MRS GILBEY. [piously] Aye! He found out, didnt he?
GILBEY. [reverently] I never denied that youve a great intellect,
Mrs Knox--
MRS KNOX. Oh get along with you, Gilbey, if you begin talking about
my intellect. Give us some tea, Maria. Ive said my say; and Im sure
I beg the company's pardon for being so long about it, and so
disagreeable.
MRS GILBEY. Ring, Rob. [Gilbey rings]. Stop. Juggins will think
we're ringing for him.
GILBEY. [appalled] It's too late. I rang before I thought of it.
MRS GILBEY. Step down and apologize, Rob.
KNOX. Is it him that you said was brother to a--
_Juggins comes in with the tea-tray. All rise. He takes the tray to
Mrs. Gilbey._
GILBEY. I didnt mean to ask you to do this, Mr Juggins. I wasnt
thinking when I rang.
MRS GILBEY. [trying to take the tray from him] Let me, Juggins.
JUGGINS. Please sit down, madam. Allow me to discharge my duties
just as usual, sir. I assure you that is the correct thing. [They
sit down, ill at ease, whilst he places the tray on the table. He
then goes out for the curate].
KNOX. [lowering his voice] Is this all right, Gilbey? Anybody may
be the son of a duke, you know. Is he legitimate?
GILBEY. Good lord! I never thought of that.
_Juggins returns with the cakes. They regard him with suspicion._
GILBEY. [whispering to Knox] You ask him.
KNOX. [to Juggins] Just a word with you, my man. Was your mother
married to your father?
JUGGINS.
Pages:
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90