room

[ANTHONY rises with an effort. He turns to ROBERTS who looks at
him. They stand several seconds, gazing at each other fixedly;
ANTHONY lifts his hand, as though to salute, but lets it fall.
The expression of ROBERTS'S face changes from hostility to
wonder. They bend their heads in token of respect. ANTHONY
turns, and slowly walks towards the curtained door. Suddenly
he sways as though about to fall, recovers himself, and is
assisted out by EDGAR and ENID; UNDERWOOD follows, but stops at
the door. ROBERTS remains motionless for several seconds,
staring intently after ANTHONY, then goes out into the hall.]

TENCH. [Approaching HARNESS.] It's a great weight off my mind, Mr.
Harness! But what a painful scene, sir! [He wipes his brow.]

[HARNESS, pale and resolute, regards with a grim half-smile the
quavering.]

TENCH. It's all been so violent! What did he mean by: "Done us both
down?" If he has lost his wife, poor fellow, he oughtn't to have
spoken to the Chairman like that!

HARNESS. A woman dead; and the two best men both broken!

TENCH. [Staring at him-suddenly excited.] D'you know, sir--these
terms, they're the very same we drew up together, you and I, and put
to both sides before the fight began? All this--all this--and--and
what for?

HARNESS. [In a slow grim voice.] That's where the fun comes in!

[UNDERWOOD without turning from the door makes a gesture of
assent.]

The curtain falls.

THE END

GALSWORTHY PLAYS--SECOND SERIES--NO. 1

Contents:
The Eldest Son
The Little Dream
Justice

THE ELDEST SON

BY JOHN GALSWORTHY

PERSONS OF THE PLAY

SIR WILLIAM CHESHIRE, a baronet
LADY CHESHIRE, his wife
BILL, their eldest son
HAROLD, their second son
RONALD KEITH(in the Lancers), their son-in-law
CHRISTINE (his wife), their eldest daughter
DOT, their second daughter
JOAN, their third daughter
MABEL LANFARNE, their guest
THE REVEREND JOHN LATTER, engaged to Joan
OLD STUDDENHAM, the head-keeper
FREDA STUDDENHAM, the lady's-maid
YOUNG DUNNING, the under-keeper
ROSE TAYLOR, a village girl
JACKSON, the butler
CHARLES, a footman

TIME: The present. The action passes on December 7 and 8 at the
Cheshires' country house, in one of the shires.

ACT I SCENE I. The hall; before dinner.
SCENE II. The hall; after