Exiles

him a match. There is a faith still stranger than the faith of the disciple in his master. Robert And that is? Richard The faith of a master in the disciple who will betray him. Robert The church lost a theologian in you, Richard. But I think you look too deeply into life. He rises, pressing Richard’s arm slightly. Be gay. Life is not worth it. Richard Without rising. Are you going? Robert Must. He turns and says in a friendly tone. Then it is all arranged. We meet tonight at the vicechancellor’s. I shall look in at about ten. So you can have an hour or so to yourselves first. You will wait till I come? Richard Good. Robert One more match and I am happy. Richard strikes another match, hands it to him and rises also. Archie comes in by the door on the left, followed by Beatrice. Robert Congratulate me, Beatty. I have won over Richard. Archie Crossing to the door on the right, calls. Mamma, Miss Justice is going. Beatrice On what are you to be congratulated? Robert On a victory, of course. Laying his hand lightly on Richard’s shoulder. The descendant of Archibald Hamilton Rowan has come home. Richard I am not a descendant of Hamilton Rowan. Robert What matter? Bertha comes in from the right with a bowl of roses. Beatrice Has Mr. Rowan⁠ ⁠… ? Robert Turning towards Bertha. Richard is coming tonight to the vicechancellor’s dinner. The fatted calf will be eaten: roast, I hope. And next session will see the descendant of a namesake of etcetera, etcetera in a chair of the university. He offers his hand. Good afternoon, Richard. We shall meet tonight. Richard Touches his hand. At Philippi. Beatrice Shakes hands also. Accept my best wishes, Mr. Rowan. Richard Thanks. But do not believe him. Robert Vivaciously. Believe me, believe me. To Bertha. Good afternoon, Mrs. Rowan. Bertha Shaking hands, candidly. I thank you, too. To Beatrice. You won’t stay to tea, Miss Justice? Beatrice No, thank you. Takes leave of her. I must go. Good afternoon. Goodbye, Archie going. Robert Addio, Archibald. Archie Addio. Robert Wait, Beatty. I shall accompany you. Beatrice Going out on the right with Bertha. O, don’t trouble. Robert Following her. But I insist⁠—as a cousin. Bertha, Beatrice and Robert go out by the door on the left. Richard stands irresolutely near the table. Archie closes the door leading to the hall and, coming over to him, plucks him by the sleeve. Archie I say, pappie! Richard Absently. What is it? Archie I want to ask you a thing. Richard Sitting on the end of the lounge, stares in front of him. What is it? Archie Will you ask mamma to let me go out in the morning with the milkman? Richard With the milkman? Archie Yes. In the milkcar. He says he will let me drive when we get on to the roads where there are no people. The horse is a very good beast. Can I go? Richard Yes. Archie Ask mamma now can I go. Will you? Richard Glances towards the door. I will. Archie He said he will show me the cows he has in the field. Do you know how many cows he has? Richard How many? Archie Eleven. Eight red and three white. But one is sick now. No, not sick. But it fell. Richard Cows? Archie With a gesture. Eh! Not bulls. Because bulls give no milk. Eleven cows. They must give a lot of milk. What makes a cow give milk? Richard Takes his hand. Who knows? Do you understand what it is to give a thing? Archie To give? Yes. Richard While you have a thing it can be taken from you. Archie By robbers? No? Richard But when you give it, you have given it. No robber can take it from you. He bends his head and presses his son’s hand against his cheek. It is yours then forever when you have given it. It will be yours always. That is to give. Archie But, pappie? Richard Yes? Archie How could a robber rob a cow? Everyone would see him. In the night, perhaps. Richard In the night, yes. Archie Are there robbers here like in Rome? Richard There are poor people everywhere. Archie Have they revolvers? Richard No. Archie Knives? Have they knives? Richard Sternly. Yes, yes. Knives and revolvers. Archie Disengages himself. Ask mamma now. She is coming. Richard Makes a movement to rise. I will. Archie No, sit there, pappie. You wait and ask her when she comes back. I won’t be here. I’ll be in the garden. Richard Sinking back again. Yes. Go. Archie Kisses him swiftly. Thanks. He runs out quickly by the door at the back leading into the garden. Bertha enters by the door on the left. She approaches the table and stands beside it, fingering the petals of the roses, looking at Richard. Richard Watching her. Well? Bertha Absently. Well. He says he likes me. Richard Leans his chin in his hand. You showed him his note? Bertha Yes. I asked him what it meant. Richard What did he say it meant? Bertha He said I must know. I said I had an idea. Then he told me he liked me very much. That I was beautiful⁠—and all that. Richard Since when! Bertha Again absently. Since when⁠—what? Richard Since when did he say he liked you? Bertha Always, he said. But more since we came back. He said I was like the moon in this lavender dress. Looking at him. Had you any words with him⁠—about me? Richard Blandly. The usual thing. Not about you. Bertha He was very nervous. You saw that? Richard Yes. I saw it. What else went on? Bertha He asked me to give him my hand. Richard Smiling. In marriage? Bertha Smiling. No, only to hold. Richard Did you? Bertha Yes. Tearing off a few petals. Then he caressed my hand and asked would I let him kiss it. I let him. Richard Well? Bertha Then he asked could he embrace me⁠—even once?⁠ ⁠… And then⁠ ⁠… Richard And then?