Return of Peter Grimm — Act 3
ACT III.
_The third act takes place at twenty minutes to twelve on the same night.
_ _The fire is out.
The table on which_ PETER _took his coffee in the first act is now being used by the_ DOCTOR _for_ WILLIAM'S _medicines, two bottles, two glasses, two teaspoons, a clinical thermometer, &c. _ WILLIAM,
_who has been questioned by the_ DOCTOR, _is now asleep upstairs.
_ PETER'S
_hat hangs on the peg in the shadow.
Although the hour is late, no one has thought of going to bed.
_ FREDERIK _is waiting at the hotel for the lawyer whom_ HICKS _was to send to arrange for the sale of_ PETER GRIMM'S _nurseries, but he has not arrived.
The_ DOCTOR, _full of his theories, is seated before the fire, writing the account of_ PETER GRIMM'S _return, for the American Branch of the "London Society for Psychical Research."
It is now a fine, clear night.
The clouds are almost silvery and a hint of the moon is showing.
_ DR.
MACPHERSON.
[_Reading what he has written.
_] "To be forwarded to the 'London Society for Psychical Research': Dr. Hyslop: Dear Sir: This evening at the residence of Peter--" [_Pauses and inserts "the late" and continues to read after inserting the words.
_] "--the late Peter Grimm-- the well-known horticulturist of Grimm Manor, New York, certain phenomena were observed which would clearly indicate the return of Peter Grimm, ten days after his decease.
While he was invisible to all, three people were present besides myself--one of these, a child of eight, who received the message.
No spelling out by signals nor automatic writing was employed, but word of mouth."
[_A rap sounds.
_] Who will that be at this hour?...
[_Looks at the clock.
_] Nearly midnight.
[_Opening the door.
_] Yes?
A VOICE.
[_Outside.
_] Telegram for Frederik Grimm.
DR.
MACPHERSON.
Not in.
I'll sign.
[_He signs and, receiving the telegram, sets it against a candle-stick on the desk and resumes his seat.
Reads:_] "I made a compact with Peter Grimm, while he was in the flesh, that whichever went first was to return and give the other some sign; and I propose to give positive proof--" [_He hesitates--thinks--then repeats.
_] "positive proof that he kept this compact and that I assisted in the carrying out of his instructions."
MRS.
BATHOLOMMEY.
[_Enters--evidently highly wrought up by the events of the evening.
_] Who was that?
Who knocked?
DR.
MACPHERSON.
Telegram.
MRS.
BATHOLOMMEY.
I thought perhaps Frederik had come back.
Don't you consider William much better?
DR.
MACPHERSON.
Mm ...
MRS.
BATHOLOMMEY.
Dear, dear!
The scene that took place to-night has completely upset me.
[_The_ DOCTOR _takes up his pen and reads to himself.
_] Well, Doctor: [_She pushes forward a chair and sits at the other side of the table--facing him.
_] the breaking off of the engagement is rather sudden, isn't it?
We've been talking it over in the front parlour, Mr. Batholommey and I. James has finished his work and has just joined us.
I suggest sending out a card--a neat card--saying that, owing to the bereavement in the family, the wedding has been indefinitely postponed.
Of course, it isn't exactly true.
DR.
MACPHERSON.
Won't take place at all.
[_Goes on reading.
_ MRS.
BATHOLOMMEY.
Evidently not; but if the whole matter looks very strange to me--how is it going to look to other people; especially when we haven't any--any rational explanation--as yet?
We must get out of it in some fashion.
DR.
MACPHERSON.
Whose business is it?
MRS.
BATHOLOMMEY.
Nobody's, of course.
But Catherine's position is certainly unusual; and the strangest part of it all is--she doesn't seem to feel her situation.
She's sitting alone in the library, seemingly placid and happy.
What I really wish to consult you about is this: shouldn't the card we're going to send out have a narrow black border?
[_The_ DOCTOR _is now writing.
_] Doctor, you don't appear to be interested.
You might at least answer my question.
DR.
MACPHERSON.
What chance have I had to answer?
You've done all the talking.
MRS.
BATHOLOMMEY.
[_Rising--annoyed.
_] Oh, of course, all these little matters sound trivial to you; but men like you couldn't look after the workings of the _next_ world if other people didn't attend to _this_.
Some one has to do it.
DR.
MACPHERSON.
I fully appreciate the fact, Mistress Batholommey, that other people are making it possible for me to be myself.
I'll admit that;
and now if I might have a few moments in peace to attend to something really important-- _The_ REV. MR.
BATHOLOMMEY _has entered with his hat in his hand.
_ REV.
MR.
BATHOLOMMEY.
Doctor, I've been thinking things over.
I ran in for a moment to suggest that we suspend judgment until the information William has volunteered can be verified.
I can scarcely believe that-- DR.
MACPHERSON.
Ump!
[_Rises and goes to the telephone on the desk.
_] Four-red.
REV.
MR.
BATHOLOMMEY.
I regret that Frederik left the house without offering some explanation.
DR.
MACPHERSON.
[_At the 'phone.
_] Marget, I'm at Peter's. I mean--I'm at the Grimms'.
Send me my bag.
I'll stay the night with William.
Bye.
[_Seats himself at the table.
_ REV.
MR.
BATHOLOMMEY.
Tell Frederik that, if he cares to consult me, I shall be at home in my study.
Good-night, Doctor.
Good-night, Rose.
DR.
MACPHERSON.
Hold on, Mr. Batholommey!
[_The_ REV. MR.
BATHOLOMMEY
_turns.
_] I'm writing an account of all that's happened here to-night-- REV.
MR.
BATHOLOMMEY.
[_Dubiously.
_] Indeed!
DR.
MACPHERSON.
I shall verify every word of the evidence by William's mother for whom I am searching.
[_The_ REV. MR.
BATHOLOMMEY _smiles faintly behind his hand.
_] Then I shall send in my report, and not until then.
What I wish to ask is this: would you have any objection to the name of Mrs. Batholommey being used as a witness?
REV.
MR.
BATHOLOMMEY.
[_Looks perplexed.
_] Well,--er--a-- MRS.
BATHOLOMMEY.
Oh, no, you don't!
You may flout our beliefs; but wouldn't you like to bolster up your report with "the wife of a clergyman who was present!"
It sounds so respectable and sane, doesn't it?
No, sir!
You cannot prop up your wild-eyed-- REV.
MR.
BATHOLOMMEY.
Rose, my dear!
MRS.
BATHOLOMMEY.
[_Sweeping on.
_]--theories against the good black of a minister's coat.
_I_ think myself that you have _probably_ stumbled on the truth about William's mother.
REV.
MR.
BATHOLOMMEY.
_Can_ it be true?
Oh, dreadful!
Dreadful!
MRS.
BATHOLOMMEY.
But that child knew it all along.
He's eight years old and he was with her until five--and five's the age of memory.
Every incident of his mother's life has lingered in his little mind.
Supposing you do find her and learn that it's all true: what do you prove?
Simply that _William remembered_, and that's all there is to it.
REV.
MR.
BATHOLOMMEY.
Let us hope that there's not a word of truth in it.
Don't you think, Doctor--mind, I'm not opposing your ideas as a clergyman,--I'm just echoing what _everybody else_ thinks--don't you believe these spiritualistic ideas, leading _away_ from the Heaven _we_ were taught to believe in, tend towards irresponsibility--er-- eccentricity--and--often--er--insanity?
Is it healthy--that's the idea--is it healthy?
DR.
MACPHERSON.
Well, Batholommey, religion has frequently led to the stake, and I never heard of the Spanish Inquisition being called _healthy_ for anybody taking part in it.
Still, religion flourishes.
But your old-fashioned, unscientific, gilt, ginger-bread Heaven blew up ten years ago--went out.
My Heaven's just coming in.
It's new.
Dr. Funk and a lot of the clergymen are in already.
You'd better get used to it, Batholommey, and get in line and into the procession.
REV.
MR.
BATHOLOMMEY.
You'll have to convince me first, Doctor--and that no man can do.
I made up my mind at twenty-one, and my Heaven is just where it was then.
DOCTOR MACPHERSON.
So I see.
It hasn't improved a particle.
REV.
MR.
BATHOLOMMEY.
[_Tolerantly.
_] Well, well.
Good-night.
[MRS.
BATHOLOMMEY _follows him in the hall.
_ MRS.
BATHOLOMMEY.
Good-night, Henry; I'll be home to-morrow.
You'll be glad to see me, dear, won't you?
REV.
MR.
BATHOLOMMEY.
My church mouse!
[_He pats her cheek, kisses her good-night and goes.
_ MRS.
BATHOLOMMEY.
[_Who has gone to the door of her room--giving_ DR. MACPHERSON _a parting shot.
_] Write as much as you like, Doctor; words are but air.
We didn't see Peter Grimm and you know and I know and everybody knows that _seeing_ is believing.
DR.
MACPHERSON.
[_Looking up.
_] Damn everybody!
It's everybody's ignorance that has set the world back a thousand years.
Where was I before you--Oh, yes.
[_Reads as_ MRS. BATHOLOMMEY _leaves the room.
_] "I assisted in the carrying out of his instructions."
[FREDERIK GRIMM _enters.
_ FREDERIK.
Anybody in this house come to their senses yet?
DR.
MACPHERSON.
I think so, my boy.
I think several in this house have come to their senses.
Catherine has, for one.
I'm very glad to see you back, Frederik.
I have a few questions to put to you.
FREDERIK.
Why don't you have more light?
It's half dark in this room.
[_He picks up the lamp from the_ DOCTOR'S _table and holds it so that he can look searchingly in the direction of the desk to see if_ PETER'S _apparition is still there.
His eye is suddenly riveted on the telegram resting against the candlestick on the desk.
_] Is that telegram for me?
DR.
MACPHERSON.
Yes.
FREDERIK.
Oh....
It may explain perhaps why I've been kept waiting at the hotel....
[_Tries to go to the desk but cannot muster up courage.
_] I had an appointment to meet a man who wanted to buy the gardens.
I may as well tell you, I'm thinking of selling out root and branch.
DR.
MACPHERSON.
[_Amazed.
_] Selling out?
Peter Grimm's gardens?
So this is the end of Peter's great work?
FREDERIK.
You'll think it strange, Doctor; but I--I simply can't make up my mind to go near that old desk of my uncle's....
I have a perfect terror of the thing!
Would you mind handing me that telegram?
[_The_ DOCTOR _looks at him with scarcely veiled contempt, and hands him the telegram.
After a glance at the contents,_ FREDERIK _gives vent to a long-drawn breath.
_] Billy Hicks--the man I was to sell to--is dead....
[_Tosses the telegram across the table towards_ DR. MACPHERSON, _who does not take it.
It lies on the table.
_] I knew it this afternoon!
I knew he would die ...
but I wouldn't let myself believe it.
Someone told it to me ...
whispered it to me....
Doctor, as sure as you live--somebody else is doing my thinking for me in this house.
DR.
MACPHERSON.
[_Studying_ FREDERIK.
] What makes you say that?
FREDERIK.
To-night--in this room, I thought I saw my uncle ...
[_Pointing towards the desk.
_] there.
DR.
MACPHERSON.
Eh?...
FREDERIK.
And just before I--I saw him--I--I had the ...
the strangest impulse to go to the foot of the stairs and call Kitty--give her the house--and run--run--get out of it.
DR.
MACPHERSON.
Oh, a good impulse, I see!
Very unusual, I should say.
FREDERIK.
I thought he gave me a terrible look--a terrible look.
DR.
MACPHERSON.
Your uncle?
FREDERIK.
Yes.
My God!
I won't forget that look!
And as I started out of the room--he blotted out....
