Page:The Mikado or the town of titipu.djvu/27

 The happiest girl indeed, for she is indeed to be envied who has attained happiness in all but perfection.

In "all but" perfection?

Well, dear, it can't be denied that the fact that your husband is to be beheaded in a month is, in its way, a drawback. It does seem to take the top off it, you know.

I don't' know about that. It all depends!

At all events, he will find it a drawback.

Not necessarily. Bless you, it all depends!

(in tears). I think it very indelicate of you to refer to such a subject on such a day. If my married happiness is to be— to be—

Cut short.

Well, cut short— in a month, can't you let me forget it? (Weeping.)

Yum-Yum in tears— and on her wedding morn!

(sobbing). They've been reminding me that in a month you're to be beheaded! (Bursts into tears.)

Yes, we've been reminding her that you're to be beheaded. (Bursts into tears.)

It's quite true, you know, you are to be beheaded! (Bursts into tears.)

(aside). Humph! How some bridegrooms would be depressed by this sort of thing! (Aloud.) A month? well, what's a month? Bah! These divisions of time are purely arbitrary. Who says twenty-four hours make a day?

There's a popular impression to that effect.

Then we'll efface it. We'll call each second a minute— each minute an hour—each hour a day— and each day a year. At that rate we've about thirty years of married happiness before us!

And, at that rate, this interview has already lasted four hours and three-quarters! (Exit )

(still sobbing). Yes. How time flies when one is thoroughly enjoying oneself!

That's the way to look at it! Don't let's be down-hearted! There's a silver lining to every cloud.

Certainly. Let's— let's be perfectly happy! (Almost in tears.)

By all means. Let's— let's thoroughly enjoy ourselves.