Complete Works of Wilkie Collins (1998 page)

Adm. B.
I have heard of it. George lost his temper with Noel because Noel would do nothing for those two poor girls. I don’t justify George’s violence. At the same time, I think Noel is wrong in declining to do anything for the Miss Vanstones. He ought to halve the money with them. Tell him I said so, Mrs. Lecount, with my love. That’s the message. This is my nearest way out, isn’t it? Good day.

(
He goes out on the right, the servants respectfully making way for him.
)

Mrs. L.
(
alone
). Halve the money with them? Mr. Noel is not very wise. But I think he is not quite such a fool as to do that! If he halves the money with anybody — let him do it with
me.

Enter
GEORGE BARTRAM
at the back.

Geo.
Am I in the way, Mrs. Lecount?

Mrs. L.
Mr. George! your uncle has just gone. He was so sorry about your misunderstanding with Mr. Noel. Have you come back to make it up?

Geo.
I’ll make it up, Mrs. Lecount, when Noel has acted towards the Miss Vanstones more justly than his father did. Till that time comes, I am present at the school festival as one of the public — nothing more.

Mrs. L.
What an interest you take, sir, in these Miss Vanstones!

Geo.
You were good enough to take some interest in them too, Mrs. Lecount, when I last saw you. I want to appeal to that interest now. — You know that Magdalen Vanstone has left her friends?

Mrs. L.
The young ladies of England are so independent, Mr. George!

Geo.
Thus far, I have failed to find her. I am now going to continue the search at some distance from this place. In the mean time, if Magdalen should be hidden in the neighbourhood, I have provided myself with some handbills, in case of the worst. (
He produces some printed handbills.
) I want you to take one of them.

Mrs. L.
(
looking at the handbill
). What! you are going to advertise her publicly to all the world?

Geo.
Not till every other resource has failed me. I give the handbill to you privately. Study the description of her personal appearance, so that you may recognise her if she should pass your way. Detain her in that case on the best pretence you can find — and let me know at my lawyer’s in York. I shall be back to-morrow. Will you do this?

Mrs. L.
I am always ready, sir, to make myself useful — if I can.

Geo.
Thank you — I ask no more. (
He turns to go, and comes back.
) If you
should
meet with Magdalen, pray be gentle with her. She needs kindness, Mrs. Lecount. She has been sorely tried. (
He goes out at the back.
)

Mrs. L.
He is in love with her. What fools the men are! Is the tea-table ready for these brats of children?

(
She looks towards the table. The servants have completed the preparations, and have retired during the scene between
MRS. LECOUNT
and
GEORGE) Ah, my heavens, how I do hate children! (
Looking at the handbill.
) What is all this nonsense about? Let me read. (
She reads.
) “Left her home in London on the morning of the 30th of June, a young lady. Age eighteen. Tall — light hair and eyes. Walks with grace and ease; speaks with openness and resolution; has the look and manner of a cultivated lady. Personal mark, two little moles close together on the left side of the neck. Whoever will restore her to her friends shall receive a handsome reward. Apply to Mr. Pendril, Lincoln’s-inn-fields, London.” What a fuss about a runaway girl! Bah! Let her go! (
The music is heard playing a march.
MRS. LECOUNT
looks off to the right.
) Here is the army of brats — with Mr. Noel for general, marching at their head!

(
Enter by the side entrance on the right the schoolchildren, led by
NOEL VANSTONE.
At the same time the clergy, the teachers, and the visitors,
CAPTAIN WRAGGE
and
MAGDALEN
being among them, all enter the tent by the opening at the back.
NOEL
brings the front rank of children to a halt in the open space left between the tea-table and the bench. His manner is feebly consequential. He is smartly dressed, in a light suit, with a hat and shoes to match, and has a rose in his button-hole.
)

Noel
(
using his little walking-cane like a sword
). Halt! Attention! Keep your hands off the table! (
Calling to the musicians.
) Stop the march! (
The music ceases.
NOEL
addresses
MAGDALEN
in his most gracious manner.
) Nobody else, Miss Bygrave, could have got those children into the tent without confusion. The management of crowds is a peculiar gift. I possess it. (
He turns again to the children.
) Right about face! (
The children all turn towards the audience.
) Attention! Silence in the ranks!

(
He passes down the ranks of the children, settling them in their places. The visitors talk among themselves.
WRAGGE
speaks aside to
MAGDALEN.)

Wragge.
What do you think of him, so far?

Mag.
So far, a fool — nothing worse.

Wragge
(
significantly
). Wait a little!

Mrs. L.
(
looking at
MAGDALEN). A new acquaintance of Mr. Noel’s! Who is Miss Bygrave, I wonder?

Noel
(
addressing the visitors
). Ladies and gentlemen! The children will sing a Grace. A verse before tea — a verse after tea. The Festival to conclude with a march back through the grounds, headed. by Me. Is the programme thoroughly understood? Sing the Grace!

(
The children sing in unison a verse of some simple Grace, accompanied or not accompanied, as may be found most desirable,
NOEL VANSTONE
every now and then beating time with his cane, all wrong, and leering at
MAGDALEN.
The first verse or verses finished,
NOEL
takes command of the children once more.
)

Noel.
Very well! very well! creditable to the school. (
To
MAGDALEN.) Did you notice, Miss Bygrave, they all took the time from Me? (
To the children.
) Attention! Right about face! (
The children turn so as to face the table.
) Take your seats. Visitors who may be kindly willing to wait on the children are at liberty to make themselves useful. (
The servants having moved the bench so that the children can sit at table, the visitors help them to tea and cake.
WRAGGE, MAGDALEN, MRS. LECOUNT,
and
NOEL
group themselves on the left-hand side of the stage, leaving the larger half of it, on the right, free to the visitors, the servants, and the children.
NOEL
addresses
MAGDALEN.) Administrative ability is everything on these occasions, Miss Bygrave. I inherit administrative ability from my father. (
He turns to
MRS. LECOUNT,
who stands apart jealously watching
MAGDALEN,
and looking from time to time at the printed bill in her hand.
) Lecount, come and be introduced. This is Mr. Bygrave. (WRAGGE
takes off his hat to
MRS. LECOUNT.) Mr. Bygrave has laid me under an obligation.

Wragge.
Don’t mention it, Mr. Vanstone!

Noel.
You remember those begging-letters, Lecount? I said, at the time, a swindle. Mr. Bygrave knows who the fellow is. Mr. Bygrave is going to help me to catch him. He may be among the visitors at this moment. (
To
WRAGGE.) What is Wragge like?

Wragge.
A, short, fat man, most richly and expensively dressed.

Noel.
Do you see Wragge anywhere?

Wragge
(
after carefully looking
). No — I don’t see Wragge.

Noel.
Lecount, let me introduce you to Miss Bygrave. (
To
MAGDALEN.) Lecount is my housekeeper. Lecount was my father’s housekeeper. I don’t know what I should do without her. I have got a heart complaint, Miss Bygrave. Nobody has ever had anything like it before. Nobody knows how to manage it but Lecount. My life is literally in Lecount’s hands.

Mrs. L.
(
steadily scrutinising
MAGDALEN’S
face.
) Mr. Noel is too good to me! You enjoy this scene, Miss Bygrave? You feel an interest in these poor children?

Mag.
(
coldly.
) Have we met before, Mrs. Lecount?

Mrs. L.
Ah, no! Why do you ask?

Mag.
You look at me with an appearance of curiosity which I am at a loss to account for.

Mrs. L.
I admire beauty, Miss Bygrave, that is all.

(
She moves so as to be able to see the left side of
MAGDALEN’S
neck, and furtively consults the printed bill. The four characters are placed thus on the stage:
MRS. LECOUNT
at the extreme left,
MAGDALEN
next to her,
WRAGGE
next to
MAGDALEN, NOEL
on the right.
)

Wragge
(
aside to
MAGDALEN). Mind what you are about!

Mrs. L.
(
aside
) I don’t see the two little moles on the neck.

Noel.
Lecount!

Mrs. L.
Yes, sir.

Noel.
What’s that paper you have got in your hand.

Mrs. L.
(
crossing to
NOEL, WRAGGE
taking her place on
MAGDALEN’S
left
). A little romance in itself, Mr. Noel. A reward for discovering a young lady who has run away from home.

(MAGDALEN
starts violently.
WRAGGE
seizes her by the hand.
)

Wragge
(
aside to
MAGDALEN). Steady!

Noel.
With a young gentleman, of course? Lucky dog!

Wragge
(
crossing behind
MAGDALEN,
and placing himself between her and
MRS. LECOUNT). Might I see it?

(
He attempts to take the bill.
)

Mrs. L.
(
snatching it away from him
). Pardon me, Mr. Bygrave, I must not show it to strangers.

Noel.
I’m not a stranger, Lecount. Show it to me!

Mrs. L.
You are my master, Mr. Noel. (
She gives him the bill.
)

Noel
(
looking at the bill
). A charming girl, evidently. Mr. Bygrave, listen to this.