Part 17 (1/2)

SMITH. Oh, it's dreadful--dreadful! I suppose your sister was very devoted to him?

PHYLLIS. She _adored_ him!!

SMITH. Yes. That's the part I understand best.

PHYLLIS. But Celia's engagement meant more to her than it would to most women.

SMITH. (_Recoils slightly_) Why?

PHYLLIS. It had somehow got into everybody's head that Celia didn't--(_Looks around room_)--attract people. Poor old Celia. (SMITH _turns uneasily in chair_.) Of course, her engagement altered the whole position.

SMITH. Oh, I begin to see.

PHYLLIS. It was the night that _I_ had just announced my engagement to Mr. Tarver.--Bobby was so witty about poor old Celia having to wear _another_ pair of Green Stockings at _my_ wedding----

SMITH. Ah--h-- Then there are other sisters?

PHYLLIS. Yes, there's Madge. She is between Celia and myself.

SMITH. Engaged?

PHYLLIS. _More_ than engaged--_married_. And then comes Evelyn.

SMITH. Married?

PHYLLIS. Much _more_ than married. (SMITH _stares_.) A widow.

SMITH. And Miss Celia is the eldest of you all?

PHYLLIS. Oh, yes. Well, the moment after Celia was told of _my_ engagement, she announced _hers_.

SMITH. To Colonel Smith. (_Turns away from her with sudden understanding_.) I see.

PHYLLIS. (_More melodramatically_) You know she had met him at Southampton. (SMITH _looks at her_.) For a week they had been together. (SMITH _turns in his chair_.) Only that morning he had told her of his love. An hour later he was steaming down Southampton Water to leave his neglected bones on the arid wastes of a----

SMITH. (_Interrupting her_) Ahem! You'll excuse me----

PHYLLIS. I beg pardon. He was on his way to Somaliland. She wrote to him that night.

SMITH. (_Slowly_) Yes, the letter reached him. (_Tapping his pocket_) I have it here.

PHYLLIS. (_Sentimentally_) He kept it?

SMITH. Yes, he kept it. He used to sit and study it by the hour.

PHYLLIS. How truly beautiful. Oh, you must tell Celia that. You mustn't rob her of any of her grief.