The Charity That Began At Home
Hylton. You’ve such a wonderful influence with people. You must make Mr. Verreker see. HYLTON: (Smiling.) He didn’t seem very anxious to listen to me, Miss Denison. You must try what you can do. (Enter ANSON. She looks pale, and her eyes are suspiciously red. She draws back nervously on seeing who is in the room.) ANSON: (Hesitating.) I beg pardon, miss. I thought I might find her ladyship here.
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what they eat. And then they wonder why they aren’t well. Or she may have had some quarrel with one of the other servants. Do you find your servants quarrel among themselves, Mr. Hylton? HYLTON: No. You see I only keep one. MARGERY: I sometimes wish we did! Only last week William actually gave Mother notice just because he couldn’t get on with one of the others. But Mother told you about that, didn’t she?
MARGERY: (Looking up, surprised.) Mother is in her room, Anson. But I think she’s busy just now. Can I do anything?
HYLTON: No.
ANSON: No thank you, miss. I wanted to speak to her ladyship. (Going.)
(Reenter ANSON, crying bitterly, followed by LADY DENISON, much flustered.)
MARGERY: You can see if she’s engaged, if you like.
LADY DENISON: There! There! Anson. Do try and control yourself. There’s no use going on like that. Margery, will you go and find Aunt Emily for me? She’s in the library, I think. I want her advice about something. And don’t come back, dear, for a little.
ANSON: Thank you, miss. (Crosses rapidly to the door of LADY DENISON’s room and opens it.) Can I speak to you, my lady? LADY DENISON: (Off.) Yes. Come in, Anson. What is it? (ANSON disappears into LADY DENISON’s room, closing the door after her.) MARGERY: (Turning to HYLTON with a smile.) Poor Mother. I expect she was delighted to be interrupted. I know I always was when I was learning German. HYLTON: Is that your mother’s maid? She looks as if she were in trouble of some kind. Is anything the matter? MARGERY: I don’t know. She’s not looked herself for some time. I asked her about it a week ago. I wanted her to see the doctor. But she wouldn’t. HYLTON: Has she been with you long? MARGERY: Four years. I daresay it’s nothing serious. Servants are so silly about
MARGERY: She meant to. I suppose she forgot.
MARGERY: Very well, Mother. (Goes to find MRS. EVERSLEIGH, after a puzzled glance at her mother and ANSON.) HYLTON: (Rising.) Perhaps I’d better? … LADY DENISON: (Fussily.) No, no! Please stay, Mr. Hylton. I shall want your advice, too. HYLTON: Of course, if I can be of any use … (Reseats himself. LADY DENISON sits also. A silence, broken only by the snufflings of poor ANSON.) LADY DENISON: (Half-irritable, halfplaintive.) You’d better sit down, Anson. And would you please not snuffle like that if you can possibly help it. It can’t do any good, and the sound is most distressing.