Part 20 (1/2)

CELIA. (_Confused_) I can't---- You utterly fail to understand the situation, Colonel Vavasour. All the help that any of us can give is needed at this election. To-night is particularly important. The two candidates are to meet on neutral ground.

SMITH. Then certainly Mr. Tarver ought to go--not you.

CELIA. But I ask you, would Colonel Smith have wished me at a time like this to shut myself alone In my room with nothing but his memory for my companion?

SMITH. He'd have loved it.

FARADAY. (_Entering through morning room in evening dress, carrying coat and hat_) Ready, Celia, ready! (CELIA _and_ SMITH _separate_, SMITH _going well_ L. FARADAY _puts coat and hat on piano stool and comes down_ C.) Aren't the others down yet?

CELIA. Father, this is Colonel Vavasour.

FARADAY. How do you do? (_They shake hands_.)

SMITH. How do you do? I have just returned from Somaliland.

FARADAY. Oh! Then you knew----

(SMITH _nods; drops his head_.)

SMITH. My dearest friend.

FARADAY. Poor fellow! Poor fellow! (SMITH _looks up_.) Oh, not for that reason--not for that reason, of course. (LADY TRENCHARD, MADGE _and_ PHYLLIS _enter, in evening dress, followed by_ TARVER.) My daughters, Colonel Vavasour. We are only waiting for your aunt now.

(LADY TRENCHARD _shakes hands gus.h.i.+ngly, crosses to_ SMITH _and sits_ R. _of table_ L., _drawing on her gloves_. MADGE _merely bows as she crosses and joins_ EVELYN. PHYLLIS _crosses, and joins them_. SMITH _goes_ R.C. FARADAY _has gone_ L. _at back and comes down stage_ L.

_of table_ L. TARVER _goes directly and sits on fender_.)

FARADAY. (_Continuing_) Sorry we can't keep you to dinner.

CELIA. (_Sits on lower end of sofa_) That's quite all right, Father.

Colonel Vavasour is obliged to return to London to-night. There is an excellent train at eight-thirty.

SMITH. (_Takes up railway guide which_ CELIA _has left open on table and reads_) ”Stops at every station, has a two hours' wait at Bletchley, and arrives in London at three-thirty in the morning.”

(_Looks at_ CELIA) An excellent train. The express goes at ten.

FARADAY. Then of course you'll stay and dine here first. Martin shall look after you.

SMITH. I shall be most happy. (_At_ CELIA) I have brought a message for Miss Faraday and I shall be unable to deliver it if she goes out to dinner.

CELIA. (_Speaking over her shoulder_) Father, you know I promised you this afternoon that I should not let this news interfere----

FARADAY. But, my dear child, thinking it over, we can't expect such a sacrifice.

PHYLLIS. (_In a whisper to_ MADGE) But she must go. There's only dinner for two.