62 harley Granville barker reclaimed PHILIP: Your car’s at the Bond Street entrance, I expect. THOMAS: That’s how he settles business. But leaves us all the papers to do. I shall take mine home. MR. HUXTABLE: I must be getting back, I think. CONSTANTINE: Harry … you’re running away from me. MR. HUXTABLE: (In frank, amused confession.) Yes … I was. Habit y’know … habit. CONSTANTINE: (With the most friendly condescension.) Suppose I go with you … part of the way. How do you go?
(And is off. CONSTANTINE still smiles. Poor MR. HUXTABLE makes a desperate effort to do the proper thing by this reprobate. He forms his face into a frown. It’s no use; an answering smile will come. He surrenders.) MR. HUXTABLE: Look here … don’t let’s talk about Amelia. CONSTANTINE: No … never rake up the past. MR. HUXTABLE: Lord! What else has a chap got to think of? CONSTANTINE: That’s why you look so old. MR. HUXTABLE: Do I, now?
MR. HUXTABLE: On a bus.
CONSTANTINE: What age are you?
CONSTA NT INE : Suppose we go together … on a bus.
MR. HUXTABLE: Sixty.
MR. HUXTABLE: (Desperately cunning.) It’s all right … they won’t see me with you. We don’t close till seven. CONSTANTINE: (His face sours.) No, to be sure. Phil, I can’t come to dinner, I’m afraid. PHILIP: Oh, I was going to tell you. Mother will be there. Tommy? THOMAS: (All tact.) Oh, quite! (Departs.) CONSTANTINE: (Indifferently .) Then I’ll come in after dinner.
CONSTANTINE: You should come and stay with me at Hit … not far from the ruins of Babylon, Harry. MR. HUXTABLE: (Curious.) What’s it like there? CONSTANTINE: The house is white, and there are palm trees about it … and not far off flows the Euphrates. MR. HUXTABLE: Just like in the Bible. (His face is wistful.) Constantine. CONSTANTINE: Yes, Harry.
PHILIP: You don’t mind?
MR. HUXTABLE: You’ve said odder things this afternoon than I’ve ever heard you say before.
CONSTANTINE: No.
CONSTANTINE: Probably not.
(There stands MR. HUXTABLE, first on one foot and then on the other, desperately nervous. CONSTANTINE smiling at him.)
MR. HUXTABLE: (Wondering.) And I haven’t really minded em. But I believe it’s the first time I’ve ever understood you … a nd p’raps that’s just as well for me.
PHILIP: It’s afterwards now, Uncle. Fire away …
CONSTANTINE: Oh … why, Harry?