FullReads

MILLER.
“Could you call the janitor?”

THE ELEVATOR BOY,
ironically: “Well, there ain’t any telephone attachment.”

MILLER,
solemnly: “No, he says there isn’t.”

MRS. CRASHAW,
sinking back on the seat with resignation: “Well, I don’t know what my niece will say.”

MISS LAWTON.
“Poor papa!”

YOUNG MR. BEMIS,
gathering one of her wandering hands into his: “Don’t be frightened. I’m sure there’s no danger.”

THE ELEVATOR BOY,
indignantly: “Why, she can’t drop. The cogs in the runs won’t let her!”

ALL.
“Oh!”

MILLER,
with a sigh of relief: “I knew there must be something of the kind. Well, I wish my wife had her fan.”

MRS. CURWEN.
“And if I had my left glove I should be perfectly happy. Not that I know what the cogs in the runs are!”

MRS. CRASHAW.
“Then we’re merely caught here?”

MILLER.
“That’s all.”

MRS. CURWEN.
“It’s quite enough for the purpose. Couldn’t you put on a life-preserver, Mr. Miller, and go ashore and get help from the natives?”

MISS LAWTON,
putting her handkerchief to her eyes: “Oh, dear!”

MRS. CRASHAW,
putting her arm around her: “Don’t be frightened, my child. There’s no danger.”

YOUNG MR. BEMIS,
caressing the hand which he holds: “Don’t be frightened.”

MISS LAWTON.
“Don’t leave me.”

YOUNG MR. BEMIS.
“No, no; I won’t. Keep fast hold of my hand.”

MISS LAWTON.
“Oh, yes, I will! I’m ashamed to cry.”

YOUNG MR. BEMIS,
fervently: “Oh, you needn’t be! It is perfectly natural you should.”

MRS. CURWEN.
“I’m too badly scared for tears. Mr. Miller, you seem to be in charge of this expedition–couldn’t you do something? Throw out ballast, or let the boy down in a parachute? Or I’ve read of a shipwreck where the survivors, in an open boat, joined in a cry, and attracted the notice of a vessel that was going to pass them. We might join in a cry.”

MILLER.
“Oh, it’s all very well joking, Mrs. Curwen” –

MRS. CURWEN.
“You call it joking!”

MILLER.
“But it’s not so amusing, being cooped up here indefinitely. I don’t know how we’re to get out. We can’t join in a cry, and rouse the whole house. It would be ridiculous.”

MRS. CURWEN.
“And our present attitude is so eminently dignified! Well, I suppose we shall have to cast lots pretty soon to see which of us shall be sacrificed to nourish the survivors. It’s long past dinner-time.”

MISS LAWTON,
breaking down: “Oh, DON’T say such terrible things.”

YOUNG MR. BEMIS,
indignantly comforting her: “Don’t, don’t cry. There’s no danger. It’s perfectly safe.”

MILLER to THE ELEVATOR BOY.
“Couldn’t you climb up the cable, and get on to the landing, and–ah!–get somebody?”

THE ELEVATOR BOY.
“I could, maybe, if there was a hole in the roof.”

MILLER,
glancing up: “Ah! true.”

MRS. CRASHAW,
with an old lady’s serious kindness: “My boy, can’t you think of anything to do for us?”

THE ELEVATOR BOY
yielding to the touch of humanity, and bursting into tears: “No, ma’am, I can’t. And everybody’s blamin’ me, as if I done it. What’s my poor mother goin’ to do?”

MRS. CRASHAW,
soothingly: “But you said the runs in the cogs” –

THE ELEVATOR BOY.
“How can I tell! That’s what they say. They hain’t never been tried.”

MRS. CURWEN,
springing to her feet: “There! I knew I should. Oh”– She sinks fainting to the floor.