The Barretts of Wimpole Street Page #8

... to lie along with thine ?

As a little stone in a running stream...

... it seems to lie and pine.

Now drop the poor pale hand, Dear,

... unfit to plight with thine.

Wilt thou have my hand to lie along with thine...

... to lie alone with thine ?

That's lovely, Ba.

Look at Henrietta, she's cccrying.

I just think it's so lovely seeing Ba sing again.

Bless you, dear.

Sing it again, Ba.

Yes, do.

I will if you all join me. Will you ?

Yes.

Wilt thou have my hand to lie along with thine...

... to lie along with thine ?

As a little stone in a running stream...

... it seems to lie and pine.

Now drop the poor pale hand, Dear,

... unfit to plight with thine.

Wilt thou have my hand to lie along with thine...

... to lie alone with thine ?

Good heavens, you'll be a success.

No...

Come on, let's have another game.

Its my turn to go out.

Beg your pardon, Miss Elizabeth.

This letter's just come. Special letter just brought.

It's from papa.

But he was to return tomorrow.

Perhaps he's been detained.

Do you think so ?

Oh.

What is it ?

"This is to let you know that

we shall be leaving London within a fortnight...

I've taken a furnished house at Bookham in Surrey,

six miles from the nearest railroad station...

You will benefit by the country air

and complete seclusion of your new surroundings."

Hurry up, aren't you ready yet ?

Oh, poor Henrietta.

We mustn't let her know.

Poor Surtees Cook.

"I have thought for some time now

that your present feverishly restless mode of living in London will, if continued...

... affect you harmfully both physically and morally..."

... my feverishly restless mode of living...

... no wonder he doesn't describe me as a recklessly dissipated woman..

"You will inform your brothers and sisters of my decision

and tell them that I decline absolutely to discuss it when I return home."

He doesn't say when.

Oh, Ba, you poor darling.

He made my going to Italy impossible

and now we are to be cut off from any little pleasures we find here.

I see that he finishes up with the characteristic touch of humor.

Humor ?

He signs himself "your loving papa".

You see what this means ?

Yes.

Perhaps better than you do.

Oh, you're wrong. You don't know papa as I do.

He's growing jealous of my life here.

My pleasures and my friends...

and I'm slowly and surely to be parted from them.

Oh, Robert, it will soon be made impossible for me to see you at all.

This precious letter of your father's

means a great deal more that you as yet haven't been able to grasp.

Great deal more ?

It means that you will be in Italy before the month is out.

Italy ?

Yes. And with me.

Robert !

It means we must be married at once.

Do you know what you're saying ?

Yes, I know what I'm saying and I repeat it.

We must be married at once.

Oh, Robert. It's no use deceiving ourselves.

It's not only papa who stands between us.

It's I.

It's I.

However stronger

I may become I shall always remain an invalid.

Oh, Robert, as your wife, dear,

I should be haunted day and night by...

by thoughts of all the glorious things

you would have done but for me.

Freedom, adventure...

... and passionate love. I...

... I could never really satisfy.

No. No, listen.

Oh, Robert.

I should be haunted by the ghosts of your unborn children.

When I read that letter my world seemed to fall to pieces.

But now I thank God that it came while I was still free.

I have the strength to shake hands and say goodbye.

On the whole I think this will be our best plan of campaign.

We'll meet at Marylebone Church on Saturday

and be married quietly some time in the morning.

I'll see about the license at once and interview the vicar.

Robert !

The packet leaves the Royal Pier on Saturdays at midnight.

We must catch the 8 o'clock express at Vauxhall.

It arrives at Southhampton at 11.

Dear.

Come along, come along.

And I always thought that papa

was the most overbearing man in the world.

And yet you've known me for quite some time now.

I know, darling, but I mustn't give way.

I mustn't, I daren't.

There's one other thing, my darling.

You can't possibly travel without a maid.

Do you think Wilson would be willing to come abroad with us ?

Robert...

Have you ever thought that

my strenght may break down in the journey ?

Yes.

So as I were to die on your hands.

Are you afraid, Ba ?

Afraid,

You know I'd rather die with you beside me

than live a hundred lives without you.

But how would you feel if I were to die like that ?

And what would the world say of you ?

I should be branded as a little better than a murderer.

What I should feel, I leave you to imagine.

And yet you ask me to come with you ?

Yes.

I'm prepared to risk your life and much more than mine.

Get you out of that dreadful house

and into the sunshine, and to have you...

... for my wife.

You love me like that ?

I love you like that.

Robert.

Yes, dear.

Will you...

will you give me a little time ?

Time is short, my dear.

Yes, I know.

Your father is expected back...

Not till next week

You shall know before then.

You promise me that ?

I promise.

Oh, Miss Ba, I was that worried about you.

Out in the rain and everything.

Rain ? Oh, yes.

Quite a shower.

The sun's shining and lovely now.

Contrary thing.

Oh, is anything wrong, miss ?

Wrong ?

No, no.

Ba ! Oh, Ba, you must see him at once, you simply must.

Him ?

He's in full regimentals. He's just been to St James

to receive whatever you call it,

... his adjunctancy or something, from Queen Victoria herself.

Oh, he's wonderful, he's gorgeous.

I'm talking about Captain Cook, you know.

Yes, so I've gathered.

Darling, I'm swooning out now.

I've just been out and I'm quite tired.

But some other time will do just as well.

No, no. I told you, he's in full uniform.

Oh, he's just on the landing outside.

Please see him, Ba.

All right darling, bring him in.

Come up, Surtees.

Careful or you'll wreck yourself.

There.

Attention !

March !

Captain Surtees Cook, Ba.

My sister Elizabeth.

Your servant, Miss Barrett.

Captain Cook.

Twice honored in one day, you know.

First by Her Majesty, then by you, Miss Bartett.

Really, I don't know what I've done to deserve it.

That's right, you've just come from the palace, haven't you ?

I've never seen the Queen.

Tell me, what is she like ?

Very little lady, mam.

But royal every inch of her.

Surtees, you haven't got your sword on.

Not etiquette, as I told you, to wear it indoors.

Oh, bother. I shall get it. I want Ba to see you in full war paint.

Where did you leave it ?

Well, it's in the hall.

I'll fetch it.

No, look here, Miss Barrett doesn't want to...

But indeed I do, Captain Cook.

I don't think I've ever seen

an officer in full war paint before.

Indeed ?

Won't you sit down.

Oh, yes, Wilson, I think you'd better take Flush out.

He always gets so excited

when there are a few people in the room.

Oh, yes, of course.

Miss Barrett...

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