The Return of Peter Grimm, David Belasco [black books to read TXT] 📗

he over-estimates an education. He's far more intelligent than most of our college professors.

CATHERINE. I understand why you came back. You simply must live where things grow, mustn't you, James? So must I. Have you seen our orchids?

JAMES. Orchids are pretty; but they're doing wonderful things with potatoes these days. I'd rather improve the breed of a squash than to have an orchid named after me. Wonderful discovery of Luther Burbank's-- creating an edible cactus. Sometimes I feel bitter thinking what I might have done with vegetables, when I was wasting time studying Greek.

CATHERINE. [_Changing suddenly._] James: why don't you try to please Uncle Peter Grimm?

JAMES. I do; but he is always asking my opinion, and when I give it, he blows up.

CATHERINE. [_Coaxingly._] Don't be quite so blunt. Try to be like one of the family.

JAMES. I'm afraid I shall never be like one of _this_ family.

CATHERINE. Why not? I'm no relation at all; and yet--

JAMES. [_Making a resolution._] I'll do my best to agree with him. [_Offering his hand._] It's a promise. [_They shake hands._

CATHERINE. Thank you, James.

JAMES. [_Still holding her hand._] It's good to be back, Catherine. It's good to see you again.

_He is still holding her hand when _FREDERIK GRIMM_ enters. He is the son of _PETER'S_ dead sister, and has been educated by_ PETER _to carry on his work. He is a graduate of Amsterdam College, Holland, and, in appearance and manner, suggests the foreign student. He has managed to pull through college creditably, making a specialty of botany._ PETER _has given him the usual trip through Europe, and_ FREDERIK _has come to his rich uncle to settle down and learn his business. He has been an inmate of the household for a few months. He poses as a most industrious young man, but is, at heart, a shirker._

FREDERIK. Where's Uncle?

JAMES. Good-morning, Frederik. Your uncle's watching father spray the plum trees. The black knot's after them again.

FREDERIK. I can hardly keep my eyes open. Uncle wakes me up every morning at five--creaking down the old stairs. [_Eyeing_ CATHERINE _admiringly._] You're looking uncommonly pretty this morning, Kitty. [CATHERINE _edges away and runs upstairs to her room._

FREDERIK. Hartman!

JAMES. Yes?

FREDERIK. Miss Catherine and you and I are no longer children--our positions are altered--please remember that. I'm no longer a student home for the holidays from Amsterdam College. I'm here to learn the business which I am expected to carry on. Miss Catherine is a young lady now, and my uncle looks upon her as his daughter. You are here as my uncle's secretary. That's how we three stand in this house. Don't call me "Frederik," and hereafter be good enough to say, "Miss Grimm."

JAMES. [_Amiably._] Very well.

FREDERIK. James: there's a good opportunity for a young man like you in our Florida house. I think that if I spoke for you--

JAMES. Why do you wish to ship me off to Florida?

FREDERIK. I don't understand you, Hartman. I don't wish to ship you off. I am merely thinking of your future. You seem to have changed since--

JAMES. We've all grown up, as you just said. [JAMES _has laid some mail on the desk, and is about to leave the room, when_ FREDERIK _speaks again, but in a more friendly manner._

FREDERIK. The old man's aging; do you notice it?

JAMES. Your uncle's mellowing, yes; but that's only to be expected. He's changing foliage with the years.

FREDERIK. He's growing as old-fashioned as his hats. In my opinion, this would be the time to sell.

JAMES. [_Astonished._] Sell? Sell a business that has been in his family for--why, it's his religion!

FREDERIK. It's at the height of its prosperity. It would sell like that! [_Snapping his fingers._] What was the last offer the old man refused from Hicks, of Rochester, Jim?

JAMES. [_Noticing the sudden friendliness--looking at_ FREDERIK, _half-amused, half-disgusted._] Can't repeat correspondence, Mr. Grimm. [_Amazed._] Good heavens! You surprise me! Would you sell your great, great grandfather? I learned to read by studying his obituary out in the peach orchard: "Johann Grimm, of Holland, an upright settler." There isn't a day your uncle doesn't tell me that you are to carry on the work.

FREDERIK. So I am, but it's not _my_ religion. [_Sarcastically._.] Every man can't be blessed like you with the soul of a market gardener--a peddler of turnips.

JAMES. [_Thinking--ignoring_ FREDERIK.] He's a great old man--your uncle. It's a big name--Grimm--Peter Grimm. The old man knows his business--he certainly knows his business. [_Changing._] God! It's an awful thought that a man must die and carry all that knowledge of orchids to the grave! I wonder if it doesn't all count somewhere.... I must attend to the mail.

PETER GRIMM _enters from the gardens. He is a well-preserved man of sixty, very simple and plain in his ways. He has not changed his style of dress in the past thirty years. His clothing, collar, tie, hat and shoes are all old-fashioned. He is an estimable man, scrupulously honest, gentle and sympathetic; but occasionally he shows a flash of Dutch stubbornness._

FREDERIK. I ran over from the office, Uncle Peter, to make a suggestion.

PETER. Yes?

FREDERIK. I suggest that we insert a full-page cut of your new tulip in our mid-summer floral almanac.

PETER. [_Who has hung up his hat on his own particular peg, affably assenting._] A good idea!

FREDERIK. The public is expecting it.

PETER. You think so, my boy?

FREDERIK. Why, Uncle, you've no idea of the stir this tulip has created. People stop me in the street to speak of it.

PETER. Well, well, you surprise me. I didn't think it so extraordinary.

FREDERIK. I've had a busy morning, sir, in the packing house.

PETER. That's good. I'm glad to see you taking hold of things, Fritz. [_Humourously, touching_ FREDERIK _affectionately on the shoulder._] We mustn't waste time; for that's the stuff life's made of. [_Seriously._] It's a great comfort to me, Frederik, to know that when I'm in my little private room with James, or when I've slipped out to the hothouses,--you are representing me in the offices--_young_ Mr. Grimm.... James, are you ready for me?

JAMES. Yes, sir.

PETER. I'll attend to the mail in a moment. [_Missing_ CATHERINE, _he calls according to the household signal._] Ou--oo! [_He is answered by_ CATHERINE, _who immediately appears from her room, and comes running downstairs._] Catherine, I have news for you. I've named the new rose after you: "Katie--a hardy bloomer." It's as red as the ribbon in your hair.

CATHERINE. Thank you, Uncle Peter, thank you very much. And now you must have your cup of coffee.

PETER. What a fine little housewife! A busy girl about the house, eh, Fritz? Is there anything you need to-day, Katie?

CATHERINE. No, Uncle Peter, I have everything I need, thank you.

PETER. Not everything,--not everything, my dear. [_Smiling at_ FREDERIK. JAMES, _ignored, is standing in the background._] Wait! Wait till I give you a husband. I have my plans. [_Looking from_ FREDERIK _to_ CATHERINE.] People don't always know what I'm doing, but I'm a great man for planning. Come, Katie, tell me, on this fine spring morning, what sort of husband would you prefer?

CATHERINE. [_Annoyed,--with girlish impatience._] You're always speaking of weddings, Uncle Peter. I don't know what's come over you of late.

PETER. It's nesting time, ... spring weddings are in the air; besides, my grandmother's linen-chest upstairs must be used again for you [_Impulsively drawing_ CATHERINE _to him._], my house fairy. [_Kisses her._] There, I mustn't tease her. But I leave it to Fritz if I don't owe her a fine husband--this girl of mine. Look what she has done for _me!_

CATHERINE. Done for you? I do you the great favour to let _you_ do everything for _me_.

PETER. Ah, but who lays out my linen? Who puts flowers on my desk every day? Who gets up at dawn to eat breakfast with me? Who sees that I have my second cup of coffee? But better than all that--who brings youth into my old house?

CATHERINE. That's not much--youth.

PETER. No? We'll leave it to Fritz. [FREDERIK, _amused, listens in silence._] What should I be now--a rough old fellow--a bachelor--without youth in my house, eh? God knows! Katie has softened me towards all the ladies--er--mellowed me as time has mellowed my old pictures. [_Points to pictures._] And I was growing hard--hard and fussy.

CATHERINE. [_Laughing._] Ah, Uncle Peter, have I made you take a liking to all the rest of the ladies?

PETER. Yes. It's just as it is when you have a pet: you like all that breed. You can only see _your_ kind of kitten.

JAMES. [_Coming down a step, impressed by_ PETER'S _remark--speaking earnestly._] That's so, sir. [_The others are surprised._] I hadn't thought of it in that way, but it's true. You study a girl for the first time, and presently you notice the same little traits in every one of them. It makes you feel differently towards all the rest.

PETER. [_Amused._] Why, James, what do you know about girls? "Bachelor" is stamped all over you--you're positively labelled.

JAMES. [_Good-naturedly._] Perhaps. [_Goes back to the office._

PETER. Poor James! What a life before him! When a bachelor wants to order a three-rib roast, who's to eat it? I never had a proper roast until Katie and Frederik came to make up my family; [_Rubbing his hands._] but the roasts are not big enough. [_Giving_ FREDERIK _a knowing look._] We must find a husband.

CATHERINE. You promised not to--

PETER. I want to see a long, long table with plenty of young people.

CATHERINE. I'll leave the room, Uncle.

PETER. With myself at the head, carving, carving, carving, watching the plates come back, and back, and back. [_As she is about to go._] There, there, not another word of this to-day.

_The 'phone rings._ JAMES _re-enters and answers it._

JAMES. Hello! [_Turns._] Rochester asks for Mr. Peter Grimm to the 'phone. Another message from Hicks' greenhouses.

PETER. Ask them to excuse me.

JAMES. [_Bluntly._] You'll have to excuse him. [_Listens._] No, no, the gardens are not in the market. You're only wasting your time.

PETER. Tc! Tc! James! Can't you say it politely? [JAMES _listens at 'phone._

FREDERIK. [_Aside to_ PETER.] James is so painfully blunt. [_Then changing._] Is it--er--a good offer? Is Hicks willing to make it worth while? [_Catching his uncle's astonished eye--apologetically._] Of course, I know you wouldn't think of--

CATHERINE. I should say not! My home? An offer? _Our_ gardens? I should say not!

FREDERIK. Mere curiosity on my part, that's all.

PETER. Of course, I understand. Sell out? No indeed. We are thinking of the next generation.

FREDERIK. Certainly, sir.

PETER. We're the last of the family. The business--that's Peter Grimm. It will soon be Frederik Grimm. The love for the old gardens is in our blood.

FREDERIK. It is, sir. [_Lays a fond hand on_ PETER'S _shoulder._

PETER. [_Struck._] I have an idea. We'll print the family history in our new floral almanac.

FREDERIK. [_Suppressing a yawn._] Yes, yes, a very good idea.

PETER. Katie, read it to us and let us hear how it sounds.

CATHERINE. [_Reads._] "In the spring of 1709 there settled on Quassick Creek, New York State, Johann Grimm, aged twenty-two, husbandman and vine-dresser, also Johanna, his wife."

PETER. Very interesting.

FREDERIK. Very interesting, indeed.