Man: Government bonds, consols.
Yes, I see.
And what would you say that would bring in?
£3,000 a year, sir.
You’re a fortunate man, Mr. Trevelyan.
I think I am, sir.
And especially so now, having met your daughter.
(cheering)
(cheers)
It’s yours, Mr. Trevelyan!
Trevelyan: When I set out across the world,
I had no idea of finding a bride.
But the moment I saw Emily...
it was love at first sight.
And it’s grown stronger on closer acquaintance.
She’s the loveliest...
and the sweetest girl I’ve ever met.
You have to understand
she’s not like your London girls, you know.
She’s led a very sheltered life here.
No idea about society.
She’s known nothing but the Mandarin Islands
since she was a little girl.
I think she’s perfect as she is, sir.
But if she needs any help with the ways of London society,
it will be my pleasure to give it.
Lucky teacher to have such a delightful pupil.
She’s very attached to her sister Nora.
Be a wrench for them to part.
Then...
Sir Marmaduke,
do you think Nora would like to come to England, too?
I’d be happy to offer her a home with us.
Well, now, Mr. Trevelyan,
I’ll need to give it some thought.
It’s all rather sudden, you know.
3,000 a year in the five percents
and a house in Mayfair.
And he’ll take her without a penny piece.
And her sister to keep her company.
Almost too good to be true.
And a great chance for Nora.
I do have the impression he likes his own way, though.
Well, no doubt he does.
And a very good way it is, too, I daresay.
Emily likes her own way, too.
Ha ha ha!
Oh!
Ha ha!
I’ve been practicing.
Ooh! Ha ha ha!
Lady Milborough, may I present my wife
and her sister, Miss Nora Rowley.
Delightful.
(piano playing)
(reading story)
I haven’t finished. Oh, sorry.
Fool.
(resumes playing)
Man: You know what I was thinking the other day?
You’re the happiest man I know.
You could be just as happy.
Oh, could I? How?
With Nora. Hardly.
You think the governor of the Mandarins
is gonna give away his daughter to a penniless scribbler?
You’re a good deal more than that.
You’re the coming man.
Those articles you wrote from Patagonia, first-class stuff.
Everyone says so.
You’ve got a great career ahead of you.
Not like a private income, though.
Well, no.
And I have to say old Rowley was very keen to know
exactly what my yearly income was.
D’you know,
when my old aunt cut me off without a penny,
I didn’t give it a second thought.
I was never gonna be her main heir, anyway.
But maybe I should have been a bit less free
with my opinions.
I’d hate to think my radical views
have condemned me to a bachelor life.
Marriage isn’t always a bed of roses, you know.
What?
What do you mean, Louis?
Nothing. Nothing at all.
Merely a general observation.
My marriage would be a bed or roses
were it for Colonel Frederick Osborne.
There –
I’ve said it.
Good morning. Good morning.
(knocking)
Colonel Osborne presents
his compliments to Mrs. Trevelyan.
(clock ticking)
(laughter)
Trevelyan, my dear fellow, I didn’t know you were in.
I was just leaving, wasn’t I, Emily?
Things to do in the house.
Please, don’t let me detain you.
Absolutely not.
Far be it from me to come between man and wife.
Well, I’ll, um....
I’ll take my leave, Emily.
Trevelyan.
Shall I ask nurse to bring little Louis down?
Yes, in a moment.
Come and sit by me.
Emily, Colonel Osborne seems to be here a great deal.
Almost every day.
He likes to call in on his way to the House of Commons.
I’d rather he didn’t, Emily. Why ever not?
He’s such an old friend. He’s papa’s oldest friend.
He’s known me since I was a baby, Louis.
Yes, but –
you may not be aware that he has a certain reputation.
People say he’s not a man to be trusted, he’s –
well, he’s a man without settled principles.
I know people gossip.
But I don’t believe a word of it.
He’s a distinguished Member of Parliament.
Papa has the highest opinion of him, and so have I.
It’s possible that you both may be mistaken.
Louis, do you want me to feel ashamed and guilty?
Do you want me to feel like I’ve done something wrong
in receiving my father’s oldest friend?
Not at all.
But now you know my feelings on the matter.
Are you telling me I can’t receive Colonel Osborne?
No, of course not.
But having regard for my feelings,
I expect you to use your discretion in the future
about the frequency of his visits.
Damn!
That was badly done.
I can’t –
it’s not as if –
I adore her, of course I do.
But she has to understand
she’s not in the Mandarin Islands now.
She’s in...society.
Emily.
What is it, Louis?
Emily, my love –
(door opens)
Make haste.
We shall be late for Lady Milborough.
(guest conversing)
Butler: Lady Catherine Lockhart and Miss Elizabeth Lockhart!
I must congratulate you, Mr. Trevelyan.
What? I’m sorry, I don’t understand.
Your lovely young sister-in-law
appears to have made a conquest of Mr. Glascock.
He’ll be one of the richest men in England when Lord Peterborough dies.
Butler: Colonel Frederick Osborne! Will he?
My dear Louis –
may I speak a word to you?
Now, you mustn’t take offense...
but I’m not quite sure I like that Colonel Osborne
coming so much to your house.
He comes to yours.
Not quite the same thing, Louis, as I’m sure you know.
Augustus Poole had to break up his establishment
and take his wife to Naples on that man’s account.
Of course, I’m sure Emily would never dream of doing anything wrong,
but it’s the very purity of her innocence
that makes the danger, d’you see?
So, I’d just say a word if I were you.
Make her understand
that his coming to her of a morning is not desirable.
It would be a shame if you were forced
to break up your household and go to Naples.
It would spoil Nora’s chances with Mr. Glascock, for one thing.
Glascock: You’ve never seen Monkhams?
I should so like to show it to you.
Our oak trees are the finest in the kingdom.
You do like oaks, I hope?
Of course I like oaks.
But, you know,
there are none of them in the Mandarin Islands.
I don’t think there can be anyone who’s seen as few as I have.
Will you let me show you?
It would mean a great deal to me if you’d consent.
I’m –
I’m afraid it’s not very likely
that I shall be in that part of the country.
Ah.
And should I understand from that
that someone else is preferred?
No.
That is to say, I should like to see Monkhams very much,
but I wouldn’t want you to –
I think I understand.
But then, having seen Monkhams,
you might find yourself changing your mind.
Yes, I suppose I might.
But I don’t think it’s very likely.
(door opens)
It’s Mr. Hugh, mum.
Hello, Aunt Jemimah.
I don’t know what you think you’re doing here.
Well, I was on my way to see my mother and sisters
and I thought I’d stop in Wells and see how you were.
You thought no such thing.
You thought you’d come to try and get some money out of me.
Nothing further from my mind, aunt.
I know you’ve made your mind up.
Yes, I have.
So long as you’re writing for that newspaper,
supporting reform
and tearing down our Tory traditions,
you’ll get nothing from me.
Not now, nor after my death.
And nor are you welcome in my house.
Well, absolutely, quite right.
But I just thought as I was passing through
I might drop in to ask you – well...
Ask me what?
Since you’ve cut me off without a penny –
and quite rightly, too, I’m sure,
we must all act accordingly to our principles –
I thought you might see your way to doing something
for my mother and sisters, who have very little to live on,
and as you have a good deal more money
than you know what to do with –
Don’t you dare tell me I don’t know what to do with my money.
It’s just a suggestion, Aunt Jemimah.
If I need advice,
I shall certainly not seek it from penny scribblers.
But, um, since you are here,
you can make yourself useful.
You can take this letter to your mother
and save me the cost of postage.
And now, be so good as to leave my house.
I wish you no ill,
but I don’t want to set eyes on you ever again.
Well, good-bye then, Aunt Jemimah.
Uh...
delighted to see you on such splendid form.
Man: So, old Rowley is coming home, then.
Man #2: Is he?
How the deuce is he managing that?
He was back here a couple of years ago
for his daughter’s wedding. He’s not due another holiday.
Osborne’s pulling strings to get it done.
Old Rowley is coming as a witness for this committee.
Three months off, all expenses paid.
One gathers Osborne’s got a soft spot
for old Rowley’s daughter, the young Mrs. Trevelyan.
Ah....
yes, that would explain it.
Would you leave us, Jenny, please?
What is it, Louis?
Is there any truth in a rumor I hear
that your father is coming home?
Yes.
Then why was I not told of it?
Because it was a secret.
A secret from me, and everyone else knows it?
Why was it a secret?
Colonel Osborne didn’t wish it to be known.
Colonel Osborne?
You share secrets with Colonel Osborne and keep them from me?
Colonel Osborne –
I don’t want to hear any more about Colonel Osborne!
I don’t want you to see him again, Emily.
Louis – You shan’t see him!
Do you hear me?
Yes. I hear you, Louis.
You may not know it...
but you have already damaged your reputation
by your familiarity with that man.
Do you realize that last night I had to endure
Lady Milborough reminding me of my responsibility
to keep you out of moral danger?
Listen to me – I won’t listen
’til you give your promise not to see that man.
You can’t seriously mean that.
Good God, Emily, what are you trying to do?
Ruin yourself and destroy our happiness?
You are destroying our happiness
by your unreasonable jealousy!
How could you speak to me like that?
You know I’d never do anything to wrong you.
Then give me your word.
You shouldn’t have to ask for it.
Of course I shan’t see Colonel Osborne if you forbid it.
It will be very embarrassing and hurtful
and everyone will know and gossip about us.
But if that’s what you want, you shall have it.
But what I can never forgive is that you should suspect me.
I never said –
Then what is all this about?
Do you understand how deeply you have hurt me, Louis?
If we can’t trust each other, what hope is there for us?
Emily –
Emily.
Tell me you trust me, Louis.
Of course I trust you, my love.
But you must accept my judgment as your husband
that this man is dangerous to young married women.
You don’t trust me at all, do you?
If you insist on coming to my bed tonight,
of course you must, it’s your right...
but if you permit it,
I should prefer to sleep upstairs.
(door closes)
(sheep bleating)
Hugh!
Priscilla! Hugh’s here!
You remembered us, then?
Priscilla: “My dear sister Stanbury,
“your son Hugh has taken to courses
“of which I do not approve,
“and I have put an end to my connection with him.
“But I am prepared to welcome
“your daughter Dorothy to my house
“if you and she approve of such a plan.
“I will make her an allowance of £25 per annum
“as long as she will remain with me.
“I shall expect her to be regular at meals,
“constant in church-going,
“and not to read modern novels.
“I intend the arrangement to be permanent.
“Yours truly, Jemimah Stanbury.
“P.S. I hope the young lady
does not have any false hair about her.”
Very kind and thoughtful of her, I’m sure.
You’d never be able to bear it, Dorothy, no one could.
I think I might bear it very well.
My dear, you don’t know that woman.
She’s always been very good to Hugh.
I don’t think she’s been good to him at all.
She was very kind to me when I was a boy.
It’s not her fault I turned out all wrong.
Only according to her lights.
What do you think, then, Dorothy?
I think I should go.
You’re a fool, then.
But think what a saving it would be.
I could send home half of what Aunt Stanbury gives me.
You mustn’t go just for that reason, Dot.
But I think perhaps Aunt Stanbury is lonely
and wants the company.
And I should like to try out what it’s like
to live in a city like Wells, and meet new people.
I shall go to Aunt Stanbury.
That is, if you and mama don’t think it would be wrong.
(Osborne humming)
Good afternoon, Richard. Good afternoon, sir.
I’m sorry, but Mrs. Trevelyan is not at home.
Really?
You’re quite sure about that?
Quite sure, sir. I’m sorry, sir.
Hmm.
Well...
Good afternoon, Richard. Good afternoon, sir.
Nora, will you give that to Louis?
It comes from the man he supposes to be my lover.
I suppose nothing of the kind.
I assume that if I’m not to see Colonel Osborne,
I’m not to receive letters from him.
Read it. Please.
I have nothing to hide.
Here. You’d better read it yourself.
I’d rather not, thank you.
Than Nora can read it. It concerns you both.
It’s about papa’s visit to speak to this committee.
It’s to be postponed for two months.
Why?
I don’t quite understand.
Something to do with Lord Bowles and the colonial office.
And what about mama? Does he say anything about her?
Why don’t you read the letter yourself?
I don’t understand you, Louis.
You tell you want me to have no more to do with Colonel Osborne,
and now you say I’m to read his letters.
After you’ve looked them over like a prisoner governor.
Nothing of the kind.
And I won’t be put in the wrong in this way.
Why not read the letter, Emily? I can do no harm.
Emily...
Colonel Osborne says he will call tomorrow.
If you please, you can admit him,
and thank him for the trouble he has taken in this matter of your father’s visit.
No. I cannot.
If I am not to see my godfather
except under scrutiny and supervision,
then I shan’t see him at all.
There. You have what you wanted.
Perhaps now your suspicions of me
will be laid to rest.
He doesn’t trust me, Nora.
He doesn’t trust Colonel Osborne,
and that’s a very different thing.
No. It’s more than that. Worse.
When we’re alone together,
he looks at me in a different way.
How can I tell what he feels when he won’t talk to me?
He only wants to give me orders now.
He’s changed.
I feel as if he’s not the man I married.
I’m sure he is, deep down.
And I’m sure he loves you dearly.
I think you must both... find your way back
to the Louis and Emily that first fell in love.
I know we must.
But I don’t know how.
Dearest Emily...
I’ve offended you.
However this has come about,
I can’t bear this unhappiness between us.
Can’t we...let all this be as if it had never been?
I wish it could be. It can be.
It will be.
Trevelyan. Emily.
I’m glad to find you’re able to be out.
Yes.
I think my indisposition
was more to do with my little boy than anything else.
Mr. Stanbury, how is it we never see you now?
It’s the daily record, Mrs. Trevelyan, nothing else.
She’s a very demanding mistress.
I get a couple of hours to myself on Sundays,
but otherwise I’m stuck in Fleet Street.
Well, we must take advantage of you now, then.
Shall we walk together?
Nora: We’ve missed you at the house. How have you been?
How are your sisters and that fierce old aunt of yours?
Well, there’s a tale to tell there.
Not too disappointed about the postponement, I hope.
I was rather disappointed.
Even though you’ll see more of them when they do come?
I know you, Emily.
You think a little pudding today
is better than a lot of it tomorrow.
Louis, let’s go back now.
Please.
Nora! We’re going back now.
For God’s sake, Emily, what did you do that for?
I could see you were upset by his attentions.
Well, you’ve told him everything now!
What was I to do?
Nothing I do is right for you!
For God’s sake, what do you want from me?!
I want you to behave as befits my wife
and not to make a show of yourself!
Is that too much to ask?!
Well, well, well. What was all that about?
Perhaps Mrs. Trevelyan is unwell.
He makes her unwell with his bullying.
And he’s a confounded fool, because if he goes on with it,
he’ll lose her.
Good afternoon.
Miss Dorothy’s come, ma’am.
My dear...
I’m glad to see you.
Take off your hat and let me give you a kiss.
There.
Now turn around.
Stand still.
Good. These are all real, at any rate.
I can’t bear false hair on a girl.
Some of them walk around
with things on the back of their polls
as big as gardener’s wheelbarrows.
I’m perfectly serious.
Tight lacing is another cause of headaches.
And so is reading in bed – night or morning.
You don’t do any of that, I hope.
I do sometimes like to read in bed, aunt.
Well, your mother might allow you to ruin your eyesight,
but you won’t do it under my roof.
You’re very like your mother, my dear.
As alike as two eggs.
D’you know, Martha? I think it will do.
Osborne: “Dear Emily,
“What was all that about today?
“Am I to consider myself a banished man or not?
“I thought our little meetings were so innocent
“and so pleasant.
“Please write me a line, Emily,
“to let me know how things stand between us.
“Unless you are forbidden to.”
Emily: “My dear Colonel Osborne,
“As far as I’m concerned, I wish for no change,
“except that people should be more reasonable.
“You can call, of course, whenever you please,
“and I value our friendship, as I know you do.
“Yours very sincerely, Emily Trevelyan.”
What?
If I send him away and refuse to receive him,
it’s as if I were admitting there is something improper
in our friendship.
I won’t be put in the wrong,
and I won’t give up control of my life
to a man who doesn’t trust me.
No...
this is a mistake.
It’s best if I don’t see him again.
And I shall tell him so.
Did you write this letter, Emily?
After all that’s passed between us?
Yes. You can read it if you want to.
I don’t want to.
What I want is a wife who won’t bring my name into disgrace.
How can you say that?
Because it’s what I feel, and I can’t endure it anymore!
Louis, if you think I disgrace your name,
then we had better part
and make an end of our marriage now.
Perhaps we should.
You can’t really believe
that I’m conducting a love affair with Colonel Osborne!
How do I know what to believe?!
When he bills and coos with you in my presence
and you correspond with him behind my back!
That is untrue and you know it! I know nothing of the kind!
I know this, at any rate –
that if you’re not already carrying on with him,
you soon will be, unless you are kept away from him and watched day and night.
If that’s what you really believe,
then I can’t live with you anymore, Louis.
So be it.
You may live where you please at my expense
so long as it’s not in London.
But I will make sure you never see Colonel Osborne again.
(door closes)
My God.
Good afternoon, Mr. Gibson.
Miss Stanbury, how do you do?
This is my niece Dorothy, who’s come to stay with me.
Delighted to make your acquaintance, Miss Stanbury.
A pleasant day, though quite a chilly breeze.
I fear it could be injurious
to a young lady’s delicate complexion.
I’m not frightened of a bit of a breeze,
and neither is my niece, Mr. Gibson.
I hope we can be sure of you for my whist party.
On the 17th.
Oh, yes. Yes, indeed.
Yes, I wouldn’t miss it for the world.
Well, good afternoon.
Mr. Gibson is thought to be rather a catch.
The bishop looks kindly on him.
Oh, look at those dreadful creatures.
They have enough false hair about them to stuff a sofa.
(church bell rings)
Tell me, Dorothy, what do you think
to being married to a clergyman?
I never thought about being married to anybody.
Then perhaps it’s time you did.
Hello, old chap.
I’m sorry I’m late. I came as soon as I could.
What is it?
What’s the matter?
Emily and I are separating.
No.
No, you don’t mean it.
Good God, I never saw a couple more in love.
I don’t want to discuss it, Stanbury.
You can’t bring me all this way
and then tell me you won’t discuss it.
It’s not this Osborne business, is it?
I suppose all the world knows my situation now.
You can’t believe that Emily would...
do anything to harm your marriage.
Who knows what a woman will do when she has a mind to it.
She’s refused to give me a promise not to see the man.
Perhaps you didn’t make the request very tactfully.
What does it matter how I made it?
If I can’t trust her – I’m quite sure you can.
Now, look –
you have to remember she’s not like your ordinary English girl.
She’s independent, she’s spirited.
Isn’t that what you fell in love with in the first place?
Yes, but this is far beyond –
she won’t listen to me, she throws the words back in my face.
Louis, think. This is your wife. You have a child together.
She should think about that when she –
I don’t know what she thinks she’s doing, Stanbury.
None of it makes any sense, unless –
unless she really is deceiving me with that man.
That’s madness. You know it is!
It’s no use discussing it.
We’re separating, and that’s that.
The problem is, where is she to go?
I want her and Nora to be safe and comfortable...
and as far away from that blackguard Osborne as possible.
Now I want to ask you a favor.
You have a mother and sister in Somerset.
Are you serious about this?
I’ve no one else to turn to.
No, it would hardly suit. It’s a very small cottage,
Nothing like what Emily and Nora have been used to.
Then I could rent a larger house for them all.
The expense would be nothing.
She shan’t have anything to reproach me with.
Well, I’ll do what I can for you,
but I think you’re just about as wrong as a man can be.
Come. Let’s do what has to be done.
Say good-bye to your papa.
Good-bye, my dear little son.
Good-bye, Emily.
Good-bye.
Good-bye, Louis.
Lady Milborough: Well, it’s done.
I was never so upset about anything in my life.
I dare say they’ll be together again in a few months, my dear.
Oh, I don’t know so much.
That young woman is as stubborn as can be.
Oh, of course, she’s as innocent as a babe unborn,
but the real victim is her poor sister Nora.
Oh, yes, indeed.
Why should Miss Nora Rowley be a victim?
Oh, Mr. Glascock, don’t you understand?
The remotest connection with a thing of that kind
tarnishes a young woman’s standing forever.
I understand no such thing, Lady Milborough.
Miss Rowley’s standing
is as high as ever it was in my view.
And that is as high as any woman in the country.
Here we are, mother.
Hugh!
What a lovely little boy. Will he come to me?
You’re most welcome, my dears, most welcome.
You’d better come in.
(Nora playing piano)
(stops playing)
Do you think you could be happy here?
We are very grateful to you for making the arrangement, if that’s what you mean.
No, that isn’t it at all. I don’t expect your gratitude.
Must have been a great trouble to you.
Not a bit of it. It was a pleasure.
Pleasure?
This has made things difficult between us, hasn’t it?
Yes, it has.
Well, tomorrow I shall be back in London and out of your way.
(resumes playing)
I’m afraid you don’t like our being here.
How am I to answer that?
Just tell the truth.
The truth is so uncivil.
Our lives will be much more comfortable now.
Carriages and so forth,
a box of books every week from Wells.
But we are little people here.
It could be dangerous for us to be mixed up
in big people’s quarrels.
I don’t know who it is that’s big in this matter.
You are big.
At any rate, by comparison.
But now it must go on.
The house has been taken and we must live in it together
and take the consequences – whatever they may be.
You can be sure of this –
none of us believes a word against you.
And if your position can be remedied
by staying here with us,
then stay with us.
I don’t know that anything can remedy our position.
But I think we’re better off here
than we could be anywhere else.
Thank you for bearing with us.
So, what a thing for your mother and sister, Miss Stanbury.
Is the clock house very grand?
And Mrs. Trevelyan, is she very beautiful?
My brother says she is. How I should like to see her.
Shouldn’t you like to see her, Mr. Gibson?
Well, I always like to see a pretty woman.
Is it true she’s been sent there because she has a lover?
No. She’s separated, but I don’t believe –
We had it on very good authority
that there is a lover in the case.
Oh, dear me, I do hope not. Very good authority.
And we have heard him named.
Colonel Osborne.
Indeed.
But he’s an old man.
A friend of her father’s before she was born, my brother says.
It’s only a misunderstanding between them,
and nothing to do with a gentleman.
But for a married woman to have her name mentioned at all
with a gentleman...it’s bad.
Is it not, Mr. Gibson?
Well – I’m afraid there’s not a doubt
about the colonel, Mr. Gibson. I’m afraid not, indeed.
Hmm. Dear me.
Miss Stanbury: Two by honors
and the odd.
and it’s my deal.
I don’t need anybody to tell me
that when a young woman is parted from her husband
the chances are ten to one she has been very foolish.
And when women can’t keep themselves
from idle talking with strange gentlemen,
they are very far gone on the road to the devil.
(knocks)
Mr. Louis Trevelyan? Bozzle, sir. At your service.
Yes.
Come in.
Forgive the, uh...
the house is about to be closed up.
Don’t mind me, sir.
I’ve seen this situation a hundred times before.
More’s the pity.
So, she’s gone down to the country
and you wants her watched.
Yes.
It isn’t that I suspect her at all.
You don’t suspect her.
There’s a man.
Ah. There’s a man.
His name is Colonel Osborne.
There’s nothing – it’s not that I believe –
I understand, sir.
You wants her watched so you can be sure of her.
Exactly. You came to the right man.
Could I say this to you, sir?
It’s my experience from my long career
that there’s no smoke without fire.
Those who goes looking for evidence generally finds some.
And when a man suspects his wife, he’s generally right to.
I didn’t say I suspected her.
But you wants her watched.
Right you are, sir, Bozzle’s the man for that.
Bozzle won’t let you down.
You found a good friend in Bozzle.
Come on, sir, let’s shake hands on it.
Priscilla: How pretty she looks,
your sister.
Yes. She has been much admired.
This terrible affair of mine has been a cruel burr to her.
I think we must have harmed your reputation, too.
It won’t hurt me.
Nothing of that kind can hurt me.
But people say such cruel, slanderous things.
I can take care of myself.
My personal cares are limited to an old gown
and bread and cheese.
I like a pair of gloves to go to church with,
but I could do without.
The world has so little to give me,
I’m pretty sure it will take nothing away.
I should like to see Dorothy married
and happy there.
Why shouldn’t you get married as well as Dorothy?
Who would have me?
I am not fit to marry.
I am twenty eight years old,
I am often cross, I like my own way,
and I have a distaste for men.
Most men.
But I do think when a women is married,
she should submit to her husband.
You mean that for me.
Of course I mean it for you.
You should beg him to take you back
for little Louis’s sake, if not for your own.
You don’t understand how it is with us.
Does he love you?
How can I know?
He did once.
And do you still love him?
Yes. In spite of everything.
Then I don’t see what’s the matter with the pair of you.
(thunder rumbles)
There be a gentleman come.
Don’t mutter, Mary. Speak out.
There be a gentleman come.
A gentleman. What gentleman?
He be for you, miss.
Miss Rowley.
I’m afraid you’ll think I’m persecuting you.
I have no right to think that.
I’ll tell you why I have come now.
My dear father is very ill.
He’s at Naples, and I must go to him.
He’s very old, you know.
He’ll never come back to England.
I think I may stay with him until he –
until everything is over.
Yes. I see.
They say he can hardly live above a month or two.
He’ll never see my wife...
if I can have a wife.
I should like to tell him, if it were possible, that...
well, that there was someone. I understand you.
So, you see, I couldn’t go without seeing you.
Miss Rowley...
Nora...
May I hope that you can love me?
What can I say?
Mr. Glascock, I will tell you the honest truth.
I came into this room determined to accept you.
But you are so good and so kind
that I can’t tell you a falsehood.
If I accepted you, it would be because
you are rich and the heir to a peerage
and not because I love you.
I love someone else.
I don’t know whether he loves me
or whether we shall ever be married,
but I couldn’t love anyone else.
Then of course, I have nothing to hope.
I’m sorry.
You have nothing to be sorry for.
I don’t think either of us
would want to marry without love.
I hope you’ll find the happiness you deserve, Miss Rowley.
Well?
Yes, mum?
You know what I mean.
You’ve been talking to Giles Hickbody.
I want to know what he said.
Come on – out with it!
There’s been a visitor at the Clock house, mum.
A gentleman, and very well dressed.
I knew it! The Colonel.
We can’t be sure, mum.
Who else could it be?
The Colonel at the Clock house.
I do believe the devil has been allowed
to come amongst us because of our sins.
The hawk has been at the dovecote.
What?
The Colonel, sir. He’s been there.
No.
I’m very sorry, sir.
Last Thursday afternoon he presented himself.
A fine-looking gentleman, carries himself well,
lodged at the inn, called at the house about three o’clock.
And you’re sure it was him?
Tall gentleman with fair hair, a mustache –
rather younger than I expected.
Younger?
He gave a false name at the inn, but I was up to that, sir.
What name did he give?
Glascock, sir.
Glascock?
You’ve got the wrong man, Mr. Bozzle.
Mr. Glascock is an old friend of Miss Rowley’s.
You’d better get down to Somerset again.
Louis: What do you think I should do, Stanbury?
Dismiss Bozzle for a start.
Louis, you must.
If you only think about it, how can Emily come back to you
if she learns you’ve sent a detective to –
Well, what am I to do?
I can’t bear this.
Hanging about London, cut off from my own wife and child.
Not knowing what danger she may be in.
Then ask her to come back and put yourself out of your misery.
There’s nothing I want more.
All she has to do is give me her promise.
But she won’t.
And he knows it, and he means to find her and thrust himself in!
You’re wrong.
You couldn’t be more wrong.
Now, look here. Let me go down there.
No one will think it odd if I go down to see
my mother and sister.
I can make sure that everything’s as it should be
and Osborne’s far away, out of sight and out of mind,
without arousing any suspicion
that I’m meddling in your domestic affairs.
And I’ll find Bozzle and tell him
his services are no longer required.
And let’s hope there’s not too much damage done
before I do find him.
(knocking)
(door closes)
I think it must be from Louis.
Perhaps he’s asking her to come back.
This is for you, mama.
It’s from Aunt Stanbury.
I do hope nobody’s ill. You read it, my dear.
What does it say?
Nothing but silliness.
And malicious silliness, at that.
She has heard we have had a visitor.
She assumes it was “the gentleman reputed
to be Mrs. Trevelyan’s lover.”
And she tells you it is your duty
to tell the lady to go elsewhere.
Oh, dear.
Oh, dear, dear, dear!
She must have had such pleasure in writing it.
Seems a shame to begrudge her.
It’s is pretty a specimen as I ever knew
of malice and eavesdropping combined.
Don’t use such hard words, my dear.
Look at her words to us.
I’m afraid this is all my fault.
Not a bit of it.
It’s no one’s fault except her own.
And I shall write and tell her so.
Don’t be too hard on her, my dear.
She’s been so good to Hugh, and now to Dorothy.
If I were Dorothy, I’d have none of her goodness.
She likes someone to trample on.
Well, she shan’t trample on you and me.
Don’t worry, mama.
It will be mild enough in words.
And very short.
“Dear Aunt Stanbury,
“You have found a mare’s nest.
“The gentleman you speak of has never been here at all.
“Another gentleman did call here,
“but not to see Mrs. Trevelyan.
“We never interfere with you or with anyone,
“and I think you might abstain from harassing us
“with accusations.
“Pray, do not write to mama again
“in such a strain
“unless you are quite sure of your ground.
“Yours truly, Priscilla Stanbury.”
Oh, dear.
Dorothy, I’ve been over-hasty about your mother
and this man.
It wasn’t the Colonel after all, Martha.
I’ve been well-rebuked for it.
And now, I must beg everybody’s pardon.
Not mine, Aunt Stanbury.
Yes, yours. For you never believed it.
Oh, I’ve been an old fool
and too ready to believe ill of other people.
Well, now I must write to your mother
and apologize for my hard words.
And say I’m sorry to your sister, too.
And that goes against the grain.
Well, I was wrong, and I must take my punishment.
There’s only one good thing about this whole sorry business.
I’m very glad that we were all mistaken
and that Mrs. Trevelyan is free from any fault.
And most of all that that Colonel
has never set foot anywhere near my sister’s house.
(knocks)