Plays : Second Series

GALSWORTHY PLAYS—SECOND SERIES OF FIVE —NO. 1 By John Galsworthy Contents: The Eldest Son The Little Dream Justice THE ELDEST SON BY JOHN GALSWORTHY PERSONS OF THE PLAY SIR WILLIAM CHESHIRE, a baronet LADY CHESHIRE, his wife BILL, their eldest son HAROLD, their second son RONALD KEITH(in the Lancers), their son-in-law CHRISTINE (his wife), their eldest daughter DOT, their second daughter JOAN, their third daughter MABEL LANFARNE, their guest THE REVEREND JOHN LATTER, engaged to Joan OLD STUDDENHAM, the head-keeper FREDA STUDDENHAM, the lady's-maid YOUNG DUNNING, the under-keeper ROSE TAYLOR, a village girl JACKSON, the butler CHARLES, a footman TIME: The present. The action passes on December 7 and 8 at the Cheshires' country house, in one of the shires. ACT I SCENE I. The hall; before dinner. SCENE II. The hall; after dinner. ACT II. Lady Cheshire's morning room; after breakfast. ACT III. The smoking-room; tea-time. A night elapses between Acts I. and II. ACT I SCENE I The scene is a well-lighted, and large, oak-panelled hall, with an air of being lived in, and a broad, oak staircase. The dining-room, drawing-room, billiard-room, all open into it; and under the staircase a door leads to the servants' quarters. In a huge fireplace a log fire is burning. There are tiger-skins on the floor, horns on the walls; and a writing-table against the wall opposite the fireplace. FREDA STUDDENHAM, a pretty, pale girl with dark eyes, in the black dress of a lady's-maid, is standing at the foot of the staircase with a bunch of white roses in one hand, and a bunch of yellow roses in the other. A door closes above, and SIR WILLIAM CHESHIRE, in evening dress, comes downstairs. He is perhaps fifty-eight, of strong build, rather bull-necked, with grey eyes, and a well-coloured face, whose choleric autocracy is veiled by a thin urbanity. He speaks before he reaches the bottom. SIR WILLIAM. Well, Freda! Nice roses. Who are they for? FREDA. My lady told me to give the yellow to Mrs. Keith, Sir William, and the white to Miss Lanfarne, for their first evening. SIR WILLIAM. Capital. [Passing on towards the drawing-room] Your father coming up to-night? FREDA. Yes. SIR WILLIAM. Be good enough to tell him I specially want to see him here after dinner, will you? FREDA. Yes, Sir William. SIR WILLIAM. By the way, just ask him to bring the game-book in, if he's got it. He goes out into the drawing-room. Source: Wikipedia