrify you, 63 Quality Street [act PHOEBE He is the only one. Most of them are dear children ; and this is the last day of the term. VALENTINE Ah, ma'am, if only you had invested all your money as you laid out part by my advice. What a monstrous pity you did not. PHOEBE We never thought of it. VALENTINE You look so tired. PHOEBE I have the headache to-day. VALENTINE You did not use to have the headache. Curse those dear children. PHOEBE {Bravely) Nay, do not distress yourself about me. Tell me of yourself. We are so proud of the way in which you won your commission. Will you leave the army now ? 64 Arthur If any boy says you can t cane J will blood him. Mass Phoebe I ' I i! I ii.j Quality Street VALENTINE Yes ; and I have some intention of pursuing again the old life in Quality Street. {He is not a man who has reflected much. He has come back thinking that all the adventures have beeti his, and that the old life in Quality Street has waited, as in a sleep, to be resumed on the day of his return.) I came here in such high spirits, Miss Phoebe. PHOEBE {With a wry smile) The change in me depresses you. VALENTINE I was in hopes that you and Miss Susan would be going to the ball. I had brought cards for you with me to make sure. {She is pleased and means to accept. He sighs, and she understands that he thinks her too old.) PHOEBE But now you see that my dancing days are done. VALENTINE {Uncomfortably) Ah, no. I 65 Quality Street [act PHOEBE {Taking care he shall not see that he has hurt her) But you will find many charming partners. Some of them have been my pupils. There was even a pupil of mine who fought at Waterloo. VALENTINE Young Blades ; I have heard him on it. {She puts her hand wearily to her head.) Miss Phoebe — what a dull grey world it is! {She turns away to hide her emotion, and MISS susan comes in.) MISS SUSAN Phoebe, I have said that you will not take the Latin class to-day, and I am dismissing them. VALENTINE Latin ? PHOEBE {Rather defiantly) I am proud to teach it. {Breaking down) Susan — his arm — have you seen? (miss SUSAN also is overcome, but re- covers as the children crowd in.) 66 n] Quality Street MISS SUSAN Hats off, gentlemen salute, ladies curtsey — to the brave Captain Brown. (captain brown salutes them awk- wardly, and they cheer him, to his great discomfort , as they pass out.) VALENTINE {When they have gone) A terrible ordeal, ma'am. {The old friends look at each other, and there is a silence, valentine feels that all the fine tales and merry jests he has brought back for the ladies have turned into dead things. He wants to go away and think.) PHOEBE I wish you very happy at the ball. VALENTINE {Sighing) Miss Susan, cannot we turn all these maps and horrors out till the vacation is over? MISS SUSAN Indeed, sir, we always do. By to-morrow 67 Quality Street [act this will be my dear blue and white room again, and that my sweet spare bedroom. PHOEBE For five weeks I VALENTINE [Making vain belief) And then — the — the dashing Mr. Brown will drop in as of old, and, behold. Miss Susan on her knees once more putting tucks into my little friend the ottoman, and Miss Phoebe — Miss Phoebe — PHOEBE Phoebe of the ringlets ! {She goes out quietly.) VALENTINE {Miserably) Miss Susan, what a shame it is. MISS SUSAN {Hotly) Yes, it is a shame. VALENTINE {Suddenly become more of a man) The brave Captain Brown ! Good God, ma'am, how much more brave are the ladies who keep a school. (patty shows in two visitors, miss CHARLOTTE PARRATT and ENSIGN 68 ii] Quality Street BLADES. CHARLOTTE ts a pretty minx who we are glad to say does not reside in Quality Street, and BLADES is a callow youth, inviting admiration.) CHARLOTTE {As they salute) But I did not know you had company, Miss Susan. MISS SUSAN 'Tis Captain Brown — Miss Charlotte Parratt. CHARLOTTE {Gushing) The heroic Brown ? VALENTINE Alas, no, ma'am, the other one. CHARLOTTE Miss Susan, do you see who accompanies me? MISS SUSAN I cannot quite recall BLADES A few years ago, ma'am, there sat in this room a scrubby, inky little boy — I was that boy. 69 Quality Street [act MISS SUSAN Can it be our old pupil — Ensign Blades ? {She thinks him very fine, and he bows, well pleased^ BLADES Once a little boy and now your most obedient, ma'am. MISS SUSAN You have come to recall old memories ? BLADES Not precisely ; I — Charlotte, explain. CHARLOTTE Ensign Blades wishes me to say that it must seem highly romantic to you to have had a pupil who has fought at Waterloo. MISS SUSAN Not exactly romantic. I trust, sir, that when you speak of having been our pupil you are also so obliging as to mention that it was during our first year. Otherwise it makes us seem so elderly. {He bows again, in what he believes to be a quizzical manner) 70 ii.j Quality Street CHARLOTTE Ensign Blades would be pleased to hear, Miss Susan, what you think of him as a whole. MISS SUSAN Indeed, sir, I think you are monstrous fine. [Innocently] It quite awes me to remember that we used to whip him. VALENTINE {Delighted) Whipped him, Miss Susan ! {In solemn burlesque of charlotte) Ensign Blades wishes to indicate that it was more than Buonaparte could do. We shall meet again, bright boy. {He makes his adieux and goes.) BLADES Do you think he was quizzing me ? MISS SUSAN {Simply) I cannot think so. BLADES He said 'bright boy,' ma'am. MISS SUSAN I am sure, sir, he did not mean it. {Phoebe returns) 71 Quality Street [acth. PHOEBE Charlotte, I am happy to see you. You look delicious, my dear — so young aad fresh. CHARLOTTE La! Do you think so, Miss Phoebe? BLADES Miss Phoebe, your obedient. PHOEBE It is Ensign Blades I But how kind of you, sir, to revisit the old school. Please to sit down. CHARLOTTE Ensign Blades has a favour to ask of you, Miss Phoebe. BLADES I learn, ma'am, that Captain Brown has obtained a card for you for the ball, and I am here to solicit for the honour of standing up with you. {For the moment phoebe is flattered. Here, she believes, is some one who does not think her too old for the dance. Then she perceives a meaning smile pass between charlotte and the ensign.) 72 A soldier with a girl passes — yokel follows angrily She perceives a meaning smile pass between Charlotte and the Ensign PHOEBE {Paling) Is it that you desire to make sport of me ? K 73 Quality Street [act BLADES {Honestly distressed) Oh no, ma'am, I vow — but I — I am such a quiz, ma'am. MISS SUSAN Sister ! PHOEBE I am sorry, sir, to have to deprive you of some entertainment, but I am not going to the ball. MISS SUSAN {Haughtily) Ensign Blades, I bid you my adieux. BLADES {Ashamed) If I have hurt Miss Phoebe's feelings I beg to apologise. MISS SUSAN If you have hurt them. Oh, sir, how is it possible for any one to be as silly as you seem to be ? BLADES {Who cannot find the answer) Charlotte — explain. {But CHARLOTTE considers that their visit has not been sufficiently esteemed 74 iij Quality Street and departs with a cold curtsey, tak- ing him with her) (miss SUSAN turns sympathetically to PHOEBE, but PHOEBE, fighting with her pain, sits down at the spinet and plays at first excitedly a gay tune, then slowly, then comes to a stop with her head bowed. Soon she jumps up courageously, brushes away her dis- tress, gets an algebra book from the desk and sits down to study it. miss SUSAN is at the window, where ladies and gentlemen are now seen passing in ball attire)^ MISS SUSAN What book is it, Phoebe ? PHOEBE It is an algebra. MISS SUSAN They are going by to the ball. {In anger) My Phoebe should be going to the ball too. PHOEBE You jest, Susan, (miss susan watches her read, phoebe has to wipe away a tear ; soon 75 Quality Street [act she rises and gives way to the emotion she has been suppressing ever since the entrance of VALENTINE.) Susan, I hate him. Oh, Susan, I could hate him if it were not for his poor hand. MISS SUSAN My dear. PHOEBE He thought I was old, because I am weary, and he should not have forgotten. I am only thirty. Susan, why does thirty seem so much more than twenty-nine ? [As if valentine were present^ Oh, sir, how dare you look so pityingly at me ? Because I have had to work so hard, — is it a crime when a woman works ? Because I have tried to be courageous — have I been courageous, Susan ? MISS SUSAN God knows you have. PHOEBE But it has given me the headache, it has tired my eyes. Alas, Miss Phoebe, all your charm has gone, for you have the headache, and your eyes are tired. He is dancing with Charlotte Parratt now, Susan. ' I vow. Miss 76 ii.J Quality Street Charlotte, you are selfish and silly, but you are sweet eighteen.' ' Oh la. Captain Brown, what a quiz you are.' That delights him, Susan ; see how he waggles his silly head. MISS SUSAN Charlotte Parratt is a goose. PHOEBE 'Tis what gentlemen prefer. If there were a sufficient number of geese to go round, Susan, no woman of sense would ever get a husband. ' Charming Miss Charlotte, you are like a garden ; Miss Phoebe was like a garden once, but 'tis a faded garden now.' MISS SUSAN If to be ladylike PHOEBE Susan, I am tired of being ladylike. I am a young woman still, and to be ladylike is not enough. I wish to be bright and thoughtless and merry. It is every woman's birthright to be petted and admired ; I wish to be petted and admired. Was I born to be confined within these four walls? Are they the world, Susan, or is there anything beyond them ? I 77 Quality Street [act want to know. My eyes are tired because for ten years they have seen nothing but maps and desks. Ten years I Ten years ago I went to bed a young girl and I woke with this cap on my head. It is not fair. This is not me, Susan, this is some other person, I want to be myself. MISS SUSAN Phoebe, Phoebe, you who have always been so patient ! PHOEBE Oh no, not always. If you only knew how I have rebelled at times, you would turn from me in horror. Susan, I have a picture of my- self as I used to be ; I sometimes look at it. I sometimes kiss it, and say, ' Poor girl, they have all forgotten you. But I remember.' MISS SUSAN I cannot recall it. PHOEBE I keep it locked away in my room. Would you like to see it ? I shall bring it down. My room ! Oh, Susan, it is there that the Phoebe you think so patient has the hardest fight with herself, for there I have seemed to hear and 78 ii.j Quality Street see the Phoebe of whom this {looking at her- self) is but an image in a distorted glass. I have heard her singing as if she thought she was still a girl. I have heard her weeping ; per- haps it was only I who was weeping ; but she seemed to cry to me, ' Let me out of this prison, give me back the years you have taken from me. Oh, where are my pretty curls?' she cried. ' Where is my youth, my youth.' {She goes out, leaving miss susan woeful. Presently susan takes up the algebra book, and reads.) MISS SUSAN 'A stroke B multiplied by B stroke C equal AB stroke a little 2 ; stroke AC add BC. " Poor Phoebe ! " Multiply by C stroke A and we get — Poor Phoebe ! C a B stroke a little 2 stroke AC little 2 add BC. " Oh, I cannot believe it ! " Stroke a little 2 again, add AB little 2 add a little 2 C stroke a BC . . . (patty comes in with the lamp.) PATTY Hurting your poor eyes reading without a lamp. Think shame, Miss Susan. 79 Quality Street [act MISS SUSAN [With spirit) Patty, I will not be dictated to. (patty looks out at window^ Draw the cur- tains at once. I cannot allow you to stand gazing at the foolish creatures who crowd to a ball. PATTY {Closing curtains) I am not gazing at them, ma'am ; I am gazing at my sweetheart. MISS SUSAN Your sweetheart? {Softly) I did not know you had one. PATTY Nor have I, ma'am, as yet. But I looks out, and thinks I to myself, at any moment he may turn the corner. I ha' been looking out at windows waiting for him to oblige by turning the corner this fifteen years. MISS SUSAN Fifteen years, and still you are hopeful ? PATTY There is not a more hopeful woman in all the king's dominions. 80 Patty ushers in the sisters Willoughhy and Miss Henrietta. Miss Henrietta is wearing the new veil, which opens or closes like curtains when she pulls a string 1^ "f£ ! ;<;::5ili/C ii.j Quality Street MISS SUSAN You who are so much older than Miss Phoebe. PATTY Yes, ma'am, I ha' the advantage of her by- ten years. MISS SUSAN It would be idle to pretend that you are specially comely. PATTY That may be, but my face is my own, and the more I see it in the glass the more it pleases me. I never look at it but I say to myself, ' Who is to be the lucky man ? ' MISS SUSAN 'Tis wonderful. PATTY This will be a great year for females, ma'am. Think how many of the men that marched away strutting to the wars have come back limping. Who is to take off their wooden legs of an evening, Miss Susan ? You, ma'am, or me? MISS SUSAN Patty ! L 8i Quality Street [act PATTY {Doggedly) Or Miss Phoebe? {With feeling) The pretty thing that she was, Miss Susan. MISS SUSAN Do you remember, Patty ? I think there is no other person who remembers unless it be the Misses Willoughby and Miss Henrietta. PATTY {Eagerly) Give her a chance, ma'am, and take her to the balls. There be three of them this week, and the last ball will be the best, for 'tis to be at the barracks, and you will need a carriage to take you there, and there will be the packing of you into it by gallant squires and the unpacking of you out, and other devilries. MISS SUSAN Patty ! PATTY If Miss Phoebe were to dress young again and put candles in her eyes that used to be so bright, and coax back her curls — (pHOEBE returns, and a great change has come over her. She is young and 82 ii.j Quality Street pretty again. She is weaving the wedding-gown of act i., her ringlets are glorious, her figure youthful, her face flushed and animated, patty is the first to see her, and is astounded. PHOEBE signs to her to go.) PHOEBE {When PATTY has gone) Susan, (miss susan sees and is speechless) Susan, this is the picture of my old self that I keep locked away in my room, and sometimes take out of its box to look at. This is the girl who kisses herself in the glass and sings and dances with glee until I put her away frightened lest you should hear her. miss SUSAN How marvellous I Oh, Phoebe. PHOEBE Perhaps I should not do it, but it is so easy. I have but to put on the old wedding-gown and tumble my curls out of the cap. {Passion- ately) Sister, am I as changed as he says I am? 83 Quality Street [act MISS SUSAN You almost frighten me. {The band is heard) PHOEBE The music is calling to us. Susan, I will celebrate Waterloo in a little ball of my own. See, my curls have begun to dance, they are so anxious to dance. One dance, Susan, to Phoebe of the ringlets, and then I will put her away in her box and never look at her again. Ma'am, may I have the honour? Nay, then I shall dance alone. {She dances) Oh, Susan, I almost wish I were a goose. {Presently patty returns. She gazes at MISS PHOEBE dancing) patty Miss Phoebe ! PHOEBE {Still dancing) Not Miss Phoebe, Patty. I am not myself to-night, I am — let me see, I am my niece. PATTY {In a whisper to susan) But Miss Susan, 'tis Captain Brown. 84 ii.j Quality Street MISS SUSAN Oh, stop, Phoebe, stop ! PATTY Nay, let him see her ! (miss SUSAN hurries scandalised into the other room as valentine enters) VALENTINE I ventured to come back because (phoebe turns to him — he stops abruptly, bewildered). I beg your pardon, madam, I thought it was Miss Susan or Miss Phoebe. {His mistake surprises her, but she is in a wild mood and curtseys, then turns away and smiles. He stares as if half-convinced) PATTY ifVith an inspiration) 'Tis my mistresses' niece, sir ; she is on a visit here. {He is deceived. He bows gallantly, then remembers the object of his visit. He produces a bottle of medicine) valentine Patty, I obtained this at the apothecary's for 85 Quality Street [act Miss Phoebe's headache. It should be taken at once. PATTY Miss Phoebe is lying down, sir. VALENTINE Is she asleep ? PATTY {Demurely) No, sir, I think she be wide awake. VALENTINE It may soothe her. PHOEBE Patty, take it to Aunt Phoebe at once. (patty goes out sedately with the medi- cine^ VALENTINE {After a little awkwardness, which phoebe enjoys) Perhaps I may venture to introduce myself. Miss — Miss — ? PHOEBE Miss — Livvy, sir. VALENTINE I am Captain Brown, Miss Liwy, an old friend of both your aunts. 86 II.] Quality Street PHOEBE {Curtseying) I have heard them speak of a dashing Mr. Brown. But I think it cannot be the same. VALENTINE {A little chagrined) Why not, ma'am ? PHOEBE I ask your pardon, sir. VALENTINE I was sure you must be related. Indeed, for a moment the likeness — even the voice — PHOEBE {Pouting) \j3i, sir, you mean I am like Aunt Phoebe. Every one says so — and indeed 'tis no compliment. VALENTINE 'Twould have been a compliment once. You must be a daughter of the excellent Mr. James Throssel who used to reside at Great Buck- land. PHOEBE He is still there. 87 Quality Street [act VALENTINE A tedious twenty miles from here, as I remember. PHOEBE La ! I have found the journey a monstrous quick one, sir. {The band is again heard. She runs to the window to peep between the curtains, and his eyes follow her admiringly) VALENTINE {Eagerly) Miss Livvy, you go to the ball ? PHOEBE Alas, sir, I have no card. VALENTINE I have two cards for your aunts. As Miss Phoebe has the headache, your Aunt Susan must take you to the ball. PHOEBE Oh, oh ! {Her feet move to the music) Sir, I cannot control my feet. 88 r5^6c