The Land of Promise: A Comedy in Four Acts

SCENE: The drawing-room at Miss Wickham’s house in Tunbridge Wells. It is a room in which there is too much furniture. There are armchairs covered with faded chintz, little tables here and there, cabinets containing china, a great many photographs in silver frames, porcelain ornaments wherever there is a vacant space, Chippendale chairs and chairs from the Tottenham Court Road. There are flowers in vases and growing plants. The wall-paper has a pattern of enormous chrysanthemums, and on the walls are a large number of old-fashioned watercolours in gilt frames. There is one door, which leads into the hall; and a French window opens on to the garden. The window is decorated with white lace curtains. It is four o’clock in the afternoon. The sun is streaming through the drawn blinds. There is a wreath of white flowers in a cardboard box on one of the chairs. The door is opened by KATE, the parlour-maid. She is of respectable appearance and of a decent age. She admits MISS PRINGLE. MISS PRINGLE is companion to a wealthy old lady in Tunbridge Wells. She is a woman of middle age, plainly dressed, thin and narrow of shoulders, with a weather-beaten, tired face and grey hair.

KATE.

I’ll tell Miss Marsh you’re here, Miss Pringle.

MISS PRINGLE.

How is she to-day, Kate?

KATE.

She’s tired out, poor thing. She’s lying down now. But I’m sure she’d like to see you, Miss.

MISS PRINGLE.

I’m very glad she didn’t go to the funeral.

KATE.

Dr. Evans thought she’d better stay at home, Miss, and Mrs. Wickham said she’d only upset herself if she went.

MISS PRINGLE.

I wonder how she stood it all those months, waiting on Miss Wickham hand and foot.

KATE.

Miss Wickham wouldn’t have a professional nurse. And you know what she was, Miss.... Miss Marsh slept in Miss Wickham’s room, and the moment she fell asleep Miss Wickham would have her up because her pillow wanted shaking, or she was thirsty, or something.

MISS PRINGLE.

I suppose she was very inconsiderate.

KATE.

Inconsiderate isn’t the word, Miss. I wouldn’t be a lady’s companion, not for anything. What they have to put up with!

MISS PRINGLE.

Oh, well, everyone isn’t like Miss Wickham. The lady I’m companion to, Mrs. Hubbard, is kindness itself.

KATE.

That sounds like Miss Marsh coming downstairs [_She goes to the door and opens it._] Miss Pringle is here, Miss.

[NORAH _comes in. She is a woman of twenty-eight, with a pleasant, honest face and a happy smile. She is gentle, with quiet manners, but she has a quick temper, under very good control, and a passionate nature which is hidden under a demure appearance. She is simply dressed in black._]

NORAH.

I am glad to see you. I was hoping you’d be able to come here this afternoon.

MISS PRINGLE.

Mrs. Hubbard has gone for a drive with somebody or other, and didn’t want me.

[_They kiss one another._ NORAH notices the wreath.]

NORAH.

What’s this?

KATE.

It didn’t arrive till after they’d started, Miss.

NORAH.

I wonder whom it’s from. [_She looks at a card which is attached to the wreath._] “From Mrs. Alfred Vincent, with deepest regret for my dear Miss Wickham and heartiest sympathy for her sorrowing relatives.”

KATE.

Sorrowing relatives is good, Miss.

NORAH.

[_Remonstrating._] Kate ... I think you’d better take it away.

KATE.