Belle Moral: A Natural History Read Online Free PDF Page A

with lid
.
    M AN [to P EARL] . You rang, Miss?
    F LORA . Young Farleigh; any sign of the good doctor?
    Y OUNG F ARLEIGH . No’ yit, M’um.
    P EARL . Oh yes, the note. Take this to Mr Abbott in town as quickly as possible. [a
beat]
Perhaps I’ll just run it in myself on my bicycle.
    Y OUNG F ARLEIGH . Ay, Miss.
[Slowly goes to exit.]
    P EARL . Young Farleigh, who’s the tray for?
    He looks at the tray as though noticing it for the first time
. F LORA
comes to his rescue:
    F LORA . It’s for Victor.
    P EARL . Well don’t waste your winkles, Victor’s gone off them.
    Y OUNG F ARLEIGH
[bewildered]
. Winkles? I’ve no’ winkled in years, Miss.
    F LORA
[pointedly]
. Nonsense, you were out half the nicht. [to P EARL] The Farleighs are all great winklers.
    P EARL [
lifting the lid]
. Mmm, kippers and … boiled sweets. I’ll have the fish in my study, you can give the gobstoppers to Victor.
    Y OUNG F ARLEIGH . Is the lad come haim, then, Miss?
    P EARL . I thought you said the tray was for –
    F LORA . That will be all, Young Farleigh.
    P EARL . Wait. I wish to consult you about a dog.
    F LORA
and
Y OUNG F ARLEIGH
exchange a look
.
    I want you to find a puppy for my brother. A black one, about yea tall, with a flat head for patting.
    Y OUNG F ARLEIGH . Ay, Miss.
    Exit
Y OUNG F ARLEIGH . P EARL
lights a cigarette
.
    F LORA . Must you, Pearl? It’s so unladylike.
    P EARL . Flora.
[Attempting a casual tone.]
Did Mother love me?
    F LORA . Of course she did, sweetheart.
    P EARL . She’d’ve loved Victor more.
    F LORA . Your mother had love enough for a dozen bairns. But she’d scarce laid eyes on Victor’s wee squallin’ face ‘afore she … was carried off.
    P EARL
[critical]
. Mother was always weak.
    F LORA . She was a great beauty. “Régine, Régine, my Highland Queen.”
    P EARL . I’ll make it up to him with the puppy. Auntie, don’t let Dr Reid leave without looking in, I’ve a question to put to him.
    F LORA . Ay, pet.
    P EARL
[pausing at the exit]
. Why have you sent for the doctor first thing in the morning?
[worried]
You’re no’ ill?
    F LORA . Not at all. It’s Young Farleigh.
[As though complicity
Ay, he’s confused.
    P EARL . Well, little wonder; it would appear that of late, no one gets a winkle of sleep under this roof.
[Exit.]
    F LORA
takes
V ICTOR’S
flask from his sporran and has a sip. Regards the family portrait. Backs away from it. Examines it close up. Squints
. D R R EID
exits, carrying his medical bag. They speak urgently, hurriedly
.
    D R R EID . Good morning –
    F LORA . Dr Reid, oh thank God, thank you for –
    D R R EID . I came the moment I received your note, Flora, what is –?
[hushed]
Where is Pearl?
    F LORA . In her study.
    D R R EID . You’ve not told her.
    F LORA . Certainly not.
    D R R EID . Flora, how in God’s name –?
    F LORA . Twas my doing. I sent Young Farleigh to fetch her home.
    D R R EID . Why?
    F LORA . I had no choice, Doctor; I couldna wrest another penny from the estate to pay for the poor creature’s upkeep without first the will being settled, and there was no telling when Victor would –
    D R R EID . Why didn’t you come to me?
    F LORA . Ramsay would no’ approve of charity –
    D R R EID . charity?! I was his best –
    F LORA . I know – I know – I know. [FLORA
begins to shiver.]
    D R R EID . You need a cup of tea, or something stonger,
[calling]
Young Farleigh –
    F LORA . Nay, let him be, he drove through the night. I’m well. Truly.
    D R R EID . Where have you put the …? Where have you put her?
    F LORA . In the attic.
    D R R EID . Under lock and key.
    F LORA
[nods, “yes, pulling herself together]
.
    D R R EID. Is it your intention, then, to house the … patient here, indefinitely?
    F LORA . No, no, Victor’s come haim this morning, so the will can be –
    D R R EID. Why then, ’twas all for naught.
    F LORA . Ach, you maun think me foolish. A foolish auld woman. Am I, Seamus?
    D R R EID . Foolish? In this case, Flora,