Part 29 (1/2)

AUNT IDA. I'm not saying a word.

CELIA. h.e.l.lo! h.e.l.lo! Give me Sir William Raleigh's house, please. Yes, I know the family is away, but I want to speak to Mr. James Raleigh.

(_Stuffs handkerchief in telephone receiver and turns to_ AUNT IDA.) Aunt Ida, tell me, do you know, are there any Smiths _ranching_ in Chicago?

AUNT IDA. (_Slightly tipsily_) Smiths? Smiths? I don't know.

CELIA. (_Into telephone_) What? He's not in? (MARTIN _enters with wraps and bags. Crosses back of table to chair_ L. _of table_.) Well, have him ring me up directly he comes in--Miss Faraday. Yes, please.

(_Puts up telephone. Jumps up, goes to_ MARTIN, _helps him place wraps on chair, takes bag and puts it on floor, beside and to the_ L. _of chair_ R.)

(NOTE: _The wraps must be placed across_ MARTIN'S _arms in the following manner_: CELIA'S _wrap on bottom, then her veil and bonnet.

Next comes m.u.f.f and fur for_ AUNT IDA. _Then the ulster for_ AUNT IDA _and on top her bonnet. The bag is in_ MARTIN'S _hand_.)

MARTIN. (_Going_ C. _above table_) Shan't I clear the table, Miss?

CELIA. No, leave it till morning. Don't bother about anything. Go to bed, Martin, go to bed. Good-night.

MARTIN. Thank you, Miss. Good-night. (_Goes_ L. _and exits_.)

AUNT IDA. You have forgotten the whiskey and soda.

CELIA. (_Seizes_ AUNT IDA'S _bonnet from pile of wraps and crosses to her above table_) Of course I have. You don't suppose I'm going to have those two men back here until we're out of the way. (_Placing bonnet on_ AUNT IDA'S _head from back_) I don't want to hurry you, dear, but we must be ready the minute Mr. Raleigh gets here. (CELIA _is so excited that she gets_ AUNT IDA'S _bonnet on quite to one side, ties a rampant bow under her right ear, then flies up stage and peeps through curtain on door to see if the men are returning_. AUNT IDA _during this is showing serious signs of the effect of the brandy by grotesque gestures and movements of her head_. CELIA _returns_ R. _of_ AUNT IDA.) How do you feel now, Aunt Ida, how do you feel now?

AUNT IDA. (_Quite tipsily_) I never felt like this before in all my life. I think I've got a chill.

CELIA. A chill? Do you want a little more brandy? (_Goes for decanter_.)

AUNT IDA. No--no--no--no.

CELIA. (_Seizing ulster and going back to her_) Then get into this. It will keep you warm while you are waiting. (_She helps_ AUNT IDA, _who is still seated, into the ulster, her right arm first. She then rushes back to chair for fur and m.u.f.f_.)

AUNT IDA. (_Flopping on table_) Oh, Celia! Why do we have to go on this dreadful journey?

CELIA. (_Handing her m.u.f.f over her shoulder, which_ AUNT IDA _clutches and hugs like a child_) To get to Chicago, dear, to get to Chicago!

(_Placing stole around her neck_) And we'll be there almost before you realize it. (_Telephone bell rings_. CELIA _throws stole quickly around_ AUNT IDA'S _face, almost smothering her, and rushes to telephone_.) h.e.l.lo!--h.e.l.lo!--What?--Yes, Mr. Raleigh. I did--Mr.

Raleigh, Aunt Ida has just had a cable from Chicago with some very bad news.

AUNT IDA. Oh! Oh!

CELIA. (_To_ AUNT IDA) Hus.h.!.+ (_Into telephone_) And she has got to get away to-night on the midnight train. I want to go a little way with her. Won't you come and drive us to the station in your motor?--What?

You will? Oh, that's very kind of you, but don't drive up to the door.

(AUNT IDA _rises, supporting herself on table_.) No, stay down by the gate and we'll walk down. (AUNT IDA _has moved cautiously around and walks over to the conservatory window_.) Just blow your horn gently when you get here, so we'll know that you've arrived. We'll go down as quickly as we can. Yes.--Thanks.--Yes, yes. (_Hangs up receiver and goes for her bonnet. Crosses below table to door_ R.) How do you feel now, Aunt Ida? How do you feel now?

AUNT IDA. I'm afraid it's a fever, or else I'm dreadfully over-heated.

(_Sits on stool_.)

CELIA. (_Going to her_) You'll be all right, once you're in the fresh air. But I've got to leave you for a few moments while I run upstairs and get my box of love letters. I can't go away and leave those things behind me. There are about two hundred and fifty of them by this time.

(_Going_ R.) I've been writing to that man every day for eight months.

AUNT IDA. Celia! (CELIA _stops. Beckons to her tipsily_. CELIA _goes to her_.) Do you know something, Celia. I believe you're half in love with Smith.