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pubOne.info present you this new edition. MR. ROBERTS to MRS. ROBERTS entering the drawing-room from regions beyond: "My dear, it's six o'clock. What can have become of your aunt?

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Publié par	Pub One Info
Date de parution	06 novembre 2010
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9782819948216
Langue	English

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0050€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

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I.
SCENE: Through the curtained doorway of MRS.EDWARD ROBERTS'S pretty drawing-room, in Hotel Bellingham, showsthe snowy and gleaming array of a table set for dinner, under thedim light of gas-burners turned low. An air of expectancy pervadesthe place, and the uneasiness of MR. ROBERTS, in evening dress,expresses something more as he turns from a glance into thedining-room, and still holding the portiere with one hand, takesout his watch with the other.
MR. ROBERTS to MRS. ROBERTS entering thedrawing-room from regions beyond: “My dear, it's six o'clock. Whatcan have become of your aunt? ”
MRS. ROBERTS, with a little anxiety: “That was justwhat I was going to ask. She's never late; and the children arequite heart-broken. They had counted upon seeing her, and talkingChristmas a little before they were put to bed. ”
ROBERTS: “Very singular her not coming! Is she goingto begin standing upon ceremony with us, and not come till thehour? ”
MRS. ROBERTS: “Nonsense, Edward! She's beendetained. Of course she'll be here in a moment. How impatient youare! ”
ROBERTS: “You must profit by me as an awful example.”
MRS. ROBERTS, going about the room, and bestowinglittle touches here and there on its ornaments: “If you'd had thatnew cook to battle with over this dinner, you'd have learnedpatience by this time without any awful example. ”
ROBERTS, dropping nervously into the nearest chair:“I hope she isn't behind time. ”
MRS. ROBERTS, drifting upon the sofa, and disposingher train effectively on the carpet around her: “She's before time.The dinner is in the last moment of ripe perfection now, when wemust still give people fifteen minutes' grace. ” She studies theconvolutions of her train absent-mindedly.
ROBERTS, joining in its perusal: “Is that the wayyou've arranged to be sitting when people come in? ”
MRS. ROBERTS: “Of course not. I shall get up toreceive them. ”
ROBERTS: “That's rather a pity. To destroy such alovely pose. ”
MRS. ROBERTS: “Do you like it? ”
ROBERTS: “It's divine. ”
MRS. ROBERTS: “You might throw me a kiss. ”
ROBERTS: “No; if it happened to strike on that trainanywhere, it might spoil one of the folds. I can't risk it. ” Aring is heard at the apartment door. They spring to their feetsimultaneously.
MRS. ROBERTS: “There's Aunt Mary now! ” She callsinto the vestibule, “Aunt Mary! ”
DR. LAWTON, putting aside the vestibule portiere,with affected timidity: “Very sorry. Merely a father. ”
MRS. ROBERTS: “Oh! Dr. Lawton? I am so glad to seeyou! ” She gives him her hand: “I thought it was my aunt. We can'tunderstand why she hasn't come. Why! where's Miss Lawton? ”
LAWTON: “That is precisely what I was going to askyou. ”
MRS. ROBERTS: “Why, she isn't here. ”
LAWTON: “So it seems. I left her with the carriageat the door when I started to walk here. She called after me downthe stairs that she would be ready in three seconds, and begged meto hurry, so that we could come in together, and not let peopleknow I'd saved half a dollar by walking. ”
MRS. ROBERTS: “SHE'S been detained too! ”
ROBERTS, coming forward: “Now you know what it is tohave a delinquent Aunt-Mary-in-law. ”
LAWTON, shaking hands with him: "O Roberts! Is thatyou? It's astonishing how little one makes of the husband of a ladywho gives a dinner. In my time— a long time ago— he used to carve.But nowadays, when everything is served a la Russe, he might aswell be abolished. Don't you think, on the whole, Roberts, you'dbetter not have come
ROBERTS: “Well, you see, I had no excuse. I hated tosay an engagement when I hadn't any. ”
LAWTON: “Oh, I understand. You WANTED to come. Weall do, when Mrs. Roberts will let us. ” He goes and sits down byMRS. ROBERTS, who has taken a more provisional pose on the sofa.“Mrs. Roberts, you're the only woman in Boston who could hope toget people, with a fireside of their own— or a register— out to aChristmas dinner. You know I still wonder at your effrontery alittle? ”
MRS. ROBERTS, laughing: “I knew I should catch youif I baited my hook with your old friend. ”
LAWTON: “Yes, nothing would have kept me away when Iheard Bemis was coming. But he doesn't seem so inflexible in regardto me. Where is he? ”
MRS. ROBERTS: “I'm sure I don't know. I'd no idea Iwas giving such a formal dinner. But everybody, beginning with myown aunt, seems to think it a ceremonious occasion. There are onlyto be twelve. Do you know the Millers? ”
LAWTON: “No, thank goodness! One meets some peopleso often that one fancies one's weariness of them reflected intheir sympathetic countenances. Who are these acceptably novelMillers? ”
MRS. ROBERTS: “Do explain the Millers to the doctor,Edward. ”
ROBERTS, standing on the hearth-rug, with his thumbsin his waistcoat pockets: “They board. ”
LAWTON: “Genus. That accounts for their willingnessto flutter round your evening lamp when they ought to be singeingtheir wings at their own. Well, species? ”
ROBERTS: “They're very nice young newly marriedpeople. He's something or other of some kind of manufactures. AndMrs. Miller is disposed to think that all the other ladies are asfond of him as she is. ”
MRS. ROBERTS: “Oh! That is not so, Edward. ”
LAWTON: “You defend your sex, as women always do.But you'll admit that, as your friend, Mrs. Miller may have thisfoible. ”
MRS. ROBERTS: “I admit nothing of the kind. Andwe've invited another young couple who haven't gone to housekeepingyet— the Curwens. And HE has the same foible as Mrs. Miller. ” MRS.ROBERTS takes out her handkerchief, and laughs into it.
LAWTON: “That is, if Mrs. Miller has it, which weboth deny. Let us hope that Mrs. Miller and Mr. Curwen may not getto making eyes at each other. ”
ROBERTS: “And Mr. Bemis and his son complete thelist. Why, Agnes, there are only ten. You said there were twelve.”
MRS. ROBERTS: "Well, never mind. I meant ten. Iforgot that the
Somerses declined. “ A ring is heard. ”Ah! THAT'SAunt Mary. " She
runs into the vestibule, and is heard exclaimingwithout: "Why, Mrs.
Miller, is it you? I thought it was my aunt. Whereis Mr. Miller? "
MRS. MILLER, entering the drawing-room arm in armwith her hostess:
“Oh, he'll be here directly. I had to let him runback for my fan. ”
MRS. ROBERTS: “Well, we're very glad to have you tobegin with. Let me introduce Dr. Lawton. ”
MRS. MILLER, in a polite murmur: “Dr. Lawton. ” In alouder tone:
“O Mr. Roberts! ”
LAWTON: “You see, Roberts? The same aggrievedsurprise at meeting you here that I felt. ”
MRS. MILLER: “What in the world do you mean? ”
LAWTON: “Don't you think that when a husband ispresent at his wife's dinner party he repeats the mortifyingsuperfluity of a bridegroom at a wedding? ”
MRS. MILLER: “I'm SURE I don't know what you mean. Ishould never think of giving a dinner without Mr. Miller. ”
LAWTON: “No? ” A ring is heard. “There's Bemis.”
MRS. MILLER: “It's Mr. Miller. ”
MRS. ROBERTS: “Aunt Mary at last! ” As she bustlestoward the door:
“Edward, there are twelve— Aunt Mary and Willis.”
ROBERTS: “Oh, yes. I totally forgot Willis. ”
LAWTON: “Who's Willis? ”
ROBERTS: “Willis? Oh, Willis is my wife's brother.We always have him. ”
LAWTON: “Oh, yes, Campbell. ”
MRS. ROBERTS, without: "Mr. Bemis! So kind of you tocome on
Christmas. "
MR. BEMIS, without: “So kind of you to ask ushouseless strangers.

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