Read Online Plays Unpleasant by George Bernard Shaw - Free Book Online Page B

with it. Are you coming, Dr Trench? [
With a grimace
] I’m sure the Johannis Church will be a treat for you.
    COKANE [
laughing softly and archly
] Ah, excellent, excellent: very good indeed. [
Seriously
] But do you know, Miss Sartorius, there actually are Johannis churches here – several of them – as well as Apollinaris ones?
    SARTORIUS [
sententiously, taking out his field-glass and leading the way to the gate
] There is many a true word spoken in jest, Mr Cokane.
    COKANE [
accompanying him
] How true! How true!
    They go out together, ruminating profoundly. Blanche makes no movement to follow them. She watches until they are safely out of sight, and then posts herself before Trench, looking at him with an enigmatic smile, which he returns with a half sheepish, half conceited grin
.
    BLANCHE . Well! So you have done it at last.
    TRENCH . Yes. At least Cokane’s done it. I told you he’d manage it. He’s rather an ass in some ways; but he has tremendous tact.
    BLANCHE [
contemptuously
] Tact! Thats not tact: thats in-quisitiveness. Inquisitive people always have a lot of practice in getting into conversation with strangers. Why didnt you speak to my father yourself on the boat? You were ready enough to speak to me without any introduction.
    TRENCH . I didnt particularly want to talk to him.
    BLANCHE . It didnt occur to you, I suppose, that you put me in a false position by that.
    TRENCH . Oh, I dont see that, exactly. Besides, your father isnt an easy man to tackle. Of course, now that I know him, I see that he’s pleasant enough; but then youve got to know him first, havnt you?
    BLANCHE [
impatiently
] Everybody is afraid of papa: I’m sure I dont know why. [
She sits down again, pouting a little
].
    TRENCH [
tenderly
] However, it’s all right now: isnt it? [
He sits near her
].
    BLANCHE [
sharply
] I dont know. How should I? You had no right to speak to me that day on board the steamer. You thought I was alone, because [
with false pathos
] I had no mother with me.
    TRENCH [
protesting
] Oh, I say! Come! It was you who spoke to me. Of course I was only too glad of the chance; but on my word I shouldnt have moved an eyelid if you hadnt given me a lead.
    BLANCHE . I only asked you the name of a castle. There was nothing unladylike in that.
    TRENCH . Of course not. Why shouldnt you? [
With renewed tenderness
] But it’s all right now: isnt it?
    BLANCHE [
softly, looking subtly at him
] Is it?
    TRENCH [
suddenly becoming shy
] I – I suppose so. By the way, what about the Apollinaris Church? Your father expects us to follow him, doesnt he?
    BLANCHE [
with suppressed resentment
] Dont let me detain you if you wish to see it.
    TRENCH . Wont you come?
    BLANCHE . No. [
She turns her face away moodily
].
    TRENCH [
alarmed
] I say: youre not offended, are you? [
She looks round at him for a moment with a reproachful film on her eyes
]. Blanche. [
She bristles instantly; overdoes it; and frightens him
]. I beg your pardon for calling you by your name; but I – er – [
She corrects her mistake by softening her expression eloquently. He responds with a gush
] You dont mind, do you? I felt sure you wouldnt, somehow. Well, look here. I have no idea how you will receive this: it must seem horribly abrupt; but the circumstances do not admit of – the fact is, my utter want of tact – [
he flounders more and more, unable to see that she can hardly contain her eagerness
]. Now, if it were Cokane –
    BLANCHE [
impatiently
] Cokane!
    TRENCH [
terrified
] No, not Cokane. Though I assure you Iwas only going to say about him that –
    BLANCHE . That he will be back presently with papa.
    TRENCH [
stupidly
] Yes: they cant be very long now. I hope I’m not detaining you.
    BLANCHE . I thought you were detaining me because you had something to say.
    TRENCH [
totally unnerved
] Not at all. At least, nothing very particular. That is, I’m afraid you wouldnt think it very