DANIEL. That makes it none the less natural or healthy.
JOYCE. Of course it didn"t. You see--I mean to say--we--well, they sent me in to tell you that----
DANIEL. Perhaps you"d better tell me another time when you are more in the mood. Have you seen the papers anywhere?
JOYCE. They ought to be over there. (_She points to window seat_ R., _and goes down to_ BOBBIE"S _chair._)
DANIEL (_rising and moving quickly to_ R.). Thanks. Don"t you bother--I can get my own paper. (_Gets newspaper and returns to his seat at the head of the table._)
(_There is a long silence_, DANIEL _reads the paper._ JOYCE _shakes her head as_ OLIVER _strolls in from the garden and looks at_ JOYCE _for news._)
OLIVER. Have you had your breakfast, uncle?
DANIEL. Yes, thank you, and I slept beautifully.
OLIVER. It"s a jolly nice morning.
DANIEL. That remark makes up in truth for what it lacks in originality.
OLIVER. Oh. (_Moves to window_, L.C., _turns, catches_ DANIEL"S _eye and turns quickly back._)
(JOYCE _continues to fidget at the foot of the table. Enter_ BOBBIE _downstairs and_ EVANGELINE, R. _They look meaningly at_ JOYCE, _who shakes her head vigorously._)
DANIEL. Have you a headache, Joyce, you keep wagging it about.
JOYCE (_very politely_). No, thank you, uncle, I----
DANIEL. Splendid, then I shan"t have to offer you an aspirin.
EVANGELINE and BOBBIE (_together, coming forward hand-in-hand down_ R.C.). Uncle, we"ve all been----s.p.a.cELEFT(_They stop._)
DANIEL. Yes?
(_There is business of each of them wishing the other to speak to_ DANIEL.)
Tell me one thing, if any of you are capable of uttering a word, is this a game? Have I got to guess whether something"s a vegetable or a mineral or something?
EVANGELINE. No, uncle, it"s a much harder game than that--for us, anyhow. We"ve come to apologise.
DANIEL (_lowering the paper_). Oh, have you? (_Turns to them._)
EVANGELINE. Oh, won"t you please be nice and make it easier for us?
DANIEL. You none of you made things in the least easy for me.
EVANGELINE. I know we didn"t, but we"re all sorry--frightfully sorry--we"ve talked it all over. Sylvia said we were beasts and ghouls and we wouldn"t admit it then, but we do now. We are terribly ashamed of the way we"ve behaved. Please, please say you forgive us. (_Kneels to him._)
BOBBIE (_placing chair behind Chesterfield_). And it doesn"t matter about Faith, uncle, I"m glad you were the means of showing her up. I don"t love her a bit now. I hate her, and we all want you to understand that we"d rather have you alive and with us than all the beastly money in the world.
JOYCE (_leaning forward over table_). And we"ll do anything you like to atone for it. We"ll abase ourselves like they used to in the olden days to show they repented.
OLIVER. Will you let it go at that, uncle? (_He comes forward to_ L.
_of_ DANIEL.)
DANIEL (_softly_). I should just think I will. (_Kisses_ EVANGELINE.)
(JOYCE _comes round and kisses him._ OLIVER _moves down_ L. EVANGELINE _moves behind table._)
JOYCE (_running to_ R.). Sylvia! Sylvia! Mother, come here! It"s all right!
(_Enter_ MRS. DERMOTT _from_ R.)
MRS. DERMOTT. I"ve just come out of the boiler. What on earth is all this noise?
JOYCE. We"ve all made it up with Uncle Daniel and he"s forgiven us.
MRS. DERMOTT. I"m sure I"m very glad, darlings, and I hope you"re none of you too old to take a lesson from it. (_Comes to_ DANIEL"S R.)
(_Enter_ SYLVIA _downstairs._)
SYLVIA. Is everything forgiven and forgotten?
DANIEL. Everything. (_Rising._)
(_Enter_ GRIGGS, R., _with cablegram._)
GRIGGS (_handing it to_ UNCLE DANIEL). For you, sir.
DANIEL. Excuse me. (_Takes it, opens it in silence and reads it._) My G.o.d!
MRS. DERMOTT. What is it, dear, what is it?
DANIEL. It"s not true! After all these years, I can"t believe it!
SYLVIA. What is it, Uncle, tell us, tell us, quick.
DANIEL. It"s from my agent. Listen! (_Reads._) "Struck big vein, Santa Lyta mine--come at once!" I"m worth thousands, thousands. (_Going down_ R. _gives_ MRS. DERMOTT _telegram as he pa.s.ses her. The others, except_ SYLVIA, _crowd round her_ C., _excited at the news._)
MRS. DERMOTT. There now.... I told you so.
SYLVIA (_coming_ L. _of him_). Uncle! Did you send that telegram to yourself?
UNCLE. Yes!!!
CURTAIN.
[Ill.u.s.tration: A Sheet of Musical Notation: "Faith."