Inside the cottage after nightfall. Looking eastward from within instead of westward from without, the latticed window, with its curtains drawn, is now seen in the middle of the front wall of the cottage, with the porch door to the left of it. In the left-hand side wall is the door leading to the kitchen. Farther back against the same wall is a dresser with a candle and matches on it, and FRANKS rifle standing beside them, with the barrel resting in the plate-rack. In the centre a table stands with a lighted lamp on it. vrviE's books and writing materials are on a table to the right of the window, against the wall. The fireplace is on the right, with a settle:6 there is no fire. Two of the chairs are set right and left of the table. The cottage door opens, shewing a fine starlit night without; and MRS WARREN, her shoidders wrapped in a shawl borrowed from VIVIE, enters, followed by FRANK, who t hrows his cap on the window seat. She has had enough of walking, and gives a gasp of relief as she unpins her hat; takes it off ; sticks the pin through the crown; and puts it on the table.
MRS WARREN O Lord! I dont know which is the worst of the country, the walking or the sitting at home with nothing to do. I could do with a whisky
and soda now very well, if only they had such a thing in this place.
FRANK
Perhaps Vivie's got some.
MRS WARREN
Nonsense! What would a young girl like her be doing with such
things! Never mind: it dont matter. I wonder how she passes her time here!
I'd a good deal rather be in Vienna. FRANK Let me take you there. [He helps her to take off her shawl, gallantly giving her shoulders a very perceptible squeeze as he does so.]
MRS WARREN
Ah! would you? I'm beginning to think youre a chip of the old
block. FRANK Like the gov'nor, eh? [He hangs the shawl on the nearest chair, and sits down.]
MRS WARREN
Never you mind. What do you know about such things? Youre
only a boy. [She goes to the hearth, to be farther from temptation.] FRANK Do come to Vienna with me? It'd be ever such larks. MRS WARREN No, thank you. Vienna is no place for you?at least not until
youre a little older. [She nods at him to emphasize this piece of advice. He makes a mock-piteous face, belied by his laughing eyes. She looks at him; then comes back to him.] Now, look here, little boy [taking his face in her hands and turning it up to her]; I know you through and through by your likeness to your father, better than you know yourself. Dont you go taking any silly
ideas into your head about me. Do you hear? FRANK [Gallantly wooing her with his voice.] Cant help it, my dear Mrs Warren: it runs in the family.
[She pretends to box his ears; then looks at the pretty laughing upturned
6. A high-backed wooden bench.
.
1 75 8 / BERNARD SHAW
face for a moment, tempted. At last she kisses him, and immediately turns away, out of patience with herself]
MRS WARREN There! I shouldnt have done that. I am wicked. Never you mind,
my dear: it's only a motherly kiss. Go and make love to7 Vivie. FRANK So I have. MRS WARREN [Turning on him with a sharp note of alarm in her voice.] What! FRANK Vivie and I are ever such chums. MRS WARREN What do you mean? Now see here: I wont have any young
scamp tampering with my little girl. Do you hear? I wont have it.
FRANK [Quite unabashed.] My dear Mrs Warren: dont you be alarmed. My intentions are honorable: ever so honorable; and your little girl is jolly well able to take care of herself. She dont need looking after half so much as her mother. She aint so handsome, you know.
MRS WARREN [Taken aback by his assurance.] Well, you have got a nice healthy two inches thick of cheek all over you.8 I dont know where you got it. Not from your father, anyhow.
CROFTS [In the garden.] The gipsies, I suppose? REV. SAMUEL [Replying.] The broomsquires9 are far worse. MRS WARREN [To FRANK.] S-sh! Remember! youve had your warning.
[CROFTS and the REVEREND SAMUEL come in from the garden, the clergyman continuing his conversation as he enters.]
REV. SAMUEL The perjury at the Winchester assizes1 is deplorable. MRS WARREN Well? What became of you two? And wheres Praddy and Vivie? CROFTS [Putting his hat on the settle and his stick in the chimney corner.] They
went up the hill. We went to the village. I wanted a drink. [He sits down on the settle, putting his legs up along the seat.]
MRS WARREN Well, she oughtnt to go off like that without telling me. [To FRANK.] Get your father a chair, Frank: where are your manners? [FRANK
springs up and gracefully offers his father his chair; and then takes another from the wall and sits down at the table, in the middle, with his father on his right and MRS WARREN on his left.] George: where are you going to stay tonight? You cant stay here. And whats Praddy going to do?
CROFTS Gardner'll put me up. MRS WARREN Oh no doubt youve taken care of yourself! But what about
