More Portmanteau Plays

_Before the House of Obaa-San_

[_It is moonlight. As the curtain opens, Obaa-San is heard singing the lullaby; from the distance the voice of Riki calls._

Riki. Aoyagi!--Aoyagi!--Aoyagi!--Aoyagi! Oi!

[_Obaa-San appears in the doorway._

Aoyagi!

OBAA-SAN (_She goes toward the voice_)

Oi!

[_Riki enters._

Riki. Obaa-San! Where is Aoyagi?

Obaa-San. Where is Aoyagi?

Riki. Is she not here?

Obaa-San. She is not here. Where--Riki!

Riki. I left her in the bamboo glade--and when I returned she was gone. Her footprints pointed toward the path--and then were lost.

Obaa-San. Why did you leave her?

Riki. I left her because she--I left her.

Obaa-San. I do not know, Riki, what has come to pass--but this I know--I am waiting for her.--I am waiting for her. Go seek for her--and bring her back to me.

Riki. I shall search for her.--Obaa-San, she--

Obaa-San. I care not what she did. I am waiting here for her.

[_Riki looks at Obaa-San a moment and then understands._

Riki. Aoyagi!

[_He goes out. Obaa-San turns to the empty house--the empty willow tree._

Obaa-San. She will come back to me.

[_She goes into the house. The Gaki enters._

The Gaki. Foolish Riki! He searches in the valley. Mad Aoyagi! Alone with the lonely stars!--Oh, wondrous misery that makes itself.

[_He sees Obaa-San. She enters from the house._

Good-morning, Obaa-San, my friend.

Obaa-San. Good-morning, traveller.

The Gaki. Why do you rise before the dawn?

Obaa-San. I could not rest.--Why are you not at Kyushu?

The Gaki. There is a mist at Kyushu--and I feared to lose my way.

Obaa-San. Did you pass a little lady--Aoyagi, by name--alone--

The Gaki. It seems--I met a little lady.--She was not happy.--That one?

Obaa-San. Where?

The Gaki. I am a stranger here--I cannot say. Over there--or over there.

Obaa-San. She will come to me, perhaps.

The Gaki. Do you know her?

Obaa-San. She is my daughter,--Aoyagi.

The Gaki. Do you not fear for her?

Obaa-San. Perhaps.--She will be here soon.--Riki has gone for her.

The Gaki. She must know the way.

[_The voices of O-Sode and O-Katsu are heard._

This has been a restless night for age. (_He disappears. O-Sode-San and O-Katsu-San enter_)

Obaa-San. Good-morning, O-Sode-San. Good-morning, O-Katsu-San.--The lily hands of sleep have passed you by.

O-Katsu-San. A strange unrest has seized upon me. I think--and think of my little one. She is glorious in my heart, and words with wings seem to flash before my eyes like fireflies in the darkness.

O-Sode-San. I, too, have lived in words.

O-Katsu-San. Obaa-San, is it not wonderful to put a joy or pain in words?

Obaa-San. Ah, yes--if there is anyone to hear them. All my long, long years before Aoyagi came to me, my heart sang, and words freighted with my dreams and my love would come to me--here; and they would die because they found no ear attuned to them.--Tell me what you thought, O-Sode-San.

O-Sode-San. The moon in calm restlessness Shows the water grasses of the River of Heaven, Swaying in the cool spring air-- I know the time to meet my lover Is not too far away.

Obaa-San. Every one has a poem in his heart, I believe.--What was your poem, O-Katsu?

O-Katsu-San. Oh, messenger of the other world, My little one is young; She can not find her way-- Do you kindly take my little one Upon your warm, broad back Along the twilight path.

O-Sode-San. And you, Obaa-San,--was it words that kept sleep from your eyes?

Obaa-San. Ay, bitter dream-words. And for the bitterness I am paying dearly.--Over and over the words came to me:

Here lies my daughter's sleeping body On the mat beside me. But her soul is far away Asleep in her lover's arms-- And I, her white-haired mother, Hold only an empty shell.

Oh, I am ashamed--ashamed.--And just now Riki came to me--and told me he could not find Aoyagi.

O-KATSU-SAN AND O-SODE-SAN

Hai!

O-Sode-San. Can we not search for her?

Obaa-San. I am waiting here.--She may find her way back.--I would not have her come to an empty house.--Come--let's go within--and dream that yours and yours and mine are on their way to us.

[_The old women go into the house. There is just a moment's silence--then_:

Aoyagi. Hai! Hai! Hai!

[_Aoyagi, utterly forlorn, enters. She looks at the house, turns and sees the mountains, covers her eyes, and drags herself wearily to the willow tree. She moans as though winter had fallen upon the world and were taunting her. The Gaki enters._

The Gaki. So you have found your way--in life.

Aoyagi. Oh, let me go back to my tree!

The Gaki. No, little Aoyagi--you would be happy then.

Aoyagi. Let me die!

The Gaki. One can not die.

Aoyagi. Hai!

The Gaki. Where have you been?

Aoyagi. So far--so far!--I am weary.--When I awoke, I was on the mountain-top--alone.

The Gaki. Were there no stars?

Aoyagi. Oh--the stars, the lonely, lonely stars! I tried to touch them--they seemed so near.--I found the path--the glade--our footprints--strange people--I am here. Let me back! Let me back!

The Gaki. And what of Riki?

Aoyagi. He does not care.

The Gaki. And what of Obaa-San?

Aoyagi. What can I give to Obaa-San now--but misery? Am I never to be free?

The Gaki. What would you do if you were free--climb to the mountain top to see the lonely stars?

Aoyagi. Hai!--Riki!--Obaa-San!

[_Obaa-San enters. The Gaki disappears._

Obaa-San. Was my name spoken in the dawn?

Aoyagi. Mother!

[_With a cry of joy, Obaa-San enfolds Aoyagi in her arms._

Obaa-San. Nadeshiko! My little girl!

Aoyagi. Where is Riki?

Obaa-San. He has gone to search for you.

Aoyagi. Was he alone?

Obaa-San. Alone?

Aoyagi. Yes. Was there no woman with him--a lady from Ishiyama?

Obaa-San. A lady from--

Aoyagi. Yes--tall--fair--singing--

Obaa-San. He was alone. A lady from Ishiyama--(_Aoyagi shudders with dread_) brought me a message in the early night--

Aoyagi. It was she--young?

Obaa-San. No--old.

Aoyagi. Had she seen Riki?

Obaa-San. Yes. On the mountain-side--

Aoyagi. The stranger said she was young and fair.

Obaa-San. Perhaps the stranger did not see with honest eyes.

Aoyagi. He would not lie.

Obaa-San. Sometimes the eyes and the ears lie.

Aoyagi. Ah!

Obaa-San. And if she had been young and fair?

Aoyagi. Riki met her in a glade.

Obaa-San. Did you see them meet?

Aoyagi. No--she was singing.

Obaa-San. A happy song, perhaps.

Aoyagi. She sang the song he made to me.

Obaa-San. How do you know?

Aoyagi. Riki said she knew his song to me.

Obaa-San. Ah, that is beautiful, that she should love his song to you.

Aoyagi. He--

Obaa-San. My little darling, I do not know what really happened; but this I know, you did not speak fairly to Riki or Riki did not speak fairly to you. Almost every unhappiness comes because we speak too much of our pride and speak too little of our hearts.

Aoyagi. I asked him if he saw her.

Obaa-San. Why?

Aoyagi. A stranger told me--

Obaa-San. Was it the stranger you believed before Riki could defend himself?

Aoyagi. But, mother, I gave my all in all to Riki. He does not care.

Obaa-San. Do you know?

Aoyagi. I asked Riki if they met?

Obaa-San. Did he tell you?

Aoyagi. He seemed to be proud to tell.

Obaa-San. Then he was unashamed to tell--

Aoyagi. I asked him questions.

Obaa-San. But did you ask him the great question in your heart?

Aoyagi. Oh--

Obaa-San. Did you say, "Riki, my love, you are in all my heart. Am I in all yours?"

Aoyagi. He told me that.

Obaa-San. And did you believe?

Aoyagi. Above all the world!

Obaa-San. Then why doubt him later?

Aoyagi. The lady from Ishiyama passed by.

Obaa-San. My child, a lady bound for Ishiyama passed by! Had she been singing all the love-songs of all the worlds; had she been fairer than the lotus-flower, why should you have doubted Riki?

Aoyagi. A stranger--

Obaa-San. A stranger!--a stranger!--Oh, why--why--why do the eyes of love grow blind because a stranger speaks? You, Aoyagi, did not see the lady bound for Ishiyama. You did not hear her song--and yet upon the ears and eyes of a stranger you would shatter your love.--I saw the lady.--She was singing.--She was not fair.--If she had been--Oh, my little child--Riki is Riki, your august lord, the lord of your life. When he comes back, go to him and speak from your heart.

Aoyagi. What shall I say?

Obaa-San. I need not tell your heart.--It is only your head that can not learn to speak unprompted.--Do you love Riki?

Aoyagi. Ay--so dearly!

[_The voice of Riki is heard._

Riki. Aoyagi!

Aoyagi. He is coming!

[_Obaa-San, unnoticed, goes into the house. Riki enters._

Riki. Aoyagi!

[_When he sees she is safe, he drops suddenly. She goes to him._

Aoyagi. Riki, my august lord, listen to my heart.--Forget my anger.--Tell me once again that you love me.--I'll believe.

Riki. You know--I have always loved you.--When you were a song in my heart, I loved you so! And now--

Aoyagi. Oh, Riki, can we ever forget the blow I struck?

Riki. That was yesterday--see, this is today: the dawn has spread across the sky. What shall we do? Look back upon the bitterness of yesterday, or try to see the fears of tomorrow, or live in the gladness of today?

Aoyagi. The Gaki of Kokoru is here at the tree. He will not let us live in happiness. He let me go with you because he meant to feed upon the misery of poor Obaa-San.

Riki. He has not come upon us yet. We are struggling against tomorrow. This is the dawning of today.

Aoyagi. Then shall we live--today.

[_Obaa-San enters from the house._

Obaa-San. Come, Aoyagi; come, Riki. We have found happiness at our door. Within there is rice and tea. Come.

[_They go into the house. The Gaki enters._

[Illustration: THE LADY OF THE WEEPING WILLOW TREE

ACT III.]

The Gaki. There is love!--Now what shall I do for misery? Old Obaa-San remembers happiness. She has taught O-Katsu and O-Sode to remember happiness. The lovers are reunited;--now they understand.--And I--I, ah, I must die in this dread shape and stay in this hell through all the eternities unless I bring new misery to them. What can I do? (_He turns to see the tree_) Ah--I shall kill the tree--slowly--slowly--and I'll feed upon them all. Aoyagi is bound to the tree as one is bound to his body in a dream.--I'll kill the tree.

[_He draws his short sword and smites the tree. There is a cry from the house and Aoyagi enters quickly, followed by Riki, Obaa-San, O-Katsu-San, and O-Sode-San. Aoyagi holds her heart._

Riki. Aoyagi! (_She droops in his arms. Obaa-San lays her hand upon her dear child's head. O-Katsu-San understands. The Gaki in triumph smiles again. Aoyagi cries out and shudders as she clings to Riki_) Oh, whatever power gave strength to me and led me to my love, give me the chance to save my love.

Aoyagi. The tree!--The tree!

[_The Gaki smites again._

Riki. The Gaki of Kokoru! Ay, I know! I know! I fight a fear, Obaa-San. Hold Aoyagi fast--with all your love.--I shall find the Gaki of Kokoru! (_The Gaki smites the tree again and again, and at each stroke Aoyagi fails more and more until she finally crumples in a heap among the three old women_) All strength! All faith to me! Into my hands give the power to break the bitterest hell asunder! Into my eyes put light that I may see the cowardly fears that infest our way.--Gaki! Gaki! where are you?--I pass about you and in my heart I carry fearlessness and faith.--Upon your wickedness I hurl belief.--Ah, now, I see you.

The Gaki. Let me go! Let me go!

Riki. You shall bring misery into no more hearts!

The Gaki. Ah, pity me! Let me go! I must feed or I shall die!

Riki. You shall feed no more!

The Gaki. Do not let me die in this sixth hell! Do not let me die! Once I was human--like you and you. I came into this hell because I was bitter in life.--I made misery for others.--I put mischief in their minds.--

RIKI (_leaping upon him_)

You shall make no more misery.

The Gaki. Let me feed! Let me live! I can not die thus.

RIKI (_throttling him_)

Dread demon, the end has come!

The Gaki. Please--please--hear me.

Riki. Nay, you have made your last horror in our lives.

Obaa-San. Riki! Hear him--hear him.--We know not what we do, perhaps.

Riki. Then speak.

The Gaki. Let me go! Do you think it did not punish me to see your misery, to bring misery upon you? That is what these hells are. In life we can not always see what wretchedness we make; in the hells we see and know and understand, but we can not escape our evil until we've sucked the bitterness, the horror to the blackest end. Oh--five hells lie between me and human life. In each I may perchance forget the lesson learned before. Let me live! Let me live!--I can not fight your faith!--Let me live!

Riki. What further harm will you do?

The Gaki. I cannot help myself. I must live on you.--You are young--

[_He tears himself from Riki and once more rushes to the tree. Aoyagi writhes a moment in agony. Riki leaps upon The Gaki, throttling him once more. The struggle is terrific._

Riki. Die!

The Gaki. Let me go! Let me live!--I promise anything--I--

Riki. Too late!--You shall harm no more!

[_With one supreme effort, The Gaki draws himself to his full height and seems about to crush Riki. He leaps upon the prostrate Aoyagi and flings her body high above his head. Riki starts for him._

The Gaki. I shall live! I shall live!

Riki. Aoyagi!

The Gaki. Come not near me, Riki, or I shall crush her at your feet. I _shall_ live!

[_He laughs the hideous laugh of triumph which rang out on the mountain side yesterday._

Obaa-San. Give her back to us! Feed on me!

The Gaki. In your heart there is only hope and beautiful memory. Old fool, I can not feed on you.--But now in my arms I hold the precious gift by which I shall pass from hell to hell.

O-Katsu-San. Take me!

The Gaki. Silly old woman, you, too, like Obaa-San, can not feed me. Age learns to grasp at bubbles and pretend that they are stars.

O-Katsu-San. But I shall dream of my little girl.

The Gaki. Ay, dream of her and have tender memories that are not pain.

O-Sode-San. I shall think of him and long for him, my lover.

The Gaki. Ay, and in the memory of the firefly fête you'll make a poem that will leave you all melting-like and holy--then where shall I feed?

Riki. Obaa-San, are you content? I'll let her die at my own hand before I'll let him live.

[_He draws his dagger and leaps toward The Gaki; but old Obaa-San is too swift for him. She catches his hand._

Obaa-San. Riki! Would you kill the evil by killing the joy of us all?

Riki. But the joy--my little Aoyagi--can not live so. See--

Obaa-San. O Gaki of Kokoru--I stand before you, no longer a suppliant. I am old and in my years I have known all the wanting, all the hopelessness one can know in life. But in your evil way, you brought to me a moment of happiness yesterday and in that moment I saw the beauty that I had always believed must be and yet that I had never known. In your evil arms you hold the treasure of my life--you hold the songs that filled the heart of Riki. But you do not feed, oh, Gaki of Kokoru. You can not feed. Oh, Gaki, what is this sixth hell of yours?--Who made it? Some man who was afraid of the joy of life;--it was too beautiful for his belief. Misery makes itself: so happiness makes itself. You stand before us, holding the darling of our dreams, but there is no misery so great as yours. See! I stand before you--unafraid--and in my heart lies happiness.--Aoyagi rested in my arms and my breast is warm and there is a glory where her dear head lay. In my life--if you take her from me--there will be an emptiness.--There will be long silences in the days to come; but my breast will still be warm with her touch and my ears will still hear the sweet words you cannot unsay--the lullaby I sang.--Oh, Gaki--it has been sung to her.--The climbing to the mountain gleaming in the sun--the glade where love found the perfect mystery--that cannot be undone whether we live or die.--Love that has been can never be undone.

[_The Gaki looks from one to the other, but finds only that splendid happiness that is almost pain. He loosens his hold upon Aoyagi and turns to Riki with her._

The Gaki. She is yours!--I have met perfect faith.--Five hells lie before me--but I have met a perfect faith.--You cannot know what wonder I am knowing. From the sixth hell I have seen a perfect faith.--I am content to die in this shape. Strike, Riki!

Riki. I have my love.

The Gaki. But a peace has come upon me, a peace that I have never known.--I seem to be on wings--afloat in the sky.--Stars and suns swing gently by--and cool clouds brush my brow.--Five hells lie before me.--Can it be, in each I shall find peace like this?--(_He falls on his knees_) Now a fire rages deep in me--a pain--I'm torn.--Oh, Obaa-San, I die--I die.--Come to me--touch me--let me feel your gentle hands.--So! So!--I have never known such gentleness.--Oh, I am cold--cold! Hold me--

[_He rises--sways--and falls. It is full day. The Gaki rises wonderfully._

Obaa-San--I see--I see.--The hells were made by some man afraid of the joy of life.--It was too beautiful for his belief.--Riki--Aoyagi, there is the mountain gleaming in the morning light.--Go--see your footprints side by side.--A Gaki's feet trod upon them, but left no mark--and they are there side by side.--O-Sode-San, I look across the River of Heaven;--there stands your lover waiting for you--an empty boat is here to bear you to him.--O-Katsu-San,--the messenger of the other world bears your little one upon his broad, warm back.--They are smiling, O-Katsu-San--Obaa-San--

[_He points to Riki and Aoyagi. Obaa-San goes to them and lays her hands upon them._

Obaa-San. My little girl!--my little boy!--Today the sun is very bright.

_The Curtains Close._

THE VERY NAKED BOY

AN INTERLUDE BEFORE THE CURTAIN

Characters. SHE HE BROTHER

_The scene is half way to a proposal._

_A hallway with a heavily-curtained doorway in the centre. Right of this are two chairs with a tabouret between them. Right and Left are curtained arches._

_She enters quickly, crossing to the chairs._

HE (_following breathlessly and almost colliding with her as she stops_)

Genevieve!

SHE (_with a calmness strangely at variance with her entrance_)

Well?

He. Why did you--

She. I didn't.

He. I beg your pardon, you may not have known it, but you did.

She. I didn't.

He. If you'll only say you didn't mean it.

She. I didn't _do_ it.

He. Now, Genevieve, you know--

She. I didn't.

He. Well, why did you--?

She. _I didn't do it!_

HE (_meltingly but without humor or subtlety_)

Well, if you didn't do it, _dear_--

[_She is adamant._

Why did you run away the moment I came up to you?

She. I didn't run away--

[_He looks at her quizzically._

I just _came_ out here.

HE (_hoping it isn't true_)

But you seemed to be trying to avoid me.

SHE (_with sphinx-like indifference_)

Why should I avoid you?

He. Genevieve! You make it impossible for me to talk to you.... I'll apologise if it will help.

She. Why should you apologise?

He. Perhaps I've misconstrued your meaning.

She. I didn't mean _anything_--

[_He smiles pleasantly with more hope than discretion._

--because I didn't do it.

He. Now, Genevieve, I saw you do it.

She. You'll have to excuse me, Mr. Gordon, from further discussion.

[_She seats herself, fully prepared for all the discussion she can force from him._

He. But, Genevieve--

[_He seats himself._

She. I didn't do it--and besides if I _did_ what difference does it make? I'm free white and twenty-one.

HE (_with a frail attempt at humor_)

How old did you say?

She. I said I was free white.

He. But, Genevieve, you must admit that--

She. Mr. Gordon!

He. _Please_ call me Henry. (_In his emotion he pronounces it Hennery_)

She. I don't see why I should.

He. You did last night.

She. That was different. You were Dr. Jekyll last night.

He. Oh, Genevieve--

She. You're showing your true colors tonight.

HE (_appealingly_)

I'm--sorry--

She. You're a tyrant.

He. I don't mean to be. I think you're wo--

She. Now don't be personal. I'm not interested in your thoughts.

He. But, Genevieve, won't you tell me why you did it?

She. I did it because--I've told you often enough I _didn't_ do it.

HE (_bitterly_)

Joe--

She. Joe--what?

He. Joe squeezed your hand.

She. Well, it's my hand, and besides I don't see why I should be cross-questioned by you.

He. You know I'm--

[_He leans toward her and she moves away._

She. You're what?

He. I'm crazy about you.

She. Please, Mr. Gordon!

He. Call me Henry! Just once.

She. I don't see why I should.

He. Please, Genevieve.

She. Now don't be silly!

He. Oh, Genevieve, if you only knew how it hurt me when you did it!

She. _Did_ it hurt you?

He. I could have killed Joe--gladly.

She. Honest!

He. You know--you must know!

She. You certainly are calm about it.

HE (_in the most absurd position that hopeless love can twist a man into_)

What can I do? I can't be ridiculous.

She. Did you really see us?

He. Yes, I saw you.

She. You seemed terribly tied up with Ethel.

He. I had to sit by her.

She. I don't see why.

He. I didn't have any place else to go.

She. I knew you were looking.

He. Then why did you do it?

She. Don't ask me why. I loathe why.

He. But oh, Genevieve, I love you so!

[_He grasps her hand, not too violently. She gasps slightly, smiles pleasantly and becomes stern._

SHE (_encouragingly_)

Please, let go of my hand.

[_He does so. She looks at him in mingled wonder and chagrin._

He. Genevieve, isn't there any chance for me?

She. I've never thought of such a thing. What do you mean!

He. I mean I love you.

She. ... Yes?

HE (_taking her scarf in his hand_)

Aren't you interested?

She. Why, really, Mr. Gordon, you ask such strange questions.

He. Oh, Genevieve--Genevieve--

[_He kisses the scarf gently._

SHE [_looking at him in wonder, disappointment and delight._

Don't be silly.

He. When a man's in love he always does silly things.

She. Always?

He. Oh, Genevieve--

[_He reaches for her hand reverently and this time she seems content to let matters rest._

SHE (_making conversation_)

I have the next dance with--

[_She racks her memory._

He. Joe, I suppose.

[_He rises and crosses to the far side of the centre arch._

SHE (_drawing her scarf about her and brushing against him as she passes._)

Excuse me, please.

HE (_torrentially_)

You shall not go. You _shall_ listen to me. You have no right to treat me as a plaything when I love you so! I love you so! I love you so! I think of you all day long, I lie awake at night wondering what stars are looking upon you and I find myself envying them--every one of them.

[_She tries to speak, but he presses her head against his shoulder._

I won't listen. You must hear me out. I've waited days and days and days for this chance to speak to you, and you've trailed me about like--like--like a poodle. I'm tired of it because I love you so.

[_She tries to speak again; but succeeds only in mussing her hair._

He. I want you to marry me, and marry me you shall if I have to carry you away with me. Oh, Genevieve, my darling Genevieve, just know that for this moment I am almost completely happy. You are close to me and I do not feel any struggle against me. Oh, if you will only listen to me, I do not mean to be brutal. I have torn your dress. I have mussed your precious hair. But I love you so! I love you so!

She. Oh, Henry--Henry--You are so wonderful!

[_They embrace one long moment when an arm comes out between the curtains and tugs at his coat._

_He lets go of her as though he had been shot, turns and sees the naked arm and the top of the Boy's head._

BOY (_whispering_)

Get her out of here!

She. Oh, Henry, Henry, have I been cruel to you?

HE (_constrained_)

We'd better go.

SHE (_looks questioningly at him_)

Please let's stay here.

[_He presses her head against his breast and looks surreptitiously at the curtains._

_The Boy makes as though to get out._

_He starts violently--shoves the Boy back._

She. I saw you first--do you remember--at Poughkeepsie.

He. Yes, yes--

She. I think--I liked you then.... But I never thought you'd be so wonderful.

He. Let's go (_whispering_). Darling, let's go.

[Illustration: THE VERY NAKED BOY]

She. No, I want to stay here. I love this nook.

[_He laughs nervously as she crosses to the curtains._

I should love to fill it full of great tall lilies.

[_By this time she has become lyric and swept her arms against the curtains: with a cry, rushing to him for protection._

Henry, there's a man behind those curtains!

He. I think we'd better go.

She. Oh, Henry, you're not going to leave him here.

He. We'd better.

BOY [_poking his head and a naked arm through the curtains._

Yes, you'd better, because I'm going to get out of here.

She. _Bob!_ You get your clothes on!

Boy. I told Mr. Gordon to get my clothes.

She. Mr. Gordon--

Boy. Call him Henry--just once--please, Genevieve.

HE (_stiffly_)

I'll get your clothes. Where are they?

Boy. In my room.

He. What do you want?

Boy. Everything.

SHE (_straightening up_)

Don't be common, Robert.

[_He starts for the door._

He. No, I'm not going.

She. Hen--Mr. Gordon!... Very well. I'll go!

He. No, you won't go either!

She. Please!

Boy. Well, I'll go.

[_Boy moves as though to part the curtains. She screams a stifled little scream and both he and she rush to the curtains to hold them together._

She. Oh, Bob, if you won't get out I'll do anything for you.

Boy. Well, I'm cold.

She. Mr. Gordon, please go.

He. I won't go!

She. You are very strange, indeed.... I'll go!

[_She nears the door--Stops._

She. Never mind.

Boy. Oh, Henry, it's Ethel.

He. Bob, won't you be a good sport? We'll turn our backs.

Boy. But will everybody else turn their back?

He. Old man, can't you see how it is? We're--we're going to be engaged--and Ethel is out there--and--and--well--

Boy. Joe's out there, too.

He. Well, yes.

She. Bob, I shall tell Father on you.

[_She starts._

Boy. All right, go ahead. I'll tell Ethel.

She. Just wait.

Boy. I'll get out of here!

[_Again the two rush precipitately to hold the Boy in place._

He. Bob, be a man! You are childish and common. You are old enough to know better and I think it's an outrage for you to subject your sister to this fright. We can't go out of here just now--and you're making it very embarrassing for us.

She. Mr. Gordon--there's a cape in that closet. Will you get it for Bob.... He says he's cold.

[_He goes to the closet._

She. Bob, I'll get even with you. You ought to be ashamed. I'm humiliated.

Boy. Why--Sis?

She. Imagine my being with a gentleman and having a very naked boy pop into the conversation.

[_He returns with the cape._

He. Here's the cape.

[_He tosses it over the Boy's head and suddenly leans over and kisses her._

Boy. Why don't you smother me!

[_Boy begins to emerge._

She. Bob, be careful.

[_He and She turn away._

_The Boy rises and as he does so the cloak falls about him until, when he steps out of the curtains, he discloses trousers and shoes._

Boy. I can't go through the hall looking like this.

She. You must.

HE (_turning_)

Go away, Bob. Your sister is very nervous.

[_He sees the boy fairly well clothed. He gasps._

He. Why--

She. Bob--

[_Turning she sees the boy fairly well clothed._

I thought--How did you--Why didn't you--What were you doing in there?

Boy. Father was going to get strict and keep me off the water tonight and just as I came down here to get my sweater I heard him coming to the coat room so I jumped behind the curtains and let him pass and then Joe and Ethel came in and I couldn't let them see me this way. And then somebody else came and then you came in--well, I got cold.

HE (_looking out_)

Run on now, Bob, the hall is clear.

[_Boy starts._

Boy. What was it you did, Sis?

She. I didn't do it.

Boy. Why didn't you do it?

She. I didn't do anything.

Boy. He said Joe squeezed your hand.

She. Absurd!

Boy. Well, I hope not, because he and Ethel got engaged in here too!

[_He and She look fondly at each other and He murmurs_, "Genevieve" _as he reaches out for her_.

_The Boy begins to sing, "Oh, Genevieve, Sweet Genevieve," and they become aware of him, turning upon him and pursuing him with a warning cry of_ "Bob."

_The End_

Jonathan Makes A Wish. A PLAY IN THREE ACTS

Characters. AUNT LETITIA SUSAN SAMPLE UNCLE NATHANIEL UNCLE JOHN JONATHAN MLLE. PERRAULT HANK ALBERT PEET MARY JOHN III