Hay Fever

chivalrous; but it’s no use. After all, as I said before, David has been a good husband to me, according to his lights. This may, of course, break him up rather, but it can’t be helped; he must be told. I wonder⁠—oh, I wonder how he’ll take it. They say suffering’s good for writers, it strengthens their psychology. Oh, my poor, poor David!⁠—Never mind. You’d better go out into the garden and wait⁠— Richard Flustered. Wait? What for? Judith For me, Richard, for me. I will come to you later. Wait in the summerhouse. I had begun to think that Romance was dead, that I should never know it again. Before, of course, I had my work and my life in the theatre, but now, nothing⁠—nothing! Everything is empty and hollow, like a broken shell. Richard Look here, Judith, I apologise for what I did just now. I⁠— Judith Ignoring all interruption. But now you have come, and it’s all changed⁠—it’s magic. I’m under a spell that I never thought to recapture again. Go along⁠—She pushes him towards the garden. Richard Protesting. But, Judith⁠— Judith Pushing him firmly. Don’t⁠—don’t make it any harder for me. I am quite resolved⁠—it is my self-appointed Calvary, and it’s the only possible way!

She pushes him into the garden and waves to him bravely with her handkerchief; then she comes back into the room and powders her nose before the glass and puts her hair into place. Then, assuming an expression of restrained tragedy, she opens the library door, from which she recoils genuinely shocked.

After a moment or two Sorel and Sandy come out rather sheepishly.

Sorel Look here, Mother, I⁠— Judith Sorel, what am I to say to you? Sorel I don’t know, Mother. Judith Neither do I. Sandy It was my fault, Mrs. Bliss⁠—Judith⁠— Judith What a fool I’ve been! What a blind fool! Sorel Mother, are you really upset? Judith With feeling. I’m stunned. Sorel But, darling⁠— Judith Gently. Don’t speak for a moment, Sorel; we must all be very quiet, and think⁠— Sorel It was nothing, really. For Heaven’s sake⁠— Judith Nothing! I open the library door casually, and what do I see? I ask you, what do I see? Sandy I’m most awfully sorry.⁠ ⁠… Judith Ssshh! It has gone beyond superficial apologies. Sorel Mother, be natural for a minute. Judith I don’t know what you mean, Sorel. I’m trying to realise a very bitter truth as calmly as I can. Sorel There’s nothing so very bitter about it. Judith My poor child! Sorel Suddenly. Very well, then! I love Sandy, and he loves me! Judith That would be the only possible excuse for your behaviour. Sorel Why shouldn’t we love each other if we want to? Judith Sandy was in love with me this afternoon. Sorel Not real love⁠—you know it wasn’t. Judith Bitterly. I know now. Sandy I say⁠—look here⁠—I’m most awfully sorry. Judith There’s nothing to be sorry for, really; it’s my fault for having been so⁠—so ridiculous. Sorel Mother! Judith Sadly. Yes, ridiculous. I’m getting old, old, and the sooner I face it the better. Sorel Hopelessly. But, darling.⁠ ⁠… Judith Splendidly. Youth will be served. You’re so pretty, Sorel, far prettier than I ever was⁠—I’m very glad you’re pretty. Sandy I feel a fearful cad. Judith Why should you? You’ve answered the only call that really counts⁠—the call of Love, and Romance, and Spring. I forgive you, Sandy, completely. There. Sorel Well, that’s all right, then. Judith I resent your tone, Sorel; you seem to be taking things too much for granted. Perhaps you don’t realise that I am making a great sacrifice! Sorel Sorry, darling. Judith It’s far from easy, at my time of life, to⁠— Sorel Playing up. Mother⁠—Mother, say you understand and forgive! Judith Understand! You forget, dear, I am a woman. Sorel I know you are, Mother. That’s what makes it all so poignant. Judith Magnanimously, to Sandy. If you want Sorel, truly, I give her to you⁠—unconditionally. Sandy Dazed. Thanks⁠—awfully, Mrs. Bliss. Judith You can still call me Judith, can’t you?⁠—it’s not much to ask. Sandy Judith. Judith Bravely. There, now. Away with melancholy. This is all tremendously exciting, and we must all be very happy. Sorel Don’t tell Father⁠—yet. Judith We won’t tell anybody; it shall be our little secret. Sorel You are splendid, Mother. Judith Nonsense. I just believe in being honest with myself⁠—it’s awfully good for one, you know, so cleansing. I’m going upstairs now to have a little aspirin⁠—She goes upstairs, and turns. Ah, Youth, Youth, what a strange, mad muddle you make of things! She goes off. Sorel heaves a slight sigh, and takes a cigarette. Sorel Well, that’s that. Sandy Yes. Sorel It’s all right. Don’t look so gloomy⁠—I know you don’t love me really. Sandy Startled. I say, Sorel⁠— Sorel Don’t protest; you know you don’t⁠—any more than I love you. Sandy But you told Judith⁠— Sorel Nonchalantly. I was only playing up⁠—one always plays up to Mother in this house; it’s a sort of unwritten law. Sandy Didn’t she mean all she said? Sorel No, not really; we none of us ever mean anything. Sandy She seemed awfully upset. Sorel It must have been a slight shock for her to discover us clasped tightly in each other’s arms. Sandy I believe I do love you, Sorel. Sorel A month ago I should have let you go on believing that, but now I can’t⁠—I’m bent on improving myself. Sandy I don’t understand. Sorel Never mind⁠—it doesn’t matter. You just fell a victim to the atmosphere, that’s all. There we were alone in the library, with the windows wide open, and probably a nightingale somewhere about⁠— Sandy I only heard a cuckoo. Sorel Even a cuckoo has charm, in moderation. You kissed me because you were awfully nice and I was awfully nice and we both liked kissing very much. It was inevitable. Then Mother found us and got dramatic⁠—her sense of the theatre is always fatal. She knows we shan’t marry, the same as you and I do. You’re under absolutely no obligation to me at all. Sandy I wish I understood you a bit better. Sorel Never mind about understanding me. Let’s go back into the library. Sandy All right.

They go