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N.B. All communications respecting the terms of acting this piece to be made to Mr. W. C. Williams, 3, Acton Place, Bagnigge Wells Road. f f SCOTT OiV THE OBSTINATE FAMILY. SCENE. ^1 .Room in HARFORD'S FiMr/, toi*A windows to the ground, leading on to the Lawn, with View of the Country beyond A Table partly laid for Luncheon, c. Side-table with newspaper, L.C. Sofa, R.C. Eight chairs Doors R. 2 E. and L. 2 E. 4s /te Curtain ascends, JAMES is discovered, humming an a range the table, fetching^gtasses, Sfc., from side- table HENRY HARFORD comes from the la ten, remains at the window unperceived, and listens. 95,13 o , 4 THE OBSTINATE FAMILY. LUCY. Master's father and mother-in-law are coming to luncheon. JAMES. Yes, and to rejoice in tbe happiness of the young couple. Lucy, I can't say that I can give you a father-in-law. LUCY. That is of no consequence. JAMES. Besides, I think we should find ourselves quite sufficient for one another, without fathers or mothers-in-law. There, thank goodness the table is spread ! LUCY. Yes. JAMES. What? LUCY. Nothing. I said yes. JAMES. Well, that is nothing, (aside) I'll come the authoritative. (aloud) You must also say that (they come forward) LUCY. Say what? JAMES. " Thank goodness the table is spread." LUCY. Why? JAMES, Why he-cause he-cause you must. , LUCY. How stupid. JAMES. When one has finished anything, it is customary and proper to say thank goodness that is finished ! LUCY. Go along with your nonsense. JAMES. It is not nonsense. You must not have such a will of your own Lucy, (softly) Now, there's a dear, do say thank goodness the table is spread. LUCY. No ! JAMES. If you love me, do ! LUCY. I won't. . JAMES, (getting angry) You won't ? LUCY. I won't. JAMES. When I ask you to do anything, can you say no ? LUCY. Yes, yes ! and if you were to ask me ten times I'd still do so. JAMES. What am I to think of that ? LUCY. Whatever you plea?e. JAMES. Allow me to ask ten times, and still be answered in the negative ! LUCY. Yes, if you were to ask anything so foolish. JAMES. II is not foolish, but that is not the question now ! you shall say it simply because I wish it ! LUCY. I won't say it. JAMES, (in a threatening ionc.) Lucy! LUCY, (imitating hi/n) James ! JAMES. Now, you must say U. LUCY. I must, must I ? JAMES, (decidedly') Yes! I commaud it. LUCY. Why, surely the man is dreaming, or got out of bed wrong foot foremost this morning ! JAMES. No joking I'm in earnest. You shall say, " thank good- ness the table is spread." LUCY. I shall and must, eh ? JAMES. Yes ! you shall and must. LUCY. Now, then, I won't do it. ! THE OBSTINATE /KAMILY.^-. 5 r*~**- JAMES follows quickly, after shaking his fist. JESSY continues working with her back to the table. HEN. (who hat been looking on to the lawn, comes forward, seuts himself, and takes up the newspaper, reads for a short time, then looks over it at JESSY, throws it down, goes to her, and gently says) Well, have you thought over it? Will you give up being obstinate ? JES. (quickly throwing her work away) How, Mr. Harford, ob- stinate ? You know if there is any word that I detest it is that ! I am not obstinate and most especially not so in the present instance but you are, for so obstinately persisting in so foolish a request. HEN. But, Jessy dear, understand me ; it is not on this foolish request I lay any stress, but only on your fulfilling my desire. JES. Well, if it is so, I request you will not mention it again. HEN. But my request was first made, and therefore must first be attended to. I should not have thought it possible that you could have refused me anything JES. (rising) Indeed ! I must never say no always yes, yes, yes. I see, you are like all the rest of your sex : you do not desire to have a loving wife a tender, true, and imparting helpmate no, you desire that your wife should be your slave. HEN. My dear, you surprise me. What exaggeration this is ! JES. No, no, Sir, with your demand for implicit obedience com- mences our subjection. But I never will be made a slave no, never ! I haven't read " Uncle Tom's Cabin " for nothing. I will assert and defend my rights, and neither threatening nor force shall bring me under subjection HEN. And " he shall be thy master." JES. There, there, Sir, was I not right ? You will be the master, I the slave you will command, I must obey. I understand and perceive your desire to lord it. I will obey you in all that is rea- sonable, but not in that which is unreasonable. HEN. (L.) Those are expressions never used to one whom we esteem. THE OBSTINATE FAMILY. 9 JES. (K.) Such requests are likewise never made to one whom we esteem. HEN. Yes, but a jest JES. You have made bitter earnest of it. (cries) Not a quarter of an hour ago you said you would never change, and now there you stand as cold and indifferent as if we had been married for twenty years. HEN. Now, now, don't cry you know how that irritates me. JES. (iobbing) I can't help it if your conduct forces me to cry. HEN. (ironically) Ah, goodness ! what a villain I have already become ! I force you to cry ! Oh, wretched, and much-to-be-pitied woman, in that your fate has linked you to such a brute ! JES. Go on ! go on ! add mockery to your cruelty. W'ho would have thought this an hour ago ? 1 was so joyous felt so happy and now HEN. Do you think there are no unfortunate women in the world besides yourself? JES. (continues crying) HEN. (aside) Oh, this confounded crying ! if her parents should corne what will they think? (aloud) New wife, now Jessy, now dearest come, come, let's make it up. JES. (taking her handkerchief from her eyes) What, make it up ? HEN. Yes, it is foolish that we ourselves should mingle the bitter with our happiness. JES. (softly) Do you indeed think so ? HEN. No one can have less cause to quarrel than we. ^, JES. (gently reproaching him) And yet you were so cruel. *n/Y HEN. Well, well ! Now here's my hand, let's make it up ? JES. (slowly placing her hand in his) Well, there you c'ruel ( fellow for tormenting me so. HEN. (gently embracing her) You know, darling, I wouldn't torment you for the world j but now, dear, as you love me, do, now, it's all over, just say those few words. JES. (quickly withdrawing herself ) What! again? HEN. You wont? JES. (gently) But Henry HEN. I was the first to give way, now you must complete it. JES. You will insist on it ? You will commence this quarrel again ? HEN. And you, I know, will put an end to it. Say those few words and J'm content ? JES. (after short hesitation) Once for all no ! HEN. No! Good, good very good! You know that this trifle r++# would please me; but no, you wont do it. Itywaybe obstinacy on my part to persist in it ; but love would put up with such obstinacy and give way to it. You will not do so? These two or three stupid words are nothing in themselves ; but by your saying them you would give me a proof of your love. Go, go, and never more say that you love me. (walks angrily up and down) JES. You accuse me of obstinacy, and with what right ? You, yourself, admit that your request is foolish, and, yet you insist on it. (gradually relaxing her decided tone) Is that love ? You see that 10 THE OBSTINATE FAMILY. your request pains and grieves me, but that does not affect you. Your cruelty has made me cry, and, yet you are indifferent. On whose part then is there most obstinacy and want of love. Enter JAMES, L. 2 E. JAMES. Mr. and Mrs. Harwood have come, Sir ! (he then goes and prepares to wait at table) HEN. (uneasy atfd softly) Now, hide your tears, or what will they think ? JES. I'm sure I do not care if they know what has taken place. I am quite innocent. Enter MR. and MRS. HARWOOD L. 2 E. HEN. My dear-Sir,, I'm delighted to see you. JES.* Dearest mother ! MRS. H. I must scold you, daughter, for it is nearly a fortnight since you've been to see me. I had a great mind not to come this morning. JES. Dear mother - MRS. H. Yes ! rest easy I know a young wife has something else to do than to think of her old mother. HAR. The way of the world old lady, the way of the world a wife must leave father and mother, eh ? But you do think of us sometimes, don't you, my girl ? JES. Always, father, always ! HEN. (anxiously watching JESSY) Now, shall we seat ourselves? MRS. H. (takes a chair between HENRY and JESSY) HAR. I've nothing to say against it, for I'm very tired and very hungry, (fits L. of table) LUCY enters, and places a dish on the table JAMES takes hold of her, and asks, by signs, whether she will say what he has desired She knocks his hand away, by signs refuses, and exit HAR. Ha, ha, ha ! Wife, you have put yourself betwixt the newly married couple. That's right, for if they sat together it might be pleasant to them, but very wnpleasant to the rest of the company. Now, fill your glasses, and here is many such days as the present. HEN. Hem ! JES. (R. of table, wipes her eyes and sets her glass doion) HAR. What's the matter ? You do not seem inclined to drink that toast; and - Eh, girl ? a tear ? I see, a little tiff! HEN. James ! (motions him to withdraw) Exit JAMES, MRS. H. (behind table, R.) How can you ask? Let them settle it themselves. HEN. (behind table, L.) Oh ! it is nothing a trifle, not worth mentioning and dear Jessy is something too sensitive. THE OBSTINATE FAMILY. 11 JES. (bursting into tears) Something else accused of being too sensitive now ! HEN. At least in the presence of your parents MRS. H. Restrain yourself, Jessy, dear. JES. I know it is wrong to give way to one's feelings, but I have bad too great a cause, and cannot help it. MRS. H. What! Son-in-law! Son-in-law! HAR. (who has continued eating) Wife, do not interfere in this, it concerns the children only. HEN. From Jessy's appearance it would appear as if I had deeply injured her. Now, you yourselves shall judge for I'll tell you the whole affair. HAR. Don't son, don't, we have no desire to interfere in the quarrels of married people, (eats') HEN. But I must justify myself. HAR. (eating) It ain't necessary. HEN. You might believe HAR. We do not believe anything. MRS. H. But pray let him ; perhaps it may lead to a reconciliation. HEN. I heard James, this morning, when he and Lucy had laid the cloth, desire her to say " Thank goodness the table is spread !" and the> had a quarrel because she would not. I told Jessy this, and laughingly added that she had not such a will of hi r own, and in jest asked her to say it. She refused with such decided obstinacy and provoking perverseness, that at last we had angry words about it. JES. (in tears) There, you hear obstinacy perverseness sensitiveness reproached with all this. Now, you can bear witness for me, that I never was obstinate. HAR. Why no girl I can't exactly do that. MRS. H. Now, husband, how can you wrong the poor child so she was never obstinate. Be calm, Jessy dear we won't interfere, and you will soon be reconciled to one-another. JES. I fear not, for he still insists on my saying it, MRS. H. (astonished) What, son-in-law, do you still mean to say that you insist on it 1 HEN. Pray let the matter end. HAR. Yes, let it end, or you will spoil my luncheon and disturb my digestion. You are a foolish girl, Jessy, dear. And, son-in-law, you do right in gently curbing the self-wilfulness of your young wife. She will be aoon accustomed to it, like my, old lady there, who does not know the meaning of the word refuse when I ask. And if I were to request her to say " Thank goodness the table is spread !" she would say it immediately. MRS. H. No, she wouldn't though. HAR. What? MRS. H. You would not desire it, dear. HAR. But supposing I did ? MRS. H. Why, then I wouldn't say it. HAR. I say, old lady, are you in earnest ? MRS. H. Yes, quite. ^ 12 THE OBSTINATE FAMILY. HAR. You will refuse to fulfil my request ? MRS. H. Yes ! HEN. My dear Sir, this is folly. Pray speak of something else. HAR. (rises} Stop a minute, son-in-law, stop a minute. I've never seen the like of this before, and now I'll see the end of it. Elizabeth, dear, now just say" Thank goodness the table is spread !" MRS. H. Leave me alone. HAR. Pray say it. MRS. H. No ! HAR. Many a time when I have seen a well spread table, I've said it, and now you shall. MRS. H. I wont ! JBS. Dear mother HAR. Elizabeth MRS. H. No ! HAR. Dear Elizabeth ! MRS. H. No ! HAR. Lizzy dear ! MRS. H. No ! I wont say it ! (all rise) HEN. I beg that HAR. This is beyond a jest. Will you through your own obstinacy set your daughter such a bad example ? MRS. H. Here we have another example of past experience that the men always side together when they have the subjection and submission of woman in view. The father even takes part against his own daughter. HAR. I take no one's part except my own. My daughter's and her husband's affairs do not concern me. I have only to settle with you, and I desire that you repeat those words. MRS. H. Mr. H. ! Mr. H. ! how can you ask anything so foolish of your wife ? HAR. Foolish or not that's not it. This request is nothing more or less than the touchstone of obedience, and if my historical know- ledge serves me rightly, even so did Gesler hang his cap upon a pole, in order that the Swiss might greet it . this was the touchstone of their obedience. MRS. H. And, Mr. H., if my historical knowledge does ditto by me, it was because this request was so laughable, foolish, and unmanly, that the Swiss revolted against their oppressors. JES. Right, mamma, and we will act even as they did MRS. H. Yes, of course we will, my own child, and set ourselves in opposition to these self-elected lords of the creation. JES. We are wives; but not submissive, or inferiors. MRS. H. Among the Turks women may be submissive and there- fore inferiors but we, thank goodness, live in a Christian land ! JES. The men appear to desire the introduction of Turkish customs, for in behaviour they are Turks ! MRS. H. (more warmly) But, heaven be praised, we are not slaves, and we will assert our rights ! JES. And such foolish requests as you have made wo never v ill comply with ! * THE OBSTINATEjAilLr. 13 MRS. H. No j never, never, never ! JES. T/ie?/ 6oft retire and speak together R. HEN. Father-in-law! HAE. Son-in-law, we've dropt in for it. The worst of it is, that it has thrown me out with my luncheon, and when I do not make a good luncheon, 1 never make a good dinner. HEN. Notwithstanding, we must not give in to them. HAR. My dear fellow, I don't know. This is a quarrel by which neither party can gain anything. I've allowed myself to be irritated got into a bit of a passion but the specimen I have had of the enemies' powers and the difficulties to be overcome, have cooled my courage, and I feel quite peacably inclined. Besides, the women are not altogether wrong, for it is nearly as obstinate to persist in our demand as it is for them to persist in their refusal ; and - (whispers they retire L.) JES. (advancing R.) If I had at first for a moment imagined that so much would have come of such a trifle, I would have considered it a jest, and, as such, complied with it ; but now I cannot do so. MRS. H. On no account; for, if you were to do so, it would for ever subject you to his imperious control. JES. He shall see that I have a firm will. MRS. II . Very proper. Do not give way a single inch. My hus- band may ask long enough before I will give in. JES. You will support me, dear mother, will you not? MRS. H. You may rely on that, my dear, and so will all the women of England, (they whisper) HAR. The most prudent always gives in - > HEN. I would willingly do it, but honour - HAR. Pooh, nonsense, honour ! that often prevents a man from doing what is right. A jest commenced the quarrel, and let a jest put an end to it. HEN. If one could, by a jest - Ah ! I think I see the way. . - HAR. -Come, come, a truce; your alhea powers are too strong for me. But I must strengthen the fortifications in case of the worst. (sits) Ah, thank goodness the table is spread. JES. Dear mother, shall we also? - MRS. H. Oh, yes, yes, do not let their folly deprive us of our luncheon, (seat themselves R. of table) Re-enter HENRY, R. with two shawls. /\ HEN. I come to make peace, and let us put an end to the war. I acknowledge that I was the chief cause of this quarrel, and to atone for this, I'll make you a present of one of these shawls, I intended to have done so this morning, but our quarrel drove it out of my re- membrance. JES. (a little ashamed) Henry, I scarcely know - 14 Tftfe OBSTINATE FAMILY. HEN. Come, choose. &J JES, At such a time - WJUL ' HEN, Choose, choose, there's a good girl. JES. ( points to one, and suddenly withdraws Tier hand) * HEN. The right hand one ? (she nods he then puts one on the . itmkkand the other over her shoulders) It becomes you beautifully. Now, I have come three parts of the way. JES. (after a moment's hesitation, goes and embraces him) " Thank goodness (whispers in his ear) the table is spread." (embrace) JAMES enters, with tray, and remains ready to clear table . ; : '. ' ... - * - ii " ? ,-' ' f v - HAR. That's right, my children, you have very wisely made an end of it. HEN. Peace is made. JES. For ever ! HEN. The like shall not happen again. JES. No, never! (they go up R.) LUCY enters and arranges the things on side table L.H. . (who has examined the other shawl, taps MR. H. on shoulder) Look there. HAR. What? MRS. H. There's a shawl left. HAR. Indeed ! MRS. H. Will you effect a reconciliation with that? HAR. With the shawl ?^ No, thank you, that is a little too dear to suit my book. MRS. H. But consider - JAMES and LUCY begin to clear table. HAR. No, I hope to effect a reconciliation at a cheaper rate than that. It is all very well for a young husband like Harry, to do so, but when he has had my experience he will know better. MRS. H. You're a brute! (they retire up L.H.) HEN. (R.C.) James, I hope you have brought Lucy into a state o f obedience. JAMES, (c.) No, Sir, it is not to be done. HEN. How obstinate of you, Lucy. LUCY. But, Sir - (advancing R.C.) JES. (R.) You must give way, Lucy, you must repeat those words. LUCY. What, you know - JES. Yes, all. HAR. Yes, Miss Lucy, you have been the cause of all this dis- turbance. MRS. H. Yes, it is all through you, and as a punishment, you must repeat aloud, and before us" Thank goodness the table is spread ! " (all laugh) Well ? HAR. Now, old lady, I think you have said it. THE OBSTINATE FAMILY. 15 MRS. H. (down L.) Dear, yes. Well, there's an end of it. (gives Mm her hand) HEN. Now, L UC y, you alone remain. LUCY. Upon my word I can't, Sir. JBS. Do it, and in three weeks I'll see you are married LUCY. Married ! " Thank goodness " (jumping with glee to c.) ALL. Well? well? LUCY, (who does not perceive what she has said) Well what? ALL. Go on go on ! LUCY. Go on ? JAMES. Yes, dear, do say the rest ! LUCY. Oh. I see! ALL. Proceed proceed! LUCY. But it is so difficult. James, stand ready to catch me if I should faint, (takes a long breath) ALL. Now, out with it ! LUCY. " The table is spread !" She falls into JAMES'S arms c. ALL shout " Bravo !" and wave their handkerchiefs. JRSSY. HARFORD. LUCY in JAMES'S arms. MRS. H. HAR. R. L. CURTAIN. Recently Published, 17, Wellington Street, Strand. By post By post s. (1 s. d. s. d. s. d. Alarming Sacrifice AH Baba, or a Night 6 . 8 Mind your ownBusiness Money . . .2 6 6 . . 3 8 o with the 40 Thieves 6 . o 8 Morning Call 6 . 8 Alice May . 6 . 8 Mrs. Bunbury's Spoons 6 . 8 Allow me to Apologise 6 . 8 My Friend in the Straps 6 . 8 Aminta 6 . 8 My Heart's Idol 6 . 8 Anne Blake 2 6 . 3 No. 1 A 6 . 7 Armand 1 . 1 4 Not so Bad as we Seem 5 . 5 6 Azael 6 . 8 Not to be Done . 6 , S Black Doctor 1 . 1 2 Novel Expedient 6 . 8 Blood-Red Knight . 6 . 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