DANIEL. Little Joyce----s.p.a.cELEFT(_Joyce moves to top of table_)
SYLVIA (_kissing him_). D"you know you haven"t changed a bit since I last saw you!
(DANIEL _smiles at her._)
DANIEL. May I say that it gives me immeasurable joy to be here once more in the bosom of my family. (_Sits on Chesterfield._)
BOBBIE. We"re not really your family, but never mind.
DANIEL. I don"t. But I have looked forward to this moment through the long sun-scorched nights with the great dome of the sky above me--shapes have drifted out of the surrounding blackness and beckoned to me, crying "Home, home" in depressing voices. I have heard the sand-bug calling to its mate. "Home," it said, and bit me----
(SYLVIA _sits on arm of chair_, R.C.)
MRS. DERMOTT. Silly old darling, Danny. (_Sits_ R. _of Chesterfield_.)
JOYCE. What did you do out there, Uncle?
DANIEL. Lots of things--gold mining, ranching, auction----
BOBBIE. Auction? (_Leaning on table._)
MRS. DERMOTT. Is it a very wonderful life, Danny?
DANIEL. Occasionally--on good days.
BOBBIE. How do you mean, good days?
DANIEL (_rather embarra.s.sed_). Well--er--just good days.
MRS. DERMOTT. Do come and sit down, all of you; you look so terribly restless.
(_They sit,_ OLIVER _on arm of Chesterfield,_ JOYCE _crosses to form_ R., EVANGELINE _on club-fender,_ BOBBIE _chair below table,_ SYLVIA _arm-chair._)
DANIEL. I feel restless. It must be the home surroundings after all these years.
BOBBIE. I should love to go abroad.
DANIEL. It would make a man of you, my boy.
BOBBIE. I should simply loathe that.
DANIEL. So should I between ourselves, but still----. Oh, by the way, I--I have something rather important to say to you, you must prepare yourselves for a shock--I--I----s.p.a.cELEFT(_He dabs his eyes with his handkerchief._)
MRS. DERMOTT. What on earth is it, Danny?
DANIEL. I--I----s.p.a.cELEFT(_Another dab._)
SYLVIA. Oh, uncle, tell us.
DANIEL. I--er--it"s this. I consulted my doctor just before I sailed.
MRS. DERMOTT. Yes?
DANIEL. He--he gave me just three years to live.
MRS. DERMOTT. Danny, what do you mean?
DANIEL (_firmly_). It"s true--three years, he said.
MRS. DERMOTT. It"s the most awful thing. Tell us why--what"s the matter with you? (_Quickly._)
DANIEL (_rather staggered_). The matter with me?
MRS. DERMOTT. Yes, of course, you must see a specialist at once.
DANIEL (_pulling himself together dramatically_). No specialist in the world could ever do me any good.
MRS. DERMOTT. Well, what is it? For G.o.d"s sake tell us!
DANIEL (_takes big breath_). Sleeping sickness! (_Smiles broadly at_ MRS. DERMOTT.)
MRS. DERMOTT. What!! (_They all move._)
DANIEL. Yes, it"s frightfully prevalent out there.
MRS. DERMOTT. Oh, Danny, I hope its not infectious.
OLIVER. Sleeping sickness! By Jove!
DANIEL. Yes, I simply daren"t go to sleep without an alarm clock.
MRS. DERMOTT. Danny darling, it"s all too dreadful--I can"t believe it.
BOBBIE (_rising_). But, uncle, I thought sleeping sickness polished you off in one night.
DANIEL (_embarra.s.sed_). So it does, but that one night won"t happen to me for three years. The doctor says so. He knows. You see I"ve got it internally or something.
MRS. DERMOTT (_firmly_). You must never go back there--you shall stay with us until--until--the end----
(_She breaks down, sobs on_ DANIEL"S _shoulder._)
SYLVIA (_goes behind Chesterfield_). Oh, mother darling, don"t cry.
(_She looks at_ DANIEL _rather angrily._)
DANIEL (_rising_). I"m sorry I have upset you, Anne. But I have told you this to-day with a purpose in my mind. (_Moving to_ C.)
OLIVER. A purpose?
DANIEL (L. _of arm-chair_). Yes, I have a few words to say to you all--words which, though they may sound a little mercenary, are in reality prompted by very deep feeling.