Page:The Strand Magazine (Volume 5).djvu/27

 : Ah! But your grandmother


 * How dare you speak in that way of dear grandmamma?


 * I never said a word against her


 * But you were going to!


 * Nothing of the sort.

(repeats): I only know that papa, mamma, and grandmamma always said


 * Oh, Heavens! (He escapes.)


 * Was ever anyone so wretched as I? Only three months married, and to find my husband an obstinate, vindictive, strait-laced country bumpkin! Well, not a bumpkin perhaps, after all, but almost as bad as that! Why, oh! why did I leave my happy home, where I could do what I liked from morning till night, and no one was ever disagreeable to me? And yet during my engagement what a lovely time I had! Jem seemed so kind and gentle, and promised me he would never say a cross word to me! He declared our married life should be one long sunshiny summer day; whilst I promised to be his little ministering angel! I reminded him of that yesterday. And what did he say? That he had never thought a little ministering angel could be such a little brute! I can hardly believe he is the same man I used to love so dearly! (Exit in tears.)

(After a moment,, the lady's-maid, enters, ushering in .)


 * Your mistress is not here, after all, Porter?


 * No, milady! Yet I heard her voice only a few moments ago.


 * Well then, Porter, you must go and tell her a lady wishes to speak with her in the boudoir, and be sure not to say who the "lady" is, however much she may ask. I wish this visit to be a little surprise to her. Nor must you mention that Sir William is here.

(Enter, with traces of tears on her face.)


 * Kitty, darling, Kitty!


 * Aunty! Can it be you? This is delightful! (They embrace.)


 * I'm glad you call it delightful! I came here as a little surprise to you; but I daresay you will think me a great bore for taking you by storm, and interrupting your tête-à-tête with Jem.


 * Oh! far from it! I am only too, too happy you've come!


 * Is that the real truth?


 * Indeed, it is!


 * I thought I should find you as blooming as a rose in June; but you are not quite so flourishing as I expected. Those pretty eyes look as if as if—well, as if you had a cold in the head!


 * They look as if I had been crying, you mean! And so I have. (Bursts into tears afresh, and throws herself into 's arms.)

(Enter and, the former standing amazed. , leaving 's arms, throws herself into those of , with renewed sobs.  turns in surprise to .  looks down in embarrassment.)


 * Oh yes, Kitty! This is all very well. Why not tell them I'm a monster at once?


 * And so you are!

(aside): Have you no sense of decency?

(aside): This is truly shocking.

(aside): Good Heavens!


 * Is it my fault that my uncle and aunt are witnesses of your ill-temper?

(Enter .)


 * Your ladyship's trunks have just arrived from the station.

(hesitating): Let them be taken back again.


 * We had intended staying but an hour or two.

(to ): But I beg you to stay.

(to ): Never were you so much needed.

(to ): Let her ladyship's trunks be taken to the Blue Rooms.


 * Not to the Blue Rooms. They are quite damp. (To ) I may speak a word in my own house, I suppose? (To ) Let the trunks be taken to the Turret Room.


 * The chimneys smoke there.


 * Excuse me. They do not.


 * Excuse me. They do.


 * They smoked once upon a time, perhaps, but may not now.


 * Where may I say the luggage is to be carried?


 * Take your orders from your mistress.


 * No! From your master!

(to ): Spare me at least before the lady's-maid!

(to ): Oh! nobody knows better how you behave than Porter. Our quarrels are no secret from her.


 * That must be your fault. How can she know of them but from you?


 * I tell her nothing. But your voice would reach to the ends of the earth.


 * As for yours—why


 * Grandmamma always said my