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Plays: Lady Frederick, The Explorer, A Man of Honour
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Год написания книги
2017
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[Searching his memory.] Bush … Bush… [With a smile.] The only Jenny Bush I've ever heard of was a rather pretty little barmaid in Fleet Street. Presumably you're not going to marry her.
[John has said this quite lightly, not guessing for a moment that it can have anything to do with the person Basil proposes to marry. Then, since Basil makes no answer, John looks at him sharply: there is a silence while the two men stare at one another.
John
Basil, it's not the woman we used to know before you went out to the Cape?
Basil
[Pale and nervous, but determined.] I've just told you that you used to know Jenny.
John
Man alive, you're not going to marry the barmaid of the "Golden Crown"?
Basil
[Looking at him steadily.] Jenny was a barmaid at the "Golden Crown."
John
But, good Lord, Basil, what d'you mean? You're not serious?
Basil
Perfectly! We're going to be married this day week.
John
Are you stark, staring mad? Why on earth d'you want to marry Jenny Bush?
Basil
That's rather a delicate question, isn't it? [With a smile.] Presumably because I'm in love with her.
John
Well, that's a silly ass of an answer.
Basil
It's quite the most obvious.
John
Nonsense! Why, I've been in love with twenty girls, and I haven't married them all. One can't do that sort of thing in a country where they give you seven years for bigamy. Every public-house along the Thames from Barnes to Taplow is the tombstone of an unrequited passion of my youth. I loved 'em dearly, but I never asked 'em to marry me.
Basil
[Tightening his lips.] I'd rather you didn't make jokes about it, John.
John
Are you sure you're not making an ass of yourself? If you've got into a mess, surely we can get you out. Marriage, like hanging, is rather a desperate remedy.
[Basil is sitting down and moodily shrugs his shoulders. John goes up to him, and putting his hands on his friend's shoulders looks into his eyes.
John
Why are you going to marry her, Basil?
Basil
[Springing up impatiently.] Damn you, why don't you mind your own business?
John
Don't be a fool, Basil.
Basil
Can't I marry any one I choose? It's nothing to you, is it? D'you suppose I care if she's a barmaid?
[He walks up and down excitedly, while John with steady eyes watches him.
John
Basil, old man, we've known each other a good many years now. Don't you think you'd better trust me?
Basil
[Setting his teeth.] What d'you want to know?
John
Why are you going to marry her?
Basil
[Abruptly, fiercely.] Because I must.
John
[Nodding his head quietly.] I see.
[There is a silence. Then Basil, more calmly turns to John.
Basil
[John has said this quite lightly, not guessing for a moment that it can have anything to do with the person Basil proposes to marry. Then, since Basil makes no answer, John looks at him sharply: there is a silence while the two men stare at one another.
John
Basil, it's not the woman we used to know before you went out to the Cape?
Basil
[Pale and nervous, but determined.] I've just told you that you used to know Jenny.
John
Man alive, you're not going to marry the barmaid of the "Golden Crown"?
Basil
[Looking at him steadily.] Jenny was a barmaid at the "Golden Crown."
John
But, good Lord, Basil, what d'you mean? You're not serious?
Basil
Perfectly! We're going to be married this day week.
John
Are you stark, staring mad? Why on earth d'you want to marry Jenny Bush?
Basil
That's rather a delicate question, isn't it? [With a smile.] Presumably because I'm in love with her.
John
Well, that's a silly ass of an answer.
Basil
It's quite the most obvious.
John
Nonsense! Why, I've been in love with twenty girls, and I haven't married them all. One can't do that sort of thing in a country where they give you seven years for bigamy. Every public-house along the Thames from Barnes to Taplow is the tombstone of an unrequited passion of my youth. I loved 'em dearly, but I never asked 'em to marry me.
Basil
[Tightening his lips.] I'd rather you didn't make jokes about it, John.
John
Are you sure you're not making an ass of yourself? If you've got into a mess, surely we can get you out. Marriage, like hanging, is rather a desperate remedy.
[Basil is sitting down and moodily shrugs his shoulders. John goes up to him, and putting his hands on his friend's shoulders looks into his eyes.
John
Why are you going to marry her, Basil?
Basil
[Springing up impatiently.] Damn you, why don't you mind your own business?
John
Don't be a fool, Basil.
Basil
Can't I marry any one I choose? It's nothing to you, is it? D'you suppose I care if she's a barmaid?
[He walks up and down excitedly, while John with steady eyes watches him.
John
Basil, old man, we've known each other a good many years now. Don't you think you'd better trust me?
Basil
[Setting his teeth.] What d'you want to know?
John
Why are you going to marry her?
Basil
[Abruptly, fiercely.] Because I must.
John
[Nodding his head quietly.] I see.
[There is a silence. Then Basil, more calmly turns to John.
Basil
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