Belinus

“ But now, my lord, to answer your demand, It happens so, that the usurping king Of Aragon makes war upon this land For certain tribute which he claimeth here; Wherefore Belinus sent me round about His country for to gather up [his] men For to withstand this most injurious foe; Which being done, returning with the king, Despitefully I did so taunt your grace, Imagining you had some soldier been, The which, for fear, had sneaked from the camp. Alphonsus
Enough, Albinius, I do know thy mind. ”

“ With Pelles, or Pelleas, is associated a King Pellean, or Pellam, his son, and, equally with him, the Keeper of the Grail, who can be no other than Pryderi. [474] Like that deity in the Mabinogi of Mâth, he is defeated by one of the gods of light. The dealer of the blow, however, is not Arthur, as successor to Gwydion, but Balin, the Gallo-British sun-god Belinus. ”

“ One always takes one's father's name. Unless, of course, you were Lord Robinson.
Tremayne. But you said her name was Robinson before you—
(She makes a playful move.)
–Oh, never mind about that. A daughter? Belinda, how could you let me go and not tell me?
Belinda. You forget how you'd slammed the door. It isn't the sort of thing you shout through the window to a man on his way to America.
Tremayne (taking her in his arms) . Oh, Belinda, don't let me ever go away again.
(Devenish and Delia enter from up L. and pass the windows on the way to the swing doors.) ”

“ Delia (smiling, on Belinda's L.) . I'll be your mother if you like.
Belinda. Oh no, that wouldn't do, because then Mr. Baxter would feel that he ought to ask your permission before paying his attentions to me. He's just that sort of man. A niece is so safe–however good you are at statistics, you can't really prove anything.
Delia. All right, mummy.
Belinda (enjoying herself) . You'd like to be called by a different name, wouldn't you? There's something so thrilling about taking a false name. Such a lot of adventures begin like that. How would you like to be Miss Robinson, darling? ”

“ Belinda (to herself) . Mariton! How funny! I wonder if it's the same one.
Baxter. What one?
Belinda. Oh, just one of the ones. (Gratefully.) Mr. Baxter, you are doing all this for me.
Baxter. Pray do not mention it. I don't know if it's Devonshire (going to and sitting L. of Belinda) , or the time of the year, or the sort of atmosphere you create, Mrs. Tremayne, but I feel an entirely different man. There is something in the air which–yes, I shall certainly go over to Mariton this afternoon.
Belinda (gravely) . I have had the same feeling sometimes, Mr. Baxter. ”

“ I don't think he'll ever be any good till he really gets work. Did you notice his hair this evening?
Belinda (dreamily) . Whose, dear?
Delia (going to the back of the Chesterfield and to the L. of Belinda) . Mummy, look me in the eye and tell me you are not being bad.
Belinda (having playfully turned her head away and hidden her face with her handkerchief, says innocently) . Bad, darling?
Delia (moving down to the front of the fireplace) . You've made Mr. Robinson fall in love with you.
Belinda (happily) . Have I?
Delia. Yes; it's serious this time. He's not like the other two. ”

“ Belinda nodded comprehension.
The "Black Sheep" read the sympathy in her eyes.
"It's good of you to listen. You see, I've been away twenty years. It's a long time."
He sat silent for a moment staring straight before him, but seeing something that she could not see. Then he came back to her.
"Yes; it's a long time. One imagines the things one has left stand still, but they don't. I thought I'd find everything pretty much the same. Of course I might have known better, but—well, a fellow's memory and imagination play tricks upon his intelligence sometimes. I liked New York, you know. ”

“ I say, you know, that's not fair. It's all very well to take your defeat like a man, but you mustn't overdo it. (They release their hands.) Mrs. Tremayne, I claim the reward which I have earned.
Belinda (after a pause and rising) . Mr. Baxter–Mr. Devenish, I have something to tell you.
(Devenish moves to her R.)
(Belinda kneels upon the Chesterfield facing them. Penitently.) I have not been quite frank with you. I think you both ought to know that–I–I made a mistake. Delia is not my niece; she is my daughter. (She buries her face in her hands.)
Devenish. Your daughter! I say, how ripping! ”

“ She lies back in the hammock lazily and the book of poems falls from her to the ground. Delia comes into the garden, from Paris. She is decidedly a modern girl, pretty and self-possessed. Her hair is half-way up; waiting for her birthday, perhaps. She sees her mother suddenly, stops, and then goes on tiptoe to the head of the hammock. She smiles and kisses her mother on the forehead. Belinda, looking supremely unconscious, goes on sleeping. Delia kisses her lightly again. Belinda wakes up with an extraordinarily natural start, and is just about to say, "Oh, Mr. Devenish–you mustn't!" ”

“ Devenish. You are as old as the stars and as young as the dawn.
Baxter. You are ten years younger than I am.
Belinda. What sweet things to say! I don't know which I like best. Devenish. Where will my lady sit!
Belinda (with an exaggerated curtsy) . I will recline in the hammock, an it please thee, my lord—
(Baxter goes to the right of the hammock, saying "Allow me." Devenish moves to the left of the hammock and holds it, takes up a cushion which Baxter snatches from him and places in hammock again.) ”

“ Devenish, young fellow, when you matched yourself against a man of my repute, when you matched yourself against a man— matched yourself against a man of my repute (crossing towards fireplace)
(BELINDA rises stealthily, takes up her hat and exits through the swing doors and through the garden up R.)
when you matched yourself against a man who has read papers (moving towards centre table) at Soirees of the Royal Statistical Society—" (Looking round the room, he discovers that he is alone. He picks up his hat from the table and jams it down on his head.) ”

“ Devenish too.
Baxter (moving to Belinda) . Er—
Devenish. Er—
(They stand before her guiltily and have nothing to say.)
Belinda (with a shrug) . Well, I shall have to marry somebody else, that's all.
Baxter (moving to below table) . Who? Who?
Belinda. I suppose Mr. Robinson. After all, if I am Delia's mother, and Mr. Baxter says that Mr. Robinson's her father, it's about time we were married.
Devenish (eagerly) . Mrs. Tremayne, what fools we are! He is your husband all the time!
Belinda. Yes.
Baxter (moving up to the R. of Belinda) . You've had a husband all the time? ”

“ Let the beard of the Lord Mayor of Newcastle be the talisman that my lady demands; I am satisfied.
Baxter. This sort of thing is entirely contrary to my usual mode of life, but I will not be outfaced by a mere boy. (Rising.) I am prepared. (Going to her.)
Devenish. Speak, lady.
Belinda (speaking in a deep, mysterious voice) . Gentlemen, ye put wild thoughts into my head. In sooth, I am minded to send ye forth upon a quest that is passing strange. Know ye that there is a maid journeyed hither, hight Robinson–whose– (in her natural voice) what's the old for aunt?
Baxter (hopefully) . ”

“ Mr. Devenish. (She rises and stands by the fireplace with her cup in her hand.) Of course, he's very young.
Belinda. So was Keats, darling.
Delia. I don't think Claude has had Keats' advantages. Keats started life as an apothecary.
Belinda. So much nicer than a chemist.
Delia. Now, Claude started with nothing to do.
Belinda (mildly) . Do you always call him Claude, darling? I hope you aren't going to grow into a flirt like that horrid Mrs. Tremayne.
Delia. Silly mother! (She moves to Belinda, takes her cup, then crosses to the table and places both the cups on the table–seriously.) ”

“ But, poor boy——"
"Waste no sympathy on him," growled Paul. "He is a treacherous little beast. Whether it be true or not——"
"Whether what be true, Paul?" demanded Belinda, unable to smother her impatience, and shaking his arm in the grip of both her hands. "Tell me! Is there something wrong? What has Ernest said to you?"
"That the flying-man talks other languages than German. That he speaks French to that harelipped Erard. That they have long conferences together." ”

“ Belinda shone for all. She allowed great and small to adore her. To her pupils she was just but merciful, and stoically impartial. The school superintendent, who had weathered the first throes of widowerhood, and reached the stage where he loved sitting upon a veranda in the twilight and hearing nocturnes played by some feminine personality in the parlour, suffered much emotional stress and strain in the endeavour to decide whether he would rather have nocturnes and a parlour-chained Belinda or a Belinda beside him in the twilight and no nocturnes. ”

“ Belinda (looking anxiously from the door to him) . Mr. Baxter, I'm going to throw myself on your mercy.
Baxter. My dear Mrs. Tremayne—
Belinda (looking at her watch again, rising and moving up L.C., looking at door) . A strange man will be here directly. He must not find you with me.
Baxter (rising, jealously) . A man?
Belinda (excitedly) . Yes, yes, a man! He is pursuing me with his attentions. If he found you here, there would be a terrible scene.
Baxter. I will defend you from him.
Belinda (crossing down to R. of Chesterfield) . No, no. He is a big man. He will–he will overpower you. ”

“ And if Benlian didn't understand all about those things, I should jolly well like to know who does! A chap with a great abounding will and brain like him, it's only natural he should be able to pass himself on, to a statue or anything else, when he really tried—did without food and talk and sleep in order to save himself up for it!
"A man can't both do and be," I remember he said to me once. "He's so much force, no more, and he can either make himself with it or something else. If he tries to do both, he does both imperfectly. I'm going to do one perfect thing." Oh, he was a queer chap! ”

“ Devenish. "Belinda." It is far too beautiful to rhyme with anything but itself.
Belinda. Fancy! But what about Tremayne? (Singing.) Oh, I am Mrs. Tremayne, and I don't want to marry again.
Devenish (protesting) . My lady!
Baxter (protesting) . Belinda!
Belinda (pointing excitedly to Baxter) . There, that's the first time he's called me Belinda! This naughty boy– (indicating Devenish) –is always doing it–by accident.
Devenish. Are you serious?
Belinda. Not as a rule.
Devenish. You're not going to marry again?
Belinda. Well, who could I marry?
Devenish and Baxter (together) . Me! ”

“ Of course, he doesn't know he is a father yet. Darling, I think you might take him into the garden; only don't let him know who he is. You see, he ought to propose to me first, oughtn't he?
(The men come in from R. Tremayne goes to the foot of the settee R., Devenish to the back of the table up R., while Baxter stands at the back of the settee. Belinda moves to the front of the settee and Delia sits on the table.)
Here you all are! I do hope you haven't been throwing away your cigars, because smoking is allowed all over the house. ”

“ Six couples swung into the street, with Belinda at their heels. Out of the grim, inclosing walls, with the cool, moist air in their faces, the lights reflected gayly in the glistening pavements, the cabs and carriages dashing by, the mystery and fascination of a great city clinging around them, and a matinée idol beckoning them, the girls began to find life more cheerful. ”

“ Here is the fine poulet for that same Herr Lieutenant." He bowed low before the troubled nurse. "But yes," he said boldly. "I am a man, me! I am no slave of a soldier. I have accomplished all that I set forth to do."
Belinda caught her breath. She knew the man was speaking directly to her—was reassuring her; although what he said seemed merely the vaporings of wine.
"Come!" cried Carl again.
"Pardon, Monsieur," said Erard politely. "Is that the way to leave a lady? I kiss your hand, Mademoiselle. I am relieved of that so-dirty work of the ward for a season—is it not?"
He spoke French. ”

“ He has been knocking about the world for eighteen years, and is very much a man, though he has kept his manners. His hair is greying a little at the sides, and he looks the forty-odd that he is. Without his moustache and beard he is very different from the boy BELINDA married.)
TREMAYNE ( with his hat in his hand ) . I'm afraid I'm trespassing.
BELINDA (winningly, moving down R. a little ) . But it's such a pretty garden (turns away, dosing her parasol) , isn't it?
(TREMAYNE, half recognizing her, moves to back of hammock and leans across to obtain a better view of her.) ”

“ With no night nurse, no assistance of orderlies, the work bore heavily upon Belinda and her infirmier. Jacob did what he could; but his wounds had been painful and he was only able to hobble about the ward.
Erard crept to Belinda's side as she was busy preparing packs and bandages for the day's dressings, and whispered:
"Mademoiselle, what will you do when the Boches come? Me, I shall slip away. I am a small man—and a cripple. They will not bother one like me. But you, Mademoiselle——"
"I speak German," Belinda said briefly.
"But you wear the French insignia." ”

“ He is a really wonderful man, Belinda—a man of countless disguises and subterfuges. When I set him down in that field four days ago he drew on a peasant's smock, put his feet in sabots, and before I got my plane in the air again he was hobbling toward the village, the true picture of one of these old peasants, so decrepit and lame that even the Prussians fail to set them to work. ”