Her Own Way | Page 8

Mrs. Carley, she's got a headache.
MOLES. The wages are due, sir, and the trades books weren't settled
last month.
STEVEN. Well, I'll attend to it all to-morrow or next day, Moles. Give
me my coat, will you? [MOLES gets the coat from the sofa and hands
it to STEVEN.] I've been short of ready money for a little while, but
things are looking up. By the way, you're a good sort; I'd like to do you
a good turn. I happen to be on to something, Moles, on to something
down in Wall Street. Would you like to make a little money?

MOLES. [Brightening visibly.] Indeed and I would, sir. I've got two
thousand three hundred and sixteen dollars in my savings bank, and I've
heard of how these Wall Street magnums made fortunes out of less'n
that.
STEVEN. I'll double it for you! You get it for me, Moles, and I'll make
it into five or six thousand for you, sure!
MOLES. Thank you, sir!
STEVEN. [Writes in note book.] I'll put in an order to buy for you the
first thing in the morning; and you have your money down at my office
by ten o'clock, can you?
MOLES. Yes, sir, I can get off in the morning. I can't thank you enough,
sir!
STEVEN. Oh, that's all right,--we'll be a rich household here before we
get through, Moles. They'll be telephoning us to please send in some
orders for champagne!
[Puts note-book away.
MOLES. Oh, don't trouble about these bills, sir. I can hold off the
people a little longer, and I'll order the wine in another place.
STEVEN. That's a good boy, Moles, then I won't have to bother my
sister.
MOLES. Yes, sir.
[He goes out as GEORGIANA and the children enter Left.
GEORGIANA. Here's papa! Come along, now, Steve, I've promised
the children a game of hide and go seek!
STEVEN. All right, I knew father wanted to do something very
much,--only couldn't think what. Of course, it was hide and seek!

GEORGIANA. Philip must be "it" first!
PHILIP. All right!
[PHILIP goes into the corner Right, with his back to the others. All
hide behind or under the different pieces of furniture--GEORGIANA
under the table, TOOTS back of the rocker, STEVEN under the sofa,
etc.
PHILIP. [Impatient.] Are you ready?
[Pause.
CHRISTOPHER. Not yet!
[Getting behind curtains Centre window.
PHILIP. Now are you ready?
[LIZZIE comes in Left, as soon as STEVEN hides under sofa.
GEORGIANA. Not yet!
[Getting under the table.
LIZZIE. Mr. Carley, please, sir!
STEVEN. [Putting his head out from under the sofa.] Yes, Lizzie?
CHRISTOPHER. Don't turn round, Phil, it's only Lizzie. Wait!
LIZZIE. Excuse me, but Mr. Coast sent me upstairs to see--
STEVEN. Oh, by George, yes! [Coming out from the sofa.] I forgot. I
must go back down town.
PHILIP. Oh, pshaw!
[About to turn.

GEORGIANA. Don't turn, Phil!
CHRISTOPHER. No, the rest of us is hid!
STEVEN. I'm sorry, children! Father'd a great deal rather play hide and
seek, but he's got to go to work. It's just like when you'd rather play but
have to study!
PHILIP. When I get growed, I shan't never do anything I don't want to.
GEORGIANA. Then you'd be the most wonderful person in the world,
and they'd put you in wax in the Eden Musée!
STEVEN. [Kissing PHIL, then CHRIS, then TOOTS.] Good-by, dears.
THE CHILDREN. [Dolefully.] Good-by.
[STEVEN crosses to the door Left.
GEORGIANA. Never mind, I'll finish with you. Don't turn around,
Phil.
LIZZIE. [At the door Left.] Beg pardon, sir, but Moles has been and
told me what you was going to do for him, sir. Would you be
considering it great impertinence if I asked you to take six hundred
dollars what I've saved, sir, and do things with it?
STEVEN. Certainly, Lizzie, send it by Moles in the morning.
LIZZIE. [Delighted.] Oh, thank you, sir!
STEVEN. I'm glad to do it; you've served us faithfully for some years
now, Lizzie.
[He goes out.
LIZZIE. He's gone, miss.
[She goes out also.

GEORGIANA. [Calls.] Ready!
[PHILIP turns and looks about the room, then begins to look under
things. He sees his AUNT GEORGIANA first and is about to touch
her, but she laughingly motions him not to and points out TOOTS'S
hiding place.
PHILIP. [Finding TOOTS, touches him.] You're it!
TOOTS. [Very pleased.] I'm it! I'm it!
[Jumps up and down.
CHRISTOPHER. [Disappointed.] Somebody find me.
PHILIP. Oh, come on out from behind the curtain--you're--easy.
[CHRISTOPHER comes out. Meanwhile COLEMAN is heard calling,
"Hello, Phil, Phil," outside as he comes up the stairs.
PHILIP. [By the hobby horse.] It's Mr. Dick!
THE CHILDREN. It's Mr. Dick!
GEORGIANA. Oh!
[Starts to get out from under the table, but COLEMAN enters, so she
crawls back.
[LIEUTENANT RICHARD COLEMAN is