Collected Works (Vol. III)

44 WHY JESUS WEPT SCENE XII. TWO YEARS LATER. Night: The Strand, opposite the fotel Cectl. “l chemist’s shop behind. A grey, old, wieened man staggers tnto the shop. CHEMIST. This prescription has been made up before, Sir. THE MAN. Yes, I want it renewed, quickly, quickly. CHEMIST. I am afraid, sir, it is marked ‘once only.” THE MAN. You won't? O if you knew what I suffer! I will pay you double. CHEMIST. I’m afraid not, sir. You may try else- where. Trk MAN, O God! O God! [Goes out. To him enter on the pavement a bedrageled female. THE WoMAN. Come home, ducky, won’t you? THE MAN. O God! OGod! I cannot bear it any longer. It is the last I have. [He fumbles awhile inside his coat. THE WoMAN (catching hold of him). Come, stand me a glass of wine, there’s a dear. THE MAN. Ah! that is well. Can I use this woman, I wonder ? THE WOMAN. O God! I am punished. Sir Percy here! What is the matter, dear my love? SIR PERCY. Never mind love—you are? MOLLY. O sir, your Molly, that you broke the heart of. See what has come to me! SiR PERCY. Ah, if you knew. You are the lucky one! ] am in grips with a more dread disease Than all your wildest nightmares figure you ! [A carriage rolls by, as from the theatre. It stops owing to a block in the traffic. MOLLY. O sir! Iam so sorry for you. SIR PERCY. And a lot of good that does! Enter, on the pavement, the MARQUIS OF GLENSTRAE, 7” his fur coat. The occupant of the carriage, ANGELA, Lapy BAIRD, recognises him and leans out to greet him. GLENSTRAE. Ah, my dear lady, how do you do this cold weather? ANGELA. Weill, very well, thank you—and you? GLENSTRAE. Well enough—a little rheumatic, perhaps. H’m ! ANGELA. And the dear Marchioness? GLENSTRAE. Oh, very sad—there—there! She has had to be, ah!—er—under treatment.