MISS SUSAN (gratified ). You call this home?
VALENTINE. When the other men talked of their homes, Miss Susan, I thought of this room. (Looking about him. ) Maps desks heigho! But still it is the same dear room. I have often dreamt, Miss Susan, that I came back to it in muddy shoes. (Seeing her alarm. ) I have not, you know! Miss Susan, I rejoice to find no change in you; and Miss Phoebe Miss Phoebe of the ringlets I hope there be as little change in her?
MISS SUSAN (painfully ). Phoebe of the ringlets! Ah, Captain Brown, you need not expect to see her.
VALENTINE. She is not here? I vow it spoils all my home-coming.
(At this moment the door of the other room is filing open and PHOEBE rushes out, followed by WILLIAM SMITH who is brandishing the cane . VALENTINE takes in the situation, and without looking at PHOEBE seizes WILLIAM by the collar and marches him out of the school. )
PHOEBE. I saw. (In a sudden tremor. ) Susan, I have lost all my looks.
(The pupils are crowding in from MISS SUSAN'S room and she orders them back and goes with them . VALENTINE returns, and speaks as he enters, not recognising PHOEBE, whose back is to him. )
(He stops, puzzled because the lady has covered her face with her hands.)
VALENTINE. Miss Phoebe, it is you?
(He goes to her, but he cannot help showing that her appearance is a shock to him.)without bitterness
VALENTINE (awkwardly ). We we are both older, Miss Phoebe.
(He holds out his hand warmly, with affected high spirits.)smiling reproachfully He has to show that his left hand is gone; she is overcome. She presses the empty sleeve in remorse.
VALENTINE (now grown rather stern ). Miss Phoebe, what did you omit from your letters that you had such young blackguards as that to terrify you?
PHOEBE. He is the only one. Most of them are dear children; and this
is the last day of the term.
VALENTINE. Ah, ma'am, if only you had invested all your money as you laid out part by my advice. What a monstrous pity you did not.
PHOEBE. We never thought of it.
VALENTINE. You look so tired.
PHOEBE. I have the headache to-day.
VALENTINE. You did not use to have the headache. Curse those dear children.
PHOEBE (bravely ). Nay, do not distress yourself about me. Tell me of yourself. We are so proud of the way in which you won your commission. Will you leave the army now?
VALENTINE. Yes; and I have some intention of pursuing again the old life in Quality Street. (He is not a man who has reflected much. He has come back thinking that all the adventures have been his, and that the old life in Quality Street has waited, as in a sleep, to be resumed on the day of his return. ) I came here in such high spirits, Miss Phoebe.
PHOEBE (with a wry smile ). The change in me depresses you.
VALENTINE. I was in hopes that you and Miss Susan would be going to the ball. I had brought cards for you with me to make sure.
(She is pleased and means to accept. He sighs, and she understands that he thinks her too old.)
VALENTINE (uncomfortably ). Ah, no.
PHOEBE (taking care he shall not see that he has hurt her ). But you will find many charming partners. Some of them have been my pupils. There was even a pupil of mine who fought at Waterloo.
VALENTINE. Young Blades; I have heard him on it. (She puts her hand wearily to her head ). Miss Phoebe what a dull grey world it is!
(She turns away to hide her emotion, and MISS SUSAN comes in. )
VALENTINE. Latin?
PHOEBE (rather defiantly ). I am proud to teach it. (Breaking down. ) Susan his arm have you seen?
(MISS SUSAN also is overcome, but recovers as the children crowd in. )
(CAPTAIN BROWN salutes them awkwardly, and they cheer him, to his great discomfort, as they pass out. )when they have gone
(The old friends look at each other, and there is a silence . VALENTINE feels that all the fine tales and merry jests he has brought back for the ladies have turned into dead things. He wants to go away and think. )
VALENTINE (sighing ). Miss Susan, cannot we turn all these maps and horrors out till the vacation is over?
MISS SUSAN. Indeed, sir, we always do. By to-morrow this will be my dear blue and white room again, and that my sweet spare bedroom.
PHOEBE. For five weeks!
VALENTINE (making vain belief ). And then the the dashing Mr. Brown will drop in as of old, and, behold, Miss Susan on her knees once more putting tucks into my little friend the ottoman, and Miss Phoebe Miss Phoebe
PHOEBE. Phoebe of the ringlets!
(She goes out quietly.)miserably
MISS SUSAN (hotly ). Yes, it is a shame.
VALENTINE (suddenly become more of a man ).
The brave Captain Brown! Good God, ma'am, how much more brave are the ladies who keep a school.
(PATTY shows in two visitors, MISS CHARLOTTE PARRATT and ENSIGN BLADES. CHARLOTTE is a pretty minx who we are glad to say does not reside in Quality Street, and BLADES is a callow youth, inviting admiration. )as they salute
MISS SUSAN. 'Tis Captain Brown Miss Charlotte Parratt.
CHARLOTTE (gushing ). The heroic Brown?