Barrie, J M - Quality Street

  PHOEBE. He is gone ! (MISS SUSAN'S rapt face alarms her.) Oh, Susan, was he as dreadful as that?

  140 QUALITY STREET [ACT

  MISS SUSAN (in tones unnatural to her). Phoebe, he knows all.

  PHOEBE. Yes, of course he knows all now. Sister, did his face change? Oh, Susan, what did he say ?

  MISS SUSAN. He said * Good-bye, Miss Susan.' That was almost all he said.

  PHOEBE. Did his eyes flash fire ?

  MISS SUSAN. Phoebe, it was what he did. He he took Livvy with him.

  PHOEBE. Susan, dear, don't say that. You are not distraught, are you ?

  MISS SUSAN (clinging to facts). He did; he wrapped her up in a shawl.

  PHOEBE. Susan ! You are Susan Throssel, my love. You remember me, don't you? Phoebe, your sister. I was Liwy also, you know, Livvy.

  MISS SUSAN. He took Liwy with him.

  PHOEBE (in woe}. Oh, oh ! sister, who am I?

  MISS SUSAN. You are Phoebe.

  PHOEBE. And who was Liwy?

  MISS SUSAN. You were,

  iv.] QUALITY STREET 141

  PHOEBE. Thank heaven.

  MISS SUSAN. But he took her away in the carriage.

  PHOEBE. Oh, dear ! (She has quite forgotten her own troubles now.) Susan, you will soon be well again. Dear, let us occupy our minds. Shall we draw up the advertisement for the reopening of the school ?

  MISS SUSAN. I do so hate the school.

  PHOEBE. Come, dear, come, sit down. Write, Susan. (Dictating.) 'The Misses Throssel have the pleasure to announce '

  MISS SUSAN. Pleasure ! Oh, Phoebe.

  PHOEBE. 'That they will resume school on the 5th of next month. Music, embroidery, the backboard, and all the elegancies of the mind. Latin shall we say algebra?'

  MISS SUSAN. I refuse to write algebra.

  PHOEBE. for beginners.

  MISS SUSAN. I refuse. There is only one thing I can write; it writes itself in my head all day. 'Miss Susan Throssel presents her com- pliments to the Misses Willoughby and Miss Henrietta Turnbull, and requests the honour of

  142 QUALITY STREET [ACT

  their presence at the nuptials of her sister Phoebe and Captain Valentine Brown.'

  PHOEBE. Susan !

  MISS SUSAN. Phoebe! (A door is heard banging.) He has returned !

  PHOEBE. Oh cruel, cruel. Susan, I am so alarmed.

  MISS SUSAN. I will face him.

  PHOEBE. Nay, if it must be, I will.

  (But when he enters he is not very terrible.)

  VALENTINE. Miss Phoebe, it is not raining, but your face is wet. I wish always to kiss you when your face is wet.

  PHOEBE. Susan !

  VALENTINE. Miss Liwy will never trouble you any more, Miss Susan. I have sent her home.

  MISS SUSAN. Oh, sir, how can you invent such a story for us.

  VALENTINE. I did not. I invented it for the Misses Willoughby and Miss Henrietta, who from their windows watched me put her into my carriage. Patty accompanies her, and in a few hours Patty will return alone.

  iv.] QUALITY STREET 143

  MISS SUSAN. Phoebe, he has got rid of Livvy !

  PHOEBE. Susan, his face hasn't changed !

  VALENTINE. Dear Phoebe Throssel, will you be Phoebe Brown ?

  PHOEBE (quivering). You know everything? And that I am not a garden ?

  VALENTINE. I know everything, ma'am except that.

  PHOEBE (so very glad to be prim at the end). Sir, the dictates of my heart enjoin me to accept your too flattering offer. (He puts her cap in his pocket. He kisses her. MISS SUSAN is about to steal away.) Oh, sir, Susan also. (He kisses MISS SUSAN also; and here we bid them good-bye.)

  The End.