The Honeymoon
()
About this ebook
Arnold Bennett
Arnold Bennett (1867–1931) was an English novelist renowned as a prolific writer throughout his entire career. The most financially successful author of his day, he lent his talents to numerous short stories, plays, newspaper articles, novels, and a daily journal totaling more than one million words.
Read more from Arnold Bennett
How to Live on 24 Hours a Day: The Complete Original Edition Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How to Live on 24 Hours a Day: With linked Table of Contents Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5How to Live on Twenty-Four Hours a Day Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/530 Occult & Supernatural masterpieces you have to read before you die (Golden Deer Classics) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsProsperity Super Pack #5 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Grand Babylon Hotel Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5How to Live on 24 Hours a Day: The Original Guide to Living Life to the Full Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5HOW TO LIVE ON 24 HOURS A DAY (A Self-Improvement Guide) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/530 Occult & Supernatural masterpieces you have to read before you die Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Human Machine Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Game of Life and How to Play It & How to Live on 24 Hours a Day Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsProsperity Bundle #5 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHow to Live on 24 Hours a Day Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How to Live on 24 Hours a Day (A Classic Guide to Self-Improvement) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Literary Taste and How to Form It Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Anna of the Five Towns Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Books and Persons; Being Comments on a Past Epoch, 1908-1911 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThese Twain (Unabridged) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Card (Barnes & Noble Digital Library) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How To Live on 24 Hours a Day Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How to Become an Author: A Practical Guide - With an Essay from Arnold Bennett By F. J. Harvey Darton Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLiterary Taste: How to Form It (Barnes & Noble Digital Library) Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5
Related to The Honeymoon
Related ebooks
The Honeymoon Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5The Honeymoon: A comedy in three acts Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Pair of Blue Eyes Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCity of Saints and Madmen: A Novel Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Picture of Dorian Gray Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Clair de Lune A Play in Two Acts and Six Scenes Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPattern of Murder: A Classic Crime Novel Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTwisted Tales from Tornado Alley Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Gold of Chickaree Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHouse of Dusk, House of Dawn: The House of Crimson & Clover, #12 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Short Walk from Harrods: A Memoir Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Picture of Dorian Gray - Unabridged Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWhere Do I Start? Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/510 Pretty Cool Little Horror Stories Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Inca of Perusalem Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Conversation .... with Elizabeth Darcy and Emma Knightley Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Glasses Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFortune Turns the Wheel: The Second Sweeney & Rose Mystery Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCynthia’s Revels Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRevenge: The Tube Riders, #3 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Victorian Ghost Story - The Men Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Virgin Who Ruined Lord Gray Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Coward Behind the Curtain Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Chase Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Portrait of Mr. W. H. Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Modern Chronicle — Volume 04 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsScarlet And Hyssop Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWhispers From Behind The Cellar Door: Twelve Terrifying Tales to Take You into the Night Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Oscar Wilde Collection: The Picture of Dorian Gray, De Profundis, and A House of Pomegranates Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Ultra Big Sleep: The Union of Worlds Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Cultural Heritage Fiction For You
I, Claudius Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Color Purple Collection: The Color Purple, The Temple of My Familiar, and Possessing the Secret of Joy Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Poisonwood Bible: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Bean Trees: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Convenience Store Woman: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois: An Oprah's Book Club Pick Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Tattooist of Auschwitz: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Daughter of the Moon Goddess: A Fantasy Romance Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Lovecraft Country: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Prodigal Summer: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Final Revival of Opal & Nev Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Our Town: A Play in Three Acts Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Sunshine Nails: A Novel Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Island of Missing Trees: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Another Brooklyn: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Woman Is No Man: A Read with Jenna Pick Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Memory Keeper of Kyiv: A powerful, important historical novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Celtic Tales: Fairy Tales and Stories of Enchantment from Ireland, Scotland, Brittany, and Wales Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Confessions of Frannie Langton: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Alas, Babylon Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Space Between Us: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Indian Horse: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Salt Houses Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows: A Reese's Book Club Pick Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Lacuna: Deluxe Modern Classic Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Range of Ghosts Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Golden Notebook: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Daughters of Madurai: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Inconvenient Daughter: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Against the Loveless World: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Reviews for The Honeymoon
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
The Honeymoon - Arnold Bennett
THE HONEYMOON
..................
Arnold Bennett
KYPROS PRESS
Thank you for reading. In the event that you appreciate this book, please consider sharing the good word(s) by leaving a review, or connect with the author.
This book is a work of fiction; its contents are wholly imagined.
All rights reserved. Aside from brief quotations for media coverage and reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced or distributed in any form without the author’s permission. Thank you for supporting authors and a diverse, creative culture by purchasing this book and complying with copyright laws.
Copyright © 2015 by Arnold Bennett
Interior design by Pronoun
Distribution by Pronoun
TABLE OF CONTENTS
The Honeymoon
CHARACTERS
CAST OF THE PLAY
NOTES ON CHARACTERS IN ACT I
ACT I.
NOTES ON CHARACTERS IN ACT II
ACT II.
ACT III.
THE HONEYMOON
..................
CHARACTERS
..................
Flora LloydWidow, aged 28.
Mrs. Reach HaslamA Novelist, aged 56.
Mr. Reach HaslamHer Husband, aged 58.
Cedric HaslamTheir eldest Son, aged 32.
Charles HaslamTheir second Son, aged 22.
The Bishop of ChelmsfordAged 55.
Mr. FrampingtonAged 30.
GastonA Swiss Waiter, aged 23.
CuthbertMrs. Reach Haslam’s Butler.
CAST OF THE PLAY
..................
AS PRODUCED UNDER THE DIRECTION of Mr. Dion Boucicault at the Royalty Theatre, London, 6th Oct., 1911.
Flora LloydMiss MARIE TEMPEST.
Mrs. Reach HaslamMiss KATE SERJEANTSON.
Mr. Reach HaslamMr. DION BOUCICAULT.
Cedric HaslamMr. GRAHAM BROWNE.
Charles HaslamMr. BASIL HALLAM.
Bishop of ChelmsfordMr. BERTE THOMAS.
Mr. FrampingtonMr. DENNIS EADIE.
GastonMr. CECIL ROSE.
CuthbertMr. HORTON COOPER.
NOTES ON CHARACTERS IN ACT I
..................
FLORA LLOYD. BEAUTIFUL. ELEGANT. CHARMING. All in the highest degree possible. The whole play turns on these qualities in her.
Cedric Haslam. Renowned aviator. The taciturn inventive Englishman. Very self-controlled, but capable of passionate moments. Obstinate, with enormous force of character. His movements, gestures, and speech have a certain air of slow indolence, but are at the same time marked by that masculine harshness and brusqueness which would specially appeal to a woman like Flora. No one could guess from his demeanour that he is famous.
Charles Haslam. Boyish. Impulsive. Very self-centred. But very agreeable.
Mrs. Reach Haslam. Majestic. Richly dressed. The foremost woman-novelist in England and America. Her name a household word. No sense of humour. But she is very, very far from being a fool, and the part is not a low-comedy part. This play shows the least sympathetic side of her.
Mr. Reach Haslam. The husband of a celebrity. Strong sense of sardonic humour, which has very little outlet. Always exceedingly polite and even deferential to his wife, yet preserving his own dignity. A prim, dry, precise man.
Gaston. There are scores of Gastons in the hotels and restaurants of the West End. He does not differ from the type.
The Acting Rights of this Play are reserved. Applications for permission to perform should be made to Messrs. J. B. Pinker & Son, Talbot House, Arundel Street, Strand, London, W.C. 2, from whom all particulars as to terms may be obtained.
ACT I.
..................
A SITTING-ROOM IN THE ONLY hotel at a small seaside resort in Essex. Old-fashioned Victorian furniture, producing a picturesque general effect. Some modern touch, such as a framed coloured advertisement of pneumatic tyres.
Door, R., leading to hall, principal entrance, and kitchen. Door, L., leading through a porch to the garden. A large window, divided into three portions by stonework, at the back: the panes are small; one of these portions is open, the others are closed.
Through the window can be seen a view of the garden, and the sea in the distance. The fireplace is not seen.
Cedric and Flora are seated at either side of a tea-table.
Time: Afternoon in June. Sunshine.
Flora. Another cup? (Cedric, looking at her, makes no reply.) Cedric! Another cup? (with a touch of very good-humoured impatience).
(Cedric rises, goes round the table to her, takes hold of her, and kisses her.)
Cedric. (Standing over her, she looking up at him.) I’ve been wanting to do that for about thirty solid minutes.
Flora. Then why didn’t you, my poor boy? (Cedric gives a gesture to show that he doesn’t know why) ... Instead of keeping us both waiting like that! (Reflective.) And yet it’s barely three hours since you kissed me in the vestry!
Cedric. Vestry be dashed! And here’s another thing I’ve been wanting to do (he carefully kisses her ear).
Flora. My ear!
Cedric. Precisely, your ear! Strange!... And I can tell you something even stranger. Shall I? (She nods.) When I’m standing over you I feel as if I should like to kill you! Yes, really, Fluff! It takes me all of a sudden! You know—when you lean out of a high balcony and you feel you must jump—well, it’s that sort of a feeling.
Flora. What particular kind of homicide?
Cedric. Oh! (at a loss) a kind of a fierce crushing. (She smiles.) You think it’s justifiable?
Flora. I don’t mind so long as I know my risks.
Cedric. (After staring at her, with a convinced air.) We shall get on together all right!
Flora. Yes, I think we’re doing rather well so far, considering (turning the ring on his finger).
Cedric. Considering what?
Flora. Considering how nervous we both are, naturally (drops his hand).
Cedric. (Moving away. Half to himself.) Yes, and we shall keep getting more nervous!
Flora. (Resuming exactly the same matter-of-fact tone as when she first put the question.) Another cup?
Cedric. (Similar tone.) How many have I had?
Flora. I don’t know, dear.
Cedric. I’ve had enough, then.
Flora. Well, about our programme. Suppose we settle it a bit.
Cedric. Yes, let’s. (Sits down.)
Flora. I do think it was a lovely idea to start off without any programme at all! Heaven itself couldn’t say where we shan’t be this time next week!
Cedric. Well, subject to your approval, I don’t mind informing heaven that anyhow we shan’t be here.
Flora. Tired of this place—already?
Cedric. On the contrary! But it’s too small to hold a couple that have just walked out of a vestry. One hotel, one flagstaff, one boat, one sea. No pier, no tea-shop, no concert, and very probably no moon.
Flora. Extraordinary how even three hours of married life will change a man! You always used to be rather keen on quietness, solitude, old flannel suits, and so on.
Cedric. Now look here, Fluff! This honeymoon programme is important. Er—(hesitates).
Flora. (Nods.) Let’s talk as man to man.
Cedric. The fact is I’ve always had a very distinct theory about honeymoons. Far from the madding crowd