the sleeping-car - a farce-第6节
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want?
THE CALIFORNIAN。 Aunt Mary。
AUNT MARY。 Go away。 Aunt Mary; indeed!
MRS。 ROBERTS (running toward her; followed by CAMPBELL and MR。
ROBERTS)。 Why; Aunt Mary; it IS you! And here's Willis; and here's
Edward。
AUNT MARY。 Nonsense! How did they get aboard?
MRS。 ROBERTS。 Edward came on at Worcester and Willis at Framingham;
to surprise me。
AUNT MARY。 And a very silly performance。 Let them wait till I'm
dressed; and then I'll talk to them。 Send for the porter。 'She
withdraws her head behind the curtain; and then thrusts it out
again。' And who; pray; may THIS be?
'She indicates THE CALIFORNIAN。'
MRS。 ROBERTS。 Oh; a friend of ours from California; who's been so
kind to us all night; and who's going home with us。
AUNT MARY。 Another ridiculous surprise; I suppose。 But he shall not
surprise ME。 Young man; isn't your name Sawyer?
THE CALIFORNIAN。 Yes; ma'am。
AUNT MARY。 Abram?
THE CALIFORNIAN。 Abram Sawyer。 You're right there; ma'am。
MRS。 ROBERTS。 Oh! oh! I knew it! I knew that he must be somebody
belonging to us。 Oh; thank you; aunty; for thinking …
AUNT MARY。 Don't be absurd; Agnes。 Then you're my …
A VOICE from one of the berths。 Lost step…son。 Found! found at
last!
'THE CALIFORNIAN looks vainly round in an endeavor to identify the
speaker; and then turns again to AUNT MARY。'
AUNT MARY。 Weren't your parents from Bath?
THE CALIFORNIAN (eagerly)。 Both of 'em; ma'amboth of 'em。
THE VOICE。 O my prophetic soul; my uncle!
AUNT MARY。 Then you're my old friend Kate Harris's daughter?
THE CALIFORNIAN。 I might be her SON; ma'am; but MY mother's name was
Susan Wakeman。
AUNT MARY (in sharp disgust)。 Call the porter; please。
'She withdraws her head and pulls her curtains together; the rest
look blankly at one another。'
CAMPBELL。 Another failure; and just when we thought we were sure of
you。 I don't know what we shall do about you; Mr。 Sawyer。
THE VOICE。 Adopt him。
CAMPBELL。 That's a good idea。 We will adopt you。 You shall be our
adoptive …
THE VOICE。 Baby boy。
ANOTHER VOICE。 Wife。
A THIRD VOICE。 Brother。
A FOURTH VOICE。 Early friend。
A FIFTH VOICE。 Kate Harris's daughter。
CAMPBELL (laying his hand on THE CALIFORNIAN'S shoulder; and breaking
into a laugh)。 Don't mind them。 They don't mean anything。 It's
just their way。 You come home with my sister; and spend Christmas;
and let us devote the rest of our lives to making your declining
years happy。
VOICES。 〃Good for you; Willis!〃 〃We'll all come!〃 〃No ceremony!〃
〃Small and early!〃
CAMPBELL (looking round)。 We appear to have fallen in with a party
of dry…goods drummers。 It makes a gentleman feel like an intruder。
'The train stops; he looks out of the window。' We've arrived。 Come;
Agnes; come; Roberts; come; Mr。 Sawyerlet's be going。
'They gather up their several wraps and bags; and move with great
dignity toward the door。'
AUNT MARY (putting out her head)。 Agnes! If you must forget your
aunt; at least remember your child。
MRS。 ROBERTS (running back in an agony of remorse)。 Oh; BABY; did I
forget you?
CAMPBELL。 Oh; AUNTY; did she forget you? 'He runs back; and extends
his arms to his aunt。' Let me help you down; Aunt Mary。
AUNT MARY。 Nonsense; Willis。 Send the porter。
CAMPBELL (turning round and confronting THE PORTER)。 He was here
upon instinct。 Shall he fetch a step…ladder?
AUNT MARY。 HE will know what to do。 Go away; Willis; go away with
that child; Agnes。 If I should happen to fall on you'They retreat;
the curtain drops; and her voice is heard behind it addressing THE
PORTER。' Give me your hand; now your back; now your knee。 So! And
very well done。 Thanks。
End