Page:Heartbreak House, Great Catherine, and Playlets of the War.djvu/159




 * In the garden, Hector, as he comes out through the glass door of the poop, finds Lady Utterword lying voluptuously in the hammock on the east side of the flagstaff, in the circle of light cast by the electric arc, which is like a moon in its opal globe. Beneath the head of the hammock, a campstool. On the other side of the flagstaff, on the long garden seat, Captain Shotover is asleep, with Ellie beside him, leaning affectionately against him on his right hand. On his left is a deck chair. Behind them in the gloom, Hesione is strolling about with Mangan. It is a fine still night, moonless.

What a lovely night! It seems made for us.

The night takes no interest in us. What are we to the night? [He sits down moodily in the deck chair].

[dreamily, nestling against the captain]. Its beauty soaks into my nerves. In the night there is peace for the old and hope for the young.

Is that remark your own?

No. Only the last thing the captain said before he went to sleep.

I'm not asleep.

Randall is. Also Mr Mazzini Dunn. Mangan, too, probably.

No.

Oh, you are there. I thought Hesione would have sent you to bed by this time.