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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 dinner。
ACT II。 Lady Cheshire's morning room； after breakfast。
ACT III。 The smoking…room； tea…time。
A night elapses between Acts I。 and II。
ACT I
SCENE I
The scene is a well…lighted； and large； oak…panelled hall； with
an air of being lived in； and a broad； oak staircase。 The
dining…room； drawing…room； billiard…room； all open into it； and
under the staircase a door leads to the servants' quarters。 In
a huge fireplace a log fire is burning。 There are tiger…skins
on the floor； horns on the walls； and a writing…table against
the wall opposite the fireplace。 FREDA STUDDENHAM； a pretty；
pale girl with dark eyes； in the black dress of a lady's…maid；
is standing at the foot of the staircase with a bunch of white
roses in one hand； and a bunch of yellow roses in the other。 A
door closes above； and SIR WILLIAM CHESHIRE； in evening dress；
comes downstairs。 He is perhaps fifty…eight； of strong build；
rather bull…necked； with grey eyes； and a well…coloured face；
whose choleric autocracy is veiled by a thin urbanity。 He
speaks before he reaches the bottom。
SIR WILLIAM。 Well； Freda！ Nice roses。 Who are they for？
FREDA。 My lady told me to give the yellow to Mrs。 Keith； Sir
William； and the white to Miss Lanfarne； for their first evening。
SIR WILLIAM。 Capital。 ＇Passing on towards the drawing…room＇ Your
father coming up to…night？
FREDA。 Yes。
SIR WILLIAM。 Be good enough to tell him I specially want to see him
here after dinner； will you？
FREDA。 Yes； Sir William。
SIR WILLIAM。 By the way； just ask him to bring the game…book in； if
he's got it。
He goes out into the drawing…room； and FREDA stands restlessly
tapping her foot against the bottom stair。 With a flutter of
skirts CHRISTINE KEITH comes rapidly down。 She is a
nice…looking； fresh…coloured young woman in a low…necked dress。
CHRISTINE。 Hullo； Freda！ How are YOU？
FREDA。 Quite well； thank you； Miss ChristineMrs。 Keith； I mean。
My lady told me to give you these。
CHRISTINE。 ＇Taking the roses＇ Oh！ Thanks！ How sweet of mother！
FREDA。 ＇In a quick； toneless voice＇ The others are for Miss Lanfarne。
My lady thought white would suit her better。
CHRISTINE。 They suit you in that black dress。
＇FREDA lowers the roses quickly。＇
What do you think of Joan's engagement？
FREDA。 It's very nice for her。
CHRISTINE。 I say； Freda； have they been going hard at rehearsals？
FREDA。 Every day。 Miss Dot gets very cross； stage…managing。
CHRISTINE。 I do hate learning a part。 Thanks awfully for unpacking。
Any news？
FREDA。 ＇In the same quick； dull voice＇ The under…keeper； Dunning；
won't marry Rose Taylor； after all。
CHRISTINE。 What a shame！ But I say that's serious。 I thought there
wasshe wasI mean
FREDA。 He's taken up with another girl； they say。
CHRISTINE。 Too bad！ ＇Pinning the roses＇ D'you know if Mr。 Bill's
come？
FREDA。 ＇With a swift upward look＇ Yes； by the six…forty。
RONALD KEITH comes slowly down； a weathered firm…lipped man； in
evening dress； with eyelids half drawn over his keen eyes； and
the air of a horseman。
KEITH。 Hallo！ Roses in December。 I say； Freda； your father missed
a wigging this morning when they drew blank at Warnham's spinney。
Where's that litter of little foxes？
FREDA。 ＇Smiling faintly＇ I expect father knows； Captain Keith。
KEITH。 You bet he does。 Emigration？ Or thin air？ What？
CHRISTINE。 Studdenham'd never shoot a fox； Ronny。 He's been here
since the flood。
KEITH。 There's more ways of killing a cateh； Freda？
CHRISTINE。 ＇Moving with her husband towards the drawing…room＇ Young
Dunning won't marry that girl； Ronny。
KEITH。 Phew！ Wouldn't be in his shoes； then！ Sir William'll never
keep a servant who's made a scandal in the village； old girl。 Bill
come？
As they disappear from the hall； JOHN LATTER in a clergyman's
evening dress； comes sedately downstairs； a tall； rather pale
young man； with something in him； as it were； both of heaven；
and a drawing…room。 He passes FREDA with a formal little nod。
HAROLD； a fresh…cheeked； cheery…looking youth； comes down； three
steps at a time。
HAROLD。 Hallo； Freda！ Patience on the monument。 Let's have a
sniff！ For Miss Lanfarne ？ Bill come down yet？
FREDA。 No； Mr。 Harold。
HAROLD crosses the hall； whistling； and follows LATTER into the
drawing…room。 There is the sound of a scuffle above； and a
voice crying： 〃Shut up； Dot！〃 And JOAN comes down screwing her
head back。 She is pretty and small； with large clinging eyes。
JOAN。 Am I all right behind； Freda？ That beast； Dot！
FREDA。 Quite； Miss Joan。
DOT's face； like a full moon； appears over the upper banisters。
She too comes running down； a frank figure； with the face of a
rebel。
DOT。 You little being！
JOAN。 ＇Flying towards the drawing…roam； is overtaken at the door＇
Oh！ Dot！ You're pinching！
As they disappear into the drawing…room； MABEL LANFARNE； a tall
girl with a rather charming Irish face； comes slowly down。 And
at sight of her FREDA's whole figure becomes set and meaning…
full。
FREDA。 For you； Miss Lanfarne； from my lady。
MABEL。 ＇In whose speech is a touch of wilful Irishry＇ How sweet！
＇Fastening the roses＇ And how are you； Freda？
FREDA。 Very well； thank you。
MABEL。 And your father？ Hope he's going to let me come out with the
guns again。
FREDA。 ＇Stolidly＇ He'll be delighted； I'm sure。
MABEL。 Ye…es！ I haven't forgotten his face…last time。
FREDA。 You stood with Mr。 Bill。 He's better to stand with than Mr。
Harold； or Captain Keith？
MABEL。 He didn't touch a feather； that day。
FREDA。 People don't when they're anxious to do their best。
A gong sounds。 And MABEL LANFARNE； giving FREDA a rather
inquisitive stare； mov