SHORT STORY

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 387, 8 October 1903, Page 7

SHORT STORY

Chaoactiks : Mite Maud Somen and

Mr Gerald Egerton. Scene and Time: A London drawing- ' room on a foggy afternoon. Miss Somers dfscc vered alone. Maud. Half-past four. I wish Mamma would come home. She promised to be in before Mr Egerton arrived. lam actually shaking with nervousness! It was bold of me to accept this part (she waves a manuscript aa she speaks), asd still bolder to write and ask a real actor, whom I have never seen, to come and coach me in it. I wonder what he thinks lam like ? Probablj he has an idea that I am stagestruck, and intend to go in for the rial thing some day; or that I have seen him act, lost my heart to him, and am using tlii play aa the means to get an introduction. What a terrible idea! Suppoee he should ask me how I like him in "The New Man's that would be distinctly tiresome, aa I have never seen him act. I'll quote the 'Daily Telegraph.' and tay whac a good notice he h*d. I can't confess that Lady. Jane recommended.him because he was one of the few modest men she knew, who had coached her in' The Highwayman.' No one is exactly proud of being modest Mamma must be kept by this fog; he may be lost in it, too; if so, I shall have a dull afternoon, all alone. (Beads) ' Dear Joe, how glad lam to see you! Daar Joe, how glad lam to see you! Dear Joe, how glad I am to see yon!' (Door opens, to admit Egerton) Oh, I beg your pardon I I—l was quoting my part. Er— how do you do, Mr Egerton ?

Egerton. How do you do, Miss Somer a ? I hope I am not late. I—it—er—seem* so atxasga to see you again, and to meet in this way, Maud. Again! Oh, if a—it's you I Egerton. It certainly is. Maud. I mean, if s Jack. Egeiton, It was, I have changed my name for stage purposes. Maud (nervously). Oh, I tee. Mamma will be back in a minute. Egerton. I hope Mrs Somen is quite well? Maud. Qvte. The fcg is keeping her. Egerton. J did sot come to coach Mrs Somen in' The Love-sick Maiden, did I ? Maud. No, of course not! How absurd! Bat I don't Eee how yon axe KOing to coach me. Why, I slapped your face when you were a boy. Egerton. Andjl frightfully in love with you, and we ate toffee together. Maud. And when Papa made all his money, and we came to London—— Egerton. You forgot all your old friends. Maud. No, not exactly; but we lost ourselves among new ones. Egeiton (stiffly). I came on business. Maud. I bag your pardon. Did you—did you read through the play I sent you Egerton. Yes. Perhaps you will start now. I'll take the man's part. Commence with the love scene in the first act, Maud (reads). 'Dear Joe, how glad I im to see yon!' Egerton. There's not much cordialtty in your tone. Maud. ' Dear Joe 1 how glad lam to Bee youl' Egerton. Thafe better. Then ' Maud. Then she blushes, Egerton. Oh, you've done that. Maud (furious). Shall we continue? You speak next. Egerton (reads). 'My darling J* Maud (reads). 'This hj quite a surprise.' Egerton (reach.). * Not for me. I knew all along that I should see your sweet face again. I guessed—' Maud. Don't you think you can skip sc me of that speech ? It's rathßr long. Egerton. So it is. Will you continue, then? Maad (read?). 'I am half-ashamed to tell yon now long and how dreary this separation has seemed But I never doubted yen or your devotion. They say only Billy, love-sick girls believe in a man's lasting affect i>a ; but I love you, I love you! and I am content to love and believe at the cost of being silly.' Egerton. Very bad! Maud.* What's very bad ? Egerton. You uid it very badly. Bland. Correct me, then! I thought I heard a carriage. Can that be Mamma ? Egerton (softly). ' I am half-ashamed to toll you bow long and how dreary this separation has seemed; for I doubted you. aid your devotion.' Maud. That's not right Egerton. I beg your pardon ? Maud. We will go back to that speech —presently—when Mamma comes in. It's you turn now. Egerton (reads co!dly). 'When men love m I love, they don't change.' Maud. Isn't that absurd, Jack? Everyone changes. Egerton. There is an occasional ex. ception, Maud. Maud (reads). 'Did you never once forget me all tnose years ?' Egerton (reach). * Not once!' Maud. Oh, Jack, what a fib! Egerton. I was merely reading my part Maud. I—l bfg your .pardon. I thought—l hope you will excuse me— Mr Egerton ? Egerton. Certainly—Miss Somers. Mlud. Lotus go on. Egerton. The play says that we are to embrace.

Maud (quickly). 1 hate unnecessary caressing. Let's cat it oat. Egertoa. As you please. Maud. I am sure poor dear Mamma must be lost!

Egerton. Have you found your place ? Maud. Tee, but yon don't teach me »ny action. Egortoa. Because yon cut it out. Maud.' I don't mean that. I mean, what am I to do with my hands all this tin.e?

Egerton. Your hands ? Maud. Yes. Did it never occur to you that a debutante on the stage always behaves as if her hands belonged to somebody elee ? Shall I put them behind my back?

Egerten. Mot unless they are abnormally large or misshapen. Maud (uxdignaatt;}. You know they're

The Love-Sick Maiden.

not! Why, you used to say Egerton. I used to kiss them. Maud. How dare you! Egerton, I am very sorry if I have annoyed yc u. Sball Igo ? Maud. Not until I know this part. Egerton. I could teach you beautifully if you would let me. Maud. I believe you could. The ' Daily Telegraph' said Egerton. I—l don't understand. Maud. I hear you are such a good actor. Egerton. I wasn't acting then. Maud (shyly). Do you remember the day I pelted you with rosea ? Egerton. And the moonlight on the lake? Maud. We were very silly. Egerton. We were engaged. Maud. I was very young. Egerton. And I was very poor. Maud. Stupid, wasn't it P Egerton. All cld love stories are apt to seem so—in after days. Maud. Lx>k how my hand shakes. I trembled with nervousness before you came, because I was frightened of what you might be like. F*ncy being frightened of you ! Egerton. Bat you needn't be nervous now.

Maud No, of course not. (After a pause.) Mamma will be sure to return in a minute. , Egeiton (still;) Then perhaps we had better get a little work done. Maud. Yes. You begin. Egerton (reads;. 'Now that we have met again at last, let us throw the past to the winds ' .Jttiod. Ob! Egerton. ' And live in the sunshine of each other's smiles.' Maud, flow silly! Egerton. 'Let me devote my life to you.. Oaly permit me to be near you; to touch your hand—your lips.' (lie ap. proaches.) Maud.. What are you doing ? Egerton. It is in my part. Maud. Then—then cut it out. Egerton. Very well. Now you go on. Maud. 'Darling, I could imagine no greater happiness. The touch of your dear lips on mine——' Egerton You see, he hasn't touched her lips; you cut that out. Maud. Yes. Perhaps you had better imagine you have kissed me. Egerton. Thank you. Maud. You don't mind ? Egerton. No—o. • I have a vivid imagination. Maud. So hare I. I mean— Egerton (smiling)- Go on. Maud. 1 suppose 1 aot this part very badly? Egerton. You don't do it very well. Maud. Shall Ibe a failure ? Egerton. In the love scenes, lam afraid that yon will. Maud (with an effort). Well, then——perhaps, as the book says it, you can come and sit near me. Is that a carriage ? Egerton (reads). 'Fats his arm round her waist.'

Maud. Oh; we'll imagine that Egerton. I won't imagine anymore. You are driving me mad. I was a fool to come. You tricked me and laughed at me in the old days, and you are laughing at me now. I shall be tff. (Rises ) Maud. Won't you wait till Mamma comes in ? Egerton. No. Maud. I'm so sorry! I must get some-, one oka to coach me, I Buppose.

Egerton. You would let any other fellow coach you in that part ? Maud. Well, you see, if you won't, what can Ido ? Jack! Egerton. What is it P Maud. Are you crosß because. I cut so much out ? Egerton. I am angry with myself for being tuch a fool as to come near yoc again, That iB all. Maud (rising). Then, good-bye, Mr Egerton. [He takes her hand: they P.sk at each other in silence, and he suddenly bends his head and kisses her. She winds her arms round his neck. In the distance a door-bell rings. —CIAKA fAYILI-CIiARKE.