We've a few guineas in the house, I suppose?
HARLEQUIN. A few, my lord.
EGLANTINE. Enough for a coach hire to the country. A penniless fellow such
as I am, Quin, would she welcome me to her home, I wonder?
HARLEQUIN. But I fear that this parchment fails of its effect unless your
lordship is married to the owner.
EGLANTINE. But not a bad idea, Quin. [Then he sighs doubtfully.] Would she
think so?
HARLEQUIN. Let us ask her when she has picked up the pieces.
[And here Alice and Uncle Edward draw the curtains, for the scene is
over. But Alice still stands fingering their folds. Her eyes smile, but
her mouth droops a little doubtfully. She is never over-happy about
this scene. "Very pretty" she hears the front row people say; and then
they rustle their programmes and read about whiskey very old in bottle,
or cigarettes, a very special blend. "Very pretty" is so patronising.
Someone else remarks "How quaint"; and that is worse still. Miles away
from us is the meaning of that eighteenth century with its polished
perfections.
Pages:
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75