The Foundations by John Galsworthy
page 25 of 114 (21%)
page 25 of 114 (21%)
![]() | ![]() |
|
approach it from the viewpoint of the Anti-Sweating dinner. I have
the list of guests--very weighty! LORD W. Taken some lifting-wouldn't they? PRESS. [Seriously] May I say that you designed the dinner to soften the tension, at this crisis? You saw that case, I suppose, this morning, of the woman dying of starvation in Bethnal Green? LORD W. [Desperately] Yes-yes! I've been horribly affected. I always knew this slump would come after the war, sooner or later. PRESS. [Writing] ". . . had predicted slump." LORD W. You see, I've been an Anti-Sweating man for years, and I thought if only we could come together now . . . . PRESS. [Nodding] I see--I see! Get Society interested in the Sweated, through the dinner. I have the menu here. [He produces it.] LORD W. Good God, man--more than that! I want to show the people that we stand side by side with them, as we did in the trenches. The whole thing's too jolly awful. I lie awake over it. [He walks up and down.] PRESS. [Scribbling] One moment, please. I'll just get that down-- "Too jolly awful--lies awake over it. Was wearing a white waistcoat with pearl buttons." [At a sign of resentment from his victim.] I want the human touch, Lord William--it's everything in my paper. |
|