The Complete Plays of J. M. Barrie - 30 Titles in One Edition. Джеймс Барри

on to fight.

      VILLAGERS. Ay, she’s making them fight.

      HALLIWELL. What’s that? A woman?

      NANNY. An Egyptian.

      VILEAGERS. Ay, ay, an Egyptian.

      NANNY. She CRIED TO THEM, IF THEY WOULD DEFY THE MINISTER AND FOLLOW HER SHE WOULD save THEM.

      LORD RINTOUL. Who can this woman be?

      VILLAGERS. I wonder — I never saw her (ETC.).

      HALLIWELL. What is she like?

      NANNY. She has red hair.

      HALLIWELL. A red-headed gipsy!

      LORD RINTOUL. There are lots of them.

      HALLIWELL. What is her appearance?

      NANNY. She’s snod but no unco snod.

      HALLIWELL. Eh?

      NANNY. I mean she’s a couthie tawpie but no sair in order.

      HALLIWELL. What on earth is that?

      NANNY. A tasty stocky but no happit up to the nines.

      HALLIWELL. Oh, help! Can you understand that, Rintoul?

      LORD RINTOUL. It is quite simple. You, woman, was this gipsy tall or short, fat or thin?

      JEAN. She was a ga’en about hizzie an’ giy an’ custie.

      LORD RINTOUL. Oh, was she! Would you know her if you saw her again?

      JEAN. Brawly.

      LORD RINTOUL. They would know her or not know her, brawly, Halliwell, that is something to the good. Can you describe her clothes with the same lucidity?

      JEAN. A well-faured custie, perjink, and fell orra. (Ay.)

      LORD RINTOUL. My God, it’s a great country.

      HALLIWELL. Whatever she is like, I promise you, Rintoul, she shall be in the local jail before the night is out.

      LORD RINTOUL. Yes, jail for the hussy.

      (ENTER GAVIN DEJECTEDLY.)

      NANNY. Mr. Dishart, this is the Captain — that’s Rintoul — plead wi’ them. (GIVES WAY FOR HIM TO COME FORWARD.)

      GAVIN (eagerly — going to them). Lord Rintoul —

      LORD RINTOUL (holding his hand up). It is impossible —

      (Groans from crowd.)

      But we thank you, Mr. Dishart, for the services you have rendered us tonight, first in ordering the men who were watching here to their hordes, for we saw you, and again, as we have just learned, for trying to drive away this gipsy wench.

      (SHAKES HANDS.)

      (EXIT NANNY WITH THE VILLAGERS, GAVIN IS STARTLED.)

      HALLIWELL. At least it was not your fault that the warning horn was sounded. I thank you, sir.

      (Drum and bugle sound assembly. Enter sergeant DAVIDson.)

      Well, have the constables got their prisoners, Davidson? You can speak freely before Mr. Dishart. He is our friend.

      (ANXIOUS) Speak, man.

      (Drum stops.)

      DAVIDSON. I am afraid it is all up, Captain, for tonight.

      HALLIWELL. Eh?

      DAVIDSON. The men the constables are after broke our ranks and have made for the country, where it would be impossible to find them tonight.

      (lord rintoul is speechless with rage; gavin is secretly pleased.)

      HALLIWELL (FURIOUS). They broke through a line of fixed bayonets!

      DAVIDSON. We had orders to threaten with our bayonets, but to use the butt end of our muskets only if they came to close quarters.

      HALLIWELL (TO DAVIDSON). They could not know that.

      DAVIDSON. They did know it. A woman told them.

      LORD RINTOUL. A woman!

      GAVIN. A gipsy?

      DAVIDSON. Yes.’ HALLIWELL. Damnation!

      LORD RINTOUL (GOING TO HIM, BITTERLY). Oh, Halliwell, Halliwell!

      (Shouts of triumph from town.)

      They have heard the news down there, you see. (JEERING) You have the weavers, so! (MAKING A HOOP OF HIS ARMS) You will be the laughing-stock of the country by tomorrow.

      HALLIWELL (FOLLOWING HIM, TESTILY). You failed yourself before.

      LORD RINTOUL. At least I was not fooled by a woman!

      (Exit LORD RINTOUL. CAPTAIN HALLIWELL is beside himself.)

      HALLIWELL. Davidson — this gipsy —

      DAVIDSON. She is in this part of the wood. (POINTING)

      We chased her into it.

      HALLIWELL. Then she at least shall not escape us. Bring up every man on this side. They are no longer needed there — and we shall hem her in.

      DAVIDSON. The wood is full of women looking for their men folk. What are we to do with them?

      HALLIWELL. Let not one pass until we have caught the gipsy.

      DAVIDSON. Yes, sir.

      (EXEUNT HALLIWELL AND DAVIDSON. GAVIN IS NOW ALONE, DOW CREEPS ON FROM BACK.)

      GAVIN. Rob, why did you not escape with the others?

      DOW. That Egyptian — she’s a terrible woman.

      GAVIN (WITH CONVICTION). Rob, I think she is the —

      (Pauses.)

      DOW. I think she is, sir. But there’s one she didna draw away frae you.

      GAVIN. Not one.

      DOW. I’m here to prove it — by offering mysel’ to the red-coats.

      GAVIN. Come BACK.

      DOW. You DINNA WANT IT!

      DAVIDSON (OFF). Open out, there, open out, extend in skirmishing order through the wood!

      GAVIN. Hide, Rob!

      (Soldiers enter with sergeant DAVIDson.)

      DAVIDSON. Search those clumps of whin. Into them — into them. (RUNS UP ON TO BANK AND EXITS.) Who goes there? (OFF)

      Up the bank; beat the bushes on both sides. See that she doesn’t break over. After her, after her!

      (gavin is selfconscious and looking pleased at dow’s escape. He moves; as he does so his foot strikes against something. He lifts it up; it is the horn. He flings it from him, then picks it up again, puts it on ground.

      babbie runs on. She is now wearing an old-fashioned poke-bonnet and a cloak which reaches to her feet. She is evidently pursued and desperate.)

      DAVIDSON (still off). There she goes! There! There! Hem her in!

      GAVIN. You! (Recoils from her as she goes towards him.)

      BABBIE. Help me! (Taking his right arm.)

      GAVIN. Avaunt, woman!

      DAVIDSON (off). This way — follow me — we have her now.

      (He enters with two Soldiers, and they are rushing off when he sees gavin and babbie.)

      Halt! It is you, Mr. Dishart — and — ?

      BABBIE (speaking in English voice). Introduce me, dear.

      (gavin gasps.)

      Ah, Sergeant, you may chide me for venturing here, but where should a woman be on such a night save by her husband’s side?

      (GIVES GAVIN’S ARM A TENDER SQUEEZE.)

      DAVIDSON.