Page:The Story of the Gadsbys - Kipling (1888).djvu/16

 (rapping at door).—Captain Sahib has come.

. (jumping up wildly, and hunting for bodice, which she has discarded owing to the heat of the day).—Captain Sahib! What Captain Sahib? Oh, good gracious, and I'm only half-dressed! Well, I shan't bother.

. (calmly).—You needn't. It isn't for us. That's Captain Gadsby. He is going for a ride with Mamma. He generally comes five days out of the seven.

(from an inner apartment).—Minnie, run out and give Captain Gadsby some tea, and tell him I shall be ready in ten minutes; and, O Minnie, come to me an instant, there's a dear girl!

.—O bother! (Aloud.) Very well, Mamma.

Exit, and reappears, after five minutes, flushed, and rubbing her fingers.

.—You look pink. What has happened?

. (in a stage whisper).—A twenty-four-inch waist, and she won't let it out. Where are my bangles? (Rummages on the toilet table, and dabs at her hair with a brush in the interval.)

.—Who is this Captain Gadsby? I don't think I've met him.

.—You must have. He belongs to the Harrar set. I've danced with him, but I've never talked to him. He's a big yellow man, in the Pink Hussars, just like a newly hatched chicken, with an e-normous moustache. He walks like this (imitates Cavalry swagger), and he goes "Ha—Hmmm!" deep down in his throat when he can't think of anything to say. Mamma likes him. I don't.

. (abstractedly).—Does he wax that moustache?

. (busy with powder-puff).—Yes, I think so. Why?

. (bending over the bodice and sewing furiously).—Oh, nothing—only

. (sternly).—Only what? Out with it, Emma.

.—Well, May Olger—she's engaged to Mr. Charteris, you know—said Promise you won't repeat this?