VOICE. (_From the bed._) All down the street--such bonfires! _Ayah_, go and put them out! (_Appealingly._) How can I sleep with an installation of the C.I.E. in my room? No--not C.I.E. Something else. _What_ was it?
CAPT. G. (_Trying to control his voice._) Minnie, I"m here. (_Bending over bed._) Don"t you know me, Minnie? It"s me--it"s Phil--it"s your husband.
VOICE. (_Mechanically._) It"s me--it"s Phil--it"s your husband.
CAPT. G. She doesn"t know me!--It"s your own husband, darling,
VOICE. Your own husband, darling.
AYAH. (_With an inspiration._) _Memsahib_ understanding all _I_ saying.
CAPT. G. Make her understand me then--quick!
AYAH. (_Hand on_ MRS. G"s _forehead._) _Memsahib!_ Captain Sahib here.
VOICE. _Salma do._ (_Fretfully._) I know I"m not fit to be seen.
AYAH. (_Aside to_ G.) Say _"marneen"_ same as breakfash.
CAPT. G. Good-morning, little woman. How are we to-day?
VOICE. That"s Phil. Poor old Phil. (_Viciously._) Phil, you fool, I can"t see you. Come nearer.
CAPT. G. Minnie! Minnie! It"s me--you know me?
VOICE. (_Mockingly._) Of course I do. Who does not know the man who was so cruel to his wife--almost the only one he ever had?
CAPT. G. Yes, dear. Yes--of course, of course. But won"t you speak to him? He wants to speak to you so much.
VOICE. They"d never let him in. The Doctor would give _darwaza bund_ even if he were in the house. He"ll never come. (_Despairingly._) O Judas! Judas! Judas!
CAPT. G. (_Putting out his arms._) They have let him in, and he always was in the house. Oh, my love--don"t you know me?
VOICE. (_In a half chant._) "And it came to pa.s.s at the eleventh hour that this poor soul repented." It knocked at the gates, but they were shut--tight as a plaster--a great, burning plaster. They had pasted our marriage certificate all across the door, and it was made of red-hot iron--people really ought to be more careful, you know.
CAPT. G. What _am_ I to do? (_Takes her in his arms._) Minnie! speak to me--to Phil.
VOICE. What shall I say? Oh, tell me what to say before it"s too late!
They are all going away and I can"t say anything.
CAPT. G. Say you know me! Only say you know me!
DOCTOR. (_Who has entered quietly._) For pity"s sake don"t take it too much to heart, Gadsby. It"s this way sometimes. They won"t recognise.
They say all sorts of queer things--don"t you _see?_
CAPT. G. All right! All right! Go away now, she"ll recognise me; you"re bothering her. She _must_--mustn"t she?
DOCTOR. She will before--Have I your leave to try--?
CAPT. G. Anything you please, so long as she"ll know me. It"s only a question of--hours, isn"t it?
DOCTOR. (_Professionally._) While there"s life there"s hope, y"know. But don"t build on it.
CAPT. G. I don"t. Pull her together if it"s possible. (_Aside._) What have I done to deserve this?
DOCTOR. (_Bending over bed._) Now, Mrs. Gadsby! We shall be all right to-morrow. You _must_ take it, or I shan"t let Phil see you. It isn"t nasty, is it?
VOICE. Medicines! _Always_ more medicines! Can"t you leave me alone?
CAPT. G. Oh, leave her in peace, Doc!
DOCTOR. (_Stepping back,--aside._) May I be forgiven if I"ve done wrong.
(_Aloud._) In a few minutes she ought to be sensible; but I daren"t tell you to look for anything. It"s only--
CAPT. G. What? Go _on_, man.
DOCTOR. (_In a whisper._) Forcing the last rally.
CAPT. G. Then leave us alone.
DOCTOR. Don"t mind what she says at first, if you can. They--they--they turn against those they love most sometimes in this.--It"s hard, but--
CAPT. G. Am I her husband or are you? Leave us alone for what time we have together.
VOICE. (_Confidentially._) And we were engaged _quite_ suddenly, Emma.
I a.s.sure you that I never thought of it for a moment; but, oh, my little Me!--I don"t know _what_ I should have done if he _hadn"t_ proposed.
CAPT. G. She thinks of that Deercourt girl before she thinks of me.
(_Aloud._) Minnie!
VOICE. Not from the shops, Mummy dear. You can get the real leaves from Kaintu, and (_laughing weakly_) never mind about the blossoms--Dead white silk is only fit for widows, and I _won"t_ wear it. It"s as bad as a winding sheet. (_A long pause._)
CAPT. G. I never asked a favour yet. If there is anybody to listen to me, let her know me--even if I die too!
VOICE. (_Very faintly._) Pip, Pip dear.
CAPT. G. I"m here, darling.
VOICE. What has happened? They"ve been bothering me so with medicines and things, and they wouldn"t let you come and see me. I was never ill before. Am I ill now?
CAPT. G. You--you aren"t quite well.
VOICE. How funny! Have I been ill long?
CAPT. G. Some days; but you"ll be all right in a little time.
VOICE. Do you think so, Pip? I don"t feel well and--Oh! what _have_ they done to my hair?
CAPT. G. I d-d-don"t know.