A Fool's Paradise Part 15

BEA. (_prepared for the worst_) With what result?

SIR P. With none. As I expected, just what I prescribed. (_sits on sofa. BEATRICE, intensely relieved, turns aside to hide her emotion, as if to put goblet on mantel-piece, L._)

PHIL. And what did you prescribe, Sir Peter? What is this stuff you're giving me?

SIR P. A very common medicine. (_crossing his legs_)

PHIL. But what is it?

SIR P. (_With his eyes fixed on BEATRICE_) a.r.s.enic. (_PHILIP'S face falls. BEATRICE turns quickly, dropping the goblet, which is shivered to fragments_)

Quick Act Drop.

_Time: Thirty minutes. Wait: Eleven minutes._

ACT III.

SCENE.--_Same as Act II. It is after dinner, the room is lighted.

Evening dress. KATE is discovered at piano, finishing a song; NORMANTOWER standing beside her. TOM, L., and MILDRED, R., are seated on the centre seat, taking no notice of anybody, and looking the pictures of woe. BEATRICE'S fan on piano. Lights full up in front.

Blue limes in conservatory._

NOR. Thanks, awfully! (_R. of KATE, above her_)

KATE. That's Mr. Selwyn's favourite--(_rising_)--the music's pretty, but such stupid words. (_crosses down to C., NORMANTOWER follows her_)

NOR. Yes, but you sing them with such an expression.

KATE. Such an appropriate expression?

_Enter SERVANTS, R.U.D., with coffee, etc., which they hand to KATE.

PRICE enters first, followed by SERVANT. The former carries large salver with cups of coffee; the latter, sugar and milk on small salver. They go down to back of sofa._

NOR. Yes, that's what I meant. Such an appropriate expression!

KATE. (_laughing_) Of stupidity? (_goes to sofa_)

NOR. No, no! That isn't what I meant. Oh dear, I never _can_ say what I want to say, to you.

KATE. Shall I a.s.sist you?

NOR. If you only would! (_C.R. of sofa_)

KATE. I mean to sugar.

NOR. _I_ meant to sugar.

KATE. Cream?

NOR. Thanks awfully. (_KATE hands cup to NORMANTOWER, and takes another herself, and sits on sofa, L. of it_)

NOR. (_aside_) I _didn't_ mean sugar, but I _must_ agree with her.

_SERVANTS offer coffee to TOM and then to MILDRED; they simply reverse their att.i.tudes, without taking further notice. Exeunt SERVANTS R.U.D._

KATE. (_cup in hand_) Is that as you like it?

NOR. (_seating himself by her_) This is just as I like it. So, it's quite settled, you're going to stay here? (_on sofa_)

KATE. Yes, I find I can't tear myself away from Ravenhurst--I'm a fixture.

NOR. I say! are you a landlord's or a tenant's fixture?

KATE. Oh, I'm attached to the freehold--very much attached to it.

NOR. That's a pity. I thought perhaps you were removable.

KATE. What if I were?

NOR. I should like to remove you, that's all.

KATE. I thought you were a confirmed bachelor?

NOR. That's just it. That's what makes it so jolly, I being a confirmed bachelor, and you being a confirmed old maid----

KATE. _Old_ maid?

NOR. I mean, you _will_ be an old maid--in time.

KATE. You didn't say so.

NOR. But I _meant,_ in time. So there's no danger. We can do what we like.

KATE. Of course, we can do what we like.

NOR. We can talk together.

KATE. We can walk together.

NOR. We can sing together!

KATE. Do you mean, in time?

NOR. Miss Derwent, it was _you_ who were out of time yesterday. That was a crotchet.

KATE. Nay, it was a quaver.

NOR. A crotchet. } (_rising, crossing to R. and putting } _ad lib._ down cup on piano_) KATE. A quaver. } (_rising and putting down cup on table L. and then cross to R.C._)