REBECCA: The upper chamber—why, those are General Howe’s quarters.
ELLA: Why should he be up at this hour?
REBECCA: His men must be on patrol. (Women return to table.) We must clear these things away in case they come here. (She drapes coat over chair, gathers basket and sewing materials, puts them in chest, closes chest. Pounding is heard on door, right. ELLA opens door. CAPTAIN BARRINGTON enters.) Why, Captain Barrington! What brings you here at this hour?
BARRINGTON: I saw the light and thought someone might need help.
REBECCA: Ella and I are well. Now that I am separated from my family, I always welcome guests.
BARRINGTON: Yes, I know your family is gone (Sighing), but such is the business of war.
ELLA (Bitterly): And worse to come, I’ll be bound! (She gathers bundle of clothing, exits left.)
BARRINGTON: She does not favor the British.
REBECCA: Her young son was killed at Germantown two months ago.
BARRINGTON: My brother, a corporal, was killed there, too.
REBECCA: How terrible!
BARRINGTON: I received word yesterday. (He paces right, turns.) We are thousands of miles from home, in a strange country, without family. (After a pause) Has your entire family been billeted?
REBECCA (Nervously): Yes—yes.
BARRINGTON: I heard that you have a grown son, a young man of fighting age. (REBECCA grips the table.)
REBECCA: I—I don’t have a son of fighting age.
BARRINGTON: I see. . . .but now to the purpose of my visit. General Howe plans to hold a meeting tonight with the aides.
REBECCA: How does that affect me?
BARRINGTON: As you know, the General and his aides have been billeted at Widow Nash’s home these past few weeks, and I might add that she has not been sympathetic to our cause. We have reason to believe that she is passing information along to our enemies.
REBECCA: That’s ridiculous! How could that be?
BARRINGTON: General Howe thinks you are a noble woman, one who refused to take part in this war.
REBECCA: My conviction is my own affair.
BARRINGTON: In any case, you have won his confidence, and he wishes to use your house for a meeting tonight.
REBECCA (Shocked): But that’s impossible! I—I can’t leave my house. (She glances nervously at overcoat on chair.)
BARRINGTON: Sorry, ma’am, but my orders are to have this house vacated immediately.
REBECCA: Ella and I have no place to go. How can you do such a thing to us?
BARRINGTON (Smiling): Do you really expect me to dispute the general’s orders? (Stiffly) It is my duty to see that you leave these premises.
REBECCA (Sighing): Very well, the General and his aides may hold the meeting, but I pray that Ella and I be given permission to remain. We can prepare a midnight meal and attend to the comfort of the entire staff.
BARRINGTON: I will suggest it to General Howe.
REBECCA: Oh, thank you!
BARRINGTON (Quickly): But I can promise nothing. If he agrees, you must not repeat anything you see or hear tonight.
REBECCA: Of course not!
BARRINGTON: If the nature of the meeting were disclosed, there would be serious reprisals. (Gestures impatiently) Make haste now and prepare this room for General Howe.
REBECCA: You can depend on Ella and me. (As REBECCA speaks, BARRINGTON turns his attention to coat on chair.)
BARRINGTON (Pointing): Is this your husband’s overcoat?
REBECCA (Nervously): Yes, it is.
BARRINGTON: But he is billeted in the country.
REBECCA: I—I am mending it for one of the needy townsmen. (BARRINGTON picks up coat, fingers buttons. REBECCA trembles.)
BARRINGTON: This coat certainly does not need mending.
REBECCA (Weakly): I fixed a button. (BARRINGTON puts coat on chair.)
BARRINGTON (Suddenly): Why are your hands trembling?
REBECCA: It’s the cold. I must start the fire before the General arrives.
BARRINGTON: Good! (He walks right, turns.) And convey my good wishes to your servant. (Pauses; sadly) Tell her that we have all lost something in this war. (Exits. REBECCA leans against table. ELLA enters.)
ELLA (Worried): I was standing near the door and heard everything. (REBECCA picks up coat, hands it to her.)
REBECCA: Put it in the chest. (ELLA does so.) If the British have discovered that Widow Nash knows about the Whitemarsh attack on the sixth, they may change their plans! We must find out and let Charles know.
ELLA: And he’ll arrive any moment. (Anxiously) We must get word to him to stay away.
REBECCA: There’s no time. He’s probably on the East Road by now. (Slowly) And Captain Barrington suspects that I have an older son. I’m sure of it.
ELLA: Master Charles is a clever one, and he always comes dressed as a townsman. He’ll be ready, should he meet General Howe.
REBECCA (Worried): But if the British plans have changed, the message is useless. (Sighs) I mustn’t think of that now. The General will be here soon. I had better put some logs on the fire. (Puts logs into fireplace. ELLA arranges chairs. Tapping is heard at door. ELLA opens door to WIDOW NASH and CLAUDIE FORRESTER. CLAUDIE carries man’s black overcoat with large cloth buttons.)
ELLA: Mistress Nash! And Claudie Forrester! (REBECCA rushes forward to greet them, as ELLA closes door.)
REBECCA: What are you doing here? It’s so dangerous to be out.
CLAUDIE: I’ve just returned from Germantown. The British detained me to help care for the wounded.
WIDOW (Nodding): Claudie is staying at my house. I told the soldiers she was my niece from the country. (CLAUDIE holds up overcoat.)
CLAUDIE: I brought along this coat—it belonged to a British soldier who was killed. Perhaps it will keep one of our countrymen warm. (Quickly) But tell me about Charles.
REBECCA: He’s coming here tonight.
ELLA: May providence protect him!
WIDOW: Rumor has it that the British army plans to march tonight!
REBECCA: But the Continental troops at Whitemarsh will not be prepared for the attack, and we won’t be able to warn them in time.
WIDOW: I know that General Howe suspects me. I fear for my life.
ELLA: Come with me. I have a good hiding place in the pantry. (ELLA and WIDOW exit left. CLAUDIE puts overcoat on chair.)
REBECCA: Claudie, you must not stay here. You are not safe. (Loud voices are heard offstage. CLAUDIE rushes to window.)
CLAUDIE: The British patrol! They’re chasing someone.
REBECCA (Running to window; upset): I pray it is not Charles. (She looks out window.) I can’t see anything. (Turning) Please, you must return to Widow Nash’s house.
CLAUDIE: But I want to see Charles.
REBECCA: Let’s hope that day will come soon.
CLAUDIE: Then I will leave, and may all of us be protected this night. (CLAUDIE exits. ELLA rushes in, left.)
ELLA: The patrol has spotted someone. I saw Redcoats in the garden. I trust that Widow Nash will be safe in the pantry.
REBECCA: It is a dark night. Maybe the patrol has given up the chase. (Gesturing) Go tell Captain Barrington that everything is ready.
ELLA: I cannot leave you alone, with Charles out there.
REBECCA (Firmly): I’ll defend my son. Hurry, now! (ELLA opens door slowly, exits quickly, closing door. CHARLES enters left, approaches REBECCA.)
CHARLES (Softly): Mother—
REBECCA (Turning): Oh, Charles, my boy! (They embrace.)
CHARLES: My time here is short. I must return to camp with the latest plans of the British.
REBECCA: The British were going attack on the sixth. . .but their plans may have changed. Widow Nash thinks they may attack tonight, instead.
CHARLES (Upset): Tonight! That would be a disaster! But how can I warn our army? (Distraught) I’m afraid it’s too late.
REBECCA: We mustn’t give up so easily. I’ll prepare another message. There may still be time to warn them. Fetch my sewing basket in the chest. (CHARLES gets sewing basket, while REBECCA picks up coat CLAUDIE left and spreads it on table. She pulls a button loose, strips away cloth covering. CHARLES returns with sewing basket.)
CHARLES: Where did you get that coat? It looks British.
REBECCA: Claudie brought it from Germantown.
CHARLES (Surprised): Claudie! Is she here?
REBECCA (Nodding): At the Widow Nash’s, but you must not even try to see her—the British are there. (Quickly) Look in the basket for a paper and pencil. (CHARLES nods, places articles on table. REBECCA smooths out paper, as she writes.) “The British will attack tonight, December second.” (She folds paper, places it inside button, covers it with material, and begins to sew.)
CHARLES: It’s a wild chance. There will be British patrols on all the roads tonight. (REBECCA finishes sewing, hands coat to CHARLES.)
REBECCA: Put this on. (CHARLES does so.) And now you must leave for Whitemarsh before the General arrives. (Urgently) I didn’t wish to alarm you, but General Howe is meeting here tonight.
CHARLES (Anxiously): Then I must stay to protect you.
REBECCA: No, your duty is to the Continental army.
The Whitemarsh Affair, by John Murray © This play is reprinted from Plays, The Drama Magazine for Young People with the permission of the publisher Plays/Sterling Partners Inc. 897 Washington Street #600160, Newton, MA 02460
Question
Use the passage to answer the question.
Which line from the text uses tone to show the women’s feelings toward the British?
(1 point)
Responses
And that General Howe is a pompous turkey!
And that General Howe is a pompous turkey!
The British think my entire family has been sent away.
The British think my entire family has been sent away.
’Tis a disgrace, the way families have been separated in this war.
’Tis a disgrace, the way families have been separated in this war.
Now that I am separated from my family, I always welcome guests.
1 answer
The line from the text that uses tone to show the women’s feelings toward the British is:
’Tis a disgrace, the way families have been separated in this war.
This line conveys a sense of distress and outrage regarding the impact of the war on families, reflecting the women's negative feelings towards the British and the situation they have created.
