Act 1 - Page 2

BEATRICEIs Mr Rowan in?

BRIGID(Points.) He is in his study. He is wearing himself out about something he is writing. Up half the night he does be. (Going.) I'll call him.

BEATRICEDon't disturb him, Brigid. I can wait here till they come back if they are not long.

BRIGIDAnd I saw something in the letterbox when I was letting you in. (She crosses to the study door, opens it slightly and calls.) Master Richard, Miss Justice is here for Master Archie's lesson.

(Richard Rowan comes in from the study and advances towards Beatrice, holding out his hand. He is a tall athletic young man of a rather lazy carriage. He has light brown hair and a moustache and wears glasses. He is dressed in loose lightgrey tweed.)

RICHARDWelcome.

BEATRICE(Rises and shakes hands, blushing slightly.) Good afternoon, Mr Rowan. I did not want Brigid to disturb you.

RICHARDDisturb me? My goodness!

BRIGIDThere is something in the letterbox, sir.

RICHARD(Takes a small bunch of keys from his pocket and hands them to her.) Here.

(Brigid goes out by the door at the left and is heard opening and closing the box. A short pause. She enters with two newspapers in her hands.)

RICHARDLetters?

BRIGIDNo, sir. Only them Italian newspapers.

RICHARDLeave them on my desk, will you?

(Brigid hands him back the keys, leaves the newspapers in the study, comes out again and goes out by the folding doors on the right.)

RICHARDPlease, sit down. Bertha will be back in a moment.

(Beatrice sits down again in the easychair. Richard sits beside the table.)

RICHARDI had begun to think you would never come back. It is twelve days since you were here.

BEATRICEI thought of that too. But I have come.

RICHARDHave you thought over what I told you when you were here last?

BEATRICEVery much.

RICHARDYou must have known it before. Did you? (She does not answer.) Do you blame me?

BEATRICENo.

RICHARDDo you think I have acted towards you-- badly? No? Or towards anyone?

BEATRICE(Looks at him with a sad puzzled expression.) I have asked myself that question.

RICHARDAnd the answer?

BEATRICEI could not answer it.

RICHARDIf I were a painter and told you I had a book of sketches of you you would not think it so strange, would you?

BEATRICEIt is not quite the same case, is it?

RICHARD(Smiles slightly.) Not quite. I told you also that I would not show you what I had written unless you asked to see it. Well?

BEATRICEI will not ask you.

RICHARD(Leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his hands joined.) Would you like to see it?

BEATRICEVery much.

RICHARDBecause it is about yourself?

BEATRICEYes. But not only that.

RICHARDBecause it is written by