(AUNT IDA _drops tongs on floor beside her_ R.)

CELIA. But, Father, what ever possessed you to ask him to stay?

(_Crosses_ L. _Sits_.)

FARADAY. You know he offered to help us. Things are looking pretty black for Tarver. We need all the help we can get at this ma.s.s meeting in the morning. So I have persuaded Colonel Vavasour to stop over and take the noon train.

(FARADAY _turns toward door_ R.I _and proudly ushers in_ SMITH. CELIA _and_ AUNT IDA _turn their heads away, much discomfited_.)

FARADAY. (_Taking_ SMITH _by the arm and pa.s.sing him across him_) A room must be prepared at once. Has Mrs. Brown gone to bed yet?

CELIA. (_Still seated_ L. _of table. Haughtily_) I don't know, Father.

She frequently goes to bed.

FARADAY. Eh?

CELIA. (_Confused_) I mean, _early_.

FARADAY. (_As_ SMITH _goes_ C.) Good-for-nothing old person, that housekeeper. Come with me. I'll look out for you myself. (_They walk toward door_ C.) We'll be back presently, Celia, to say goodnight to you and your aunt. (_They exit_ C. _door to_ L. _Off stage_) Tell Martin to bring in whiskey and soda.

CELIA. (_After a pause_) Did you hear that, Aunt Ida?

AUNT IDA. (_Wearily_) Uh-huh.

CELIA. "Stay here for the night and then take the noon train." That's _our_ train, Aunt Ida--the noon train. Isn't this an awful situation?

Now, what are we going to do?

AUNT IDA. (_Still more wearily_) I don't know.

CELIA. I can't face that man again, after--I can't. I have got to get out of this house myself, _to-night_, some way, somehow. (_Rushes up to_ C. _doors, closing and locking them_.) How can I manage it? Think, Aunt Ida. Think--think--think--think--think.

AUNT IDA. (_Disgustedly_) Think--think--think--think--think. I can't think. My poor old head won't stand much more of this.

CELIA. (_Coming down back of_ AUNT IDA _and putting her arms about her_) I've got it. Since he's going to take _our_ train, there's nothing left for us to do but take _his_.

AUNT IDA. (_Startled_) What?

CELIA. Yes, that midnight train. I don't care where it goes or if it ever gets there. We'll manage to reach Southampton somehow before to-morrow night. The thing is to get away from here as quickly as possible. We must hurry terribly. It's nearly eleven now. We can have a compartment to ourselves. I'll see if Wilson is still at the station. (_Crossing to telephone on desk_) He'll tell us all about it.

AUNT IDA. (_Protesting_) I'm only half packed.

CELIA. That doesn't matter. I'm not packed at all. Kent's a jewel. She will stay up all night, packing everything, and follow us in the morning. (_Rings telephone and lifts off receiver_) h.e.l.lo! Are you there?

AUNT IDA. (_Still protesting_) My tailor suit has gone to the cleaner's and won't be home till morning. I've nothing to wear.

CELIA. There is no time to wear anything. We must go without any clothes.

AUNT IDA. What!!

CELIA. Except motor coats, I mean. We've got to go as we are. (_Into telephone_) _h.e.l.lo!_ Yes, put me through to the station, quick, please. I want to speak to Wilson. (_To_ AUNT IDA) Now, don't worry, Aunt Ida, I will bundle you up warmly.

AUNT IDA. I'll _have_ to have something to eat. I have had nothing since morning. I couldn't eat a bite at the dinner and I feel so gone and faint.

CELIA. Well, if you're feeling faint, dear, take a drink of that brandy. That'll do you good.

AUNT IDA. Oh, no. I'm not addicted to the use of those things.

CELIA. But, if you're faint, you need it. (_Into the telephone_) h.e.l.lo! h.e.l.lo! Is that you, Wilson?

AUNT IDA. But I do feel very faint.

CELIA. Just a minute, Wilson. (_Puts down receiver and runs across to brandy bottle, picks up bottle and pours it into whiskey and soda gla.s.s, while she talks excitedly. She pours the gla.s.s half full_.) Now, please, dear. Don't be ridiculous at a time like this. You might have one of your dreadful fainting spells in the motor, and I shouldn't know what to do for you. Now, come, come, dear, drink this.

(_Rushes to the back of_ AUNT IDA'S _chair and holds the gla.s.s while she drinks_. AUNT IDA _drains the gla.s.s, making a wry face and shuddering_. CELIA _hurriedly puts down gla.s.s and flies back to telephone_.)

AUNT IDA. If only it doesn't go to my head!

CELIA. Oh, it won't, it won't. (_Into telephone_) h.e.l.lo, Wilson, are you there? Well, listen, this is Miss Faraday. Yes, yes, Miss Celia.

I've got to get away to-night on the midnight train. It's most important and will you look up at once what connections that train makes for Southampton--yes, Southampton. Also please wire Bletchley, and have a compartment reserved for me. What? It will take you ten minutes? Please hurry. There is so little time to spare. (_Replaces receiver_.) Now we must get the motor. (_Springs up from chair and goes up to bell-push_ L. _of_ C. _door, rings bell, runs down to_ R.

_of_ AUNT IDA _and picks up the tongs from floor_.) How do you feel now, Aunt Ida? How do you feel now?

AUNT IDA. Oh, I feel all right.

(_Enter_ MARTIN R.I. _He stands_.)

MARTIN. Yes, Miss.

CELIA. (_Holding tongs_) Oh, Martin, I want you to jump upstairs----

MARTIN. (_In open amazement_) _Jump_, Miss?

CELIA. I said, "Jump" and tell Kent to give you two motor coats and any other kind of a wrap she can find, two motor bonnets, some veils and furs and some pins and my motor bag and--two toothbrushes. We are going for a drive.

MARTIN. A _drive_, Miss?

CELIA. (_Irritated_) I said _a drive_. Will you hurry, please?

(_READY Telephone_.)

MARTIN. Very good, Miss. (_Exit_ R.I.)

AUNT IDA. We can't have the motor. We couldn't have it to go to the Admiral's. It's broken.

CELIA. (_Putting tongs in the winged armchair_) It wouldn't be a motor if it wasn't. Now what will we do? Oh, I'll get Jimmie Raleigh and he'll come back and take us down in his. (_Goes to phone_.) h.e.l.lo!

h.e.l.lo! I wonder what the--(AUNT IDA _squeals_)--telephone number is.

Oh, Aunt Ida, please do be quiet. You know you will make me nervous in a minute.