Plays; First Series (Paperback)

Excerpt: ...more substantial. CLARE gives a sudden gasp, as if going off into hysterical laughter, but she stifles it, and shakes her head. YOUNG MAN. A peach? ARNAUD brings peaches to the table CLARE. Smiling Thank you. He fills their glasses and retreats CLARE. Raising her glass Eat and drink, for tomorrow we-Listen From the supper-party comes the sound of an abortive chorus: "With a hey ho, chivy, hark forrard, hark forrard, tantivy " Jarring out into a discordant whoop, it sinks. CLARE. "This day a stag must die." Jolly old song YOUNG MAN. Rowdy lot Suddenly I say-I admire your pluck. CLARE. Shaking her head Haven't kept my end up. Lots of women do You see: I'm too fine, and not fine enough My best friend said that. Too fine, and not fine enough. She laughs I couldn't be a saint and martyr, and I wouldn't be a soulless doll. Neither one thing nor the other-that's the tragedy. YOUNG MAN. You must have had awful luck CLARE. I did try. Fiercely But what's the good-when there's nothing before you?-Do I look ill? YOUNG MAN. No; simply awfully pretty. CLARE. With a laugh A man once said to me: "As you haven't money, you should never have been pretty " But, you see, it is some good. If I hadn't been, I couldn't have risked coming here, could I? Don't you think it was rather sporting of me to buy these She touches the gardenias with the last shilling over from my cab fare? YOUNG MAN. Did you really? D--d sporting CLARE. It's no use doing things by halves, is it? I'm-in for it- wish me luck She drinks, and puts her glass down with a smile In for it-deep She flings up her hands above her smiling face Down, down, till they're just above water, and then-down, down, down, and -all over Are you sorry now you came and spoke to me? YOUNG MAN. By Jove, no It may be caddish, but I'm not. CLARE. Thank God for beauty I hope I shall die pretty Do you think I shall do well? YOUNG MAN. I...