Part 5 (2/2)

FARADAY. (_Entering from card room. Testily_) Now then, now then, can't you girls make a little less noise?

MADGE. Oh, Father! (_Rushes to him, brings him_ C. _She is_ R. _of him_.) What do you think has happened? Celia is engaged to be married.

(_Pauses a moment to listen to ensuing dialogue and then runs up to card room and in dumb show tells others of_ CELIA'S _engagement. They also in pantomime express surprise and incredulity. They come slowly out of card room_.)

FARADAY. G.o.d--bless--my--soul! (_A broad grin breaks slowly on his face_) Celia--engaged?

CELIA. Why, yes, Father, if you have no objection to the prospect of my leaving you.

FARADAY. Objection? (_Joyfully_) Why, I'm delighted, my dear girl, delighted.

(AUNT IDA _and_ CELIA _exchange glances and_ AUNT IDA, _disgusted at_ FARADAY, _goes up to card room and talks to_ EVELYN.)

CELIA. Yes, Father, I thought you would be pleased.

FARADAY. Pleased? (_With mock sentiment_) I hope I show a father's feelings when his eldest daughter proposes to--er--desert the home-nest. (_Murmurs up in card room. Reverting to his former att.i.tude of enthusiasm_) And who is he? What's the d-e-a-r fellow's name? Eh, Celia?

(EVELYN _comes down extreme left_. RALEIGH, GRICE _and_ STEELE _up_ L.C. AUNT IDA _comes back of chair_, R. _of table_ L. PHYLLIS _kneels on sofa, facing_ CELIA. TARVER _comes and sits in chair below fender_.)

MADGE. (_Coming down_ R.C.) Yes, Celia, tell us all about him. Who is he? (_Sits_ L. _of table_ R.)

CELIA. (_Standing by chair_ R. _of table_ L. _Slowly_) Well--he is in the army.

RALEIGH. (_Quickly to_ STEELE) A soldier, eh?

EVELYN. What's his rank?

CELIA. He's a cap--a colonel--dear--a colonel.

(FARADAY _center_, GRICE _up_ L.C., RALEIGH _and_ STEELE _up_ L.C.

EVELYN L. _of table_ L.)

FARADAY. Colonel? What's his name?

CELIA. (_Pause_) Smith.

(_They all show pained surprise_.)

FARADAY. Smith?

CELIA. Yes, _John_ Smith.

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