Complete Works of James Joyce (305 page)

BRIGID

O, they are lovely, sir. The mistress will be delighted with them.

ROBERT

(Lays the roses carelessly on a chair out of sight.)
Is nobody in?

BRIGID

Yes, sir. Sit down, sir. They’ll be here now any moment. The master was here.
(She looks about her and with a half curtsey goes out on the right.)

ROBERT

(After a short silence.)
How are you, Beatty? And how are all down in Youghal? As dull as ever?

BEATRICE

They were well when I left.

ROBERT

(Politely.)
O, but I’m sorry I did not know you were coming. I would have met you at the train. Why did you do it? You have some queer ways about you, Beatty, haven’t you?

BEATRICE

(In the same tone.)
Thank you, Robert. I am quite used to getting about alone.

ROBERT

Yes, but I mean to say... O, well, you have arrived in your own characteristic way.
(A noise is heard at the window and a boy’s voice is heard calling,
Mr Hand!
Robert turns.)
By Jove, Archie, too, is arriving in a characteristic way!

541

(Archie scrambles into the room through the open window on the left and then rises to his feet, flushed and panting. Archie is a boy of eight years, dressed in white breeches, jersey and cap. He wears spectacles, has a lively manner and speaks with the slight trace of a foreign accent.)

BEATRICE

(Going towards him.)
Goodness gracious, Archie! What is the matter?

ARCHIE

(Rising, out of breath.)
Eh! I ran all the avenue.

ROBERT

(Smiles and holds out his hand.)
Good evening, Archie. Why did you run?

ARCHIE

(Shakes hands.)
Good evening. We saw you on the top of the tram, and I shouted
Mr Hand!
But you did not see me. But we saw you, mamma and I. She will be here in a minute. I ran.

BEATRICE

(Holding out her hand.)
And poor me!

ARCHIE

(Shakes hands somewhat shyly.)
Good evening, Miss Justice.

BEATRICE

Were you disappointed that I did not come last Friday for the lesson?

ARCHIE

(Glancing at her, smiles.)
No.

BEATRICE

Glad?

ARCHIE

(Suddenly.)
But today it is too late.

BEATRICE

A very short lesson?

ARCHIE

(Pleased.)
Yes.

BEATRICE

But now you must study, Archie.

ROBERT

Were you at the bath?

ARCHIE

Yes.

ROBERT

Are you a good swimmer now?

ARCHIE

(Leans against the davenport.)
No. Mamma won’t let me into the deep place. Can you swim well, Mr Hand?

542

ROBERT

Splendidly. Like a stone.

ARCHIE

(Laughs.)
Like a stone!
(Pointing down.)
Down that way?

ROBERT

(Pointing.)
Yes, down; straight down. How do you say that over in Italy?

ARCHIE

That?
Giù. (Pointing down and up.)
That is
giù
and this is
sù.
Do you want to speak to my pappie?

ROBERT

Yes. I came to see him.

ARCHIE

(Going towards the study)
I will tell him. He is in there, writing.

BEATRICE

(Calmly, looking at Robert.)
No; he is out. He is gone to the post with some letters.

ROBERT

(Lightly.)
O, never mind. I will wait if he is only gone to the post.

ARCHIE

But mamma is coming.
(He glances towards the window.)
Here she is!

(Archie runs out by the door on the left. Beatrice walks slowly towards the davenport. Robert remains standing. A short silence. Archie and Bertha come in through the door on the left. Bertha is a young woman of graceful build. She has dark grey eyes, patient in expression, and soft features. Her manner is cordial and selfpossessed. She wears a lavender dress and carries her cream gloves knotted round the handle of her sunshade.)

BERTHA

(Shaking hands.)
Good evening, Miss Justice. We thought you were still down in Youghal.

BEATRICE

(Shaking hands.)
Good evening, Mrs Rowan.

BERTHA

(Bows.)
Good evening, Mr Hand.

ROBERT

(Bowing.)
Good evening,
signora!
Just imagine, I didn’t know either she was back till I found her here.

BERTHA

(To both.)
Did you not come together?

543

BEATRICE

No. I came first. Mr Rowan was going out. He said you would be back any moment.

BERTHA

I’m sorry. If you had written or sent over word by the girl this morning...

BEATRICE

(Laughs nervously.)
I arrived only an hour and a half ago. I thought of sending a telegram but it seemed too tragic.

BERTHA

Ah? Only now you arrived?

ROBERT

(Extending his arms, blandly.)
I retire from public and private life. Her first cousin and a journalist, I know nothing of her movements.

BEATRICE

(Not directly to him.)
My movements are not very interesting.

ROBERT

(In the same tone.)
A lady’s movements are always interesting.

BERTHA

But sit down, won’t you? You must be very tired.

BEATRICE

(Quickly.)
No, not at all. I just came for Archie’s lesson.

BERTHA

I wouldn’t hear of such a thing, Miss Justice, after your long journey.

ARCHIE

(Suddenly to Beatrice.)
And, besides, you didn’t bring the music.

BEATRICE

(A little confused.)
That I forgot. But we have the old piece.

ROBERT

(Pinching Archie’s ear.)
You little scamp. You want to get off the lesson.

BERTHA

O, never mind the lesson. You must sit down and have a cup of tea now.
(Going towards the door on the right.)
I’ll tell Brigid.

ARCHIE

I will, mamma.
(He makes a movement to go.)

BEATRICE

No, please Mrs Rowan. Archie! I would really prefer...

ROBERT

(Quietly.)
I suggest a compromise. Let it be a half-lesson.

544

BERTHA

But she must be exhausted.

BEATRICE

(Quickly.)
Not in the least. I was thinking of the lesson in the train.

ROBERT

(To Bertha.)
You see what it is to have a conscience, Mrs Rowan.

ARCHIE

Of my lesson, Miss Justice?

BEATRICE

(Simply.)
It is ten days since I heard the sound of a piano.

BERTHA

O, very well. If that is it...

ROBERT

(Nervously, gaily.)
Let us have the piano by all means. I know what is in Beatty’s ears at this moment.
(To Beatrice.)
Shall I tell?

BEATRICE

If you know.

ROBERT

The buzz of the harmonium in her father’s parlour.
(To Beatrice.)
Confess.

BEATRICE

(Smiling.)
Yes. I can hear it.

ROBERT

(Grimly.)
So can I. The asthmatic voice of protestantism.

BERTHA

Did you not enjoy yourself down there, Miss Justice?

ROBERT

(Intervenes.)
She did not, Mrs Rowan. She goes there on retreat, when the protestant strain in her prevails — gloom, seriousness, righteousness.

BEATRICE

I go to see my father.

ROBERT

(Continuing.)
But she comes back here to my mother, you see. The piano influence is from our side of the house.

BERTHA

(Hesitating.)
Well, Miss Justice, if you would like to play something... But please don’t fatigue yourself with Archie.

ROBERT

(Suavely.)
Do, Beatty. That is what you want.

BEATRICE

If Archie will come?

ARCHIE

(With a shrug.)
To listen.

BEATRICE

(Takes his hand.)
And a little lesson, too. Very short.

545

BERTHA

Well, afterwards you must stay to tea.

BEATRICE

(To Archie.)
Come.

(Beatrice and Archie go out together by the door on the left. Bertha goes towards the davenport, takes off her hat and lays it with her sunshade on the desk. Then taking a key from a little flowervase, she opens a drawer of the davenport, takes out a slip of paper and closes the drawer again. Robert stands watching her.)

BERTHA

(Coming towards him with the paper in her hand.)
You put this into my hand last night. What does it mean?

ROBERT

Do you not know?

BERTHA

(Reads.) There is one word which I have never dared to say to you.
What is the word?