GROGGINS.
Well, he"ll be in--Wandsworth if he don"t part.
MRS. TEMPENNY.
Sh! talk softly. Your voice will jar upon him.
REMBRANDT TEMPENNY (_aside_).
Now for it. (_At window_.) One--two--three--I don"t like the look of that gla.s.s-house much.
_(Hesitates)._
GROGGINS (_decisively_).
I must come in, marm--out of the way if _you_ please.
REMBRANDT TEMPENNY (_aside_).
Oh! It"s now or never.
(_Jumps out. A tremendous crash of broken gla.s.s is heard_.)
MRS. TEMPENNY (_with a shriek_).
Ah!
GROGGINS (_pushing her aside_).
What"s that? (_Aside_.) Oh, there he is. (_Aloud_.) Here you Mr.
Tempenny, sir, I"ve a warrant "ere on a judgment summons.--Suit of Cole the butcher. (_Addressing lay-figure_.) Do you pay up, or come along o"
me?
MRS. TEMPENNY (_at window--aside_).
He"s picked himself up--he waves his hand--all is well.
GROGGINS.
Which is it, sir? I allus likes to do business pleasant, only you must make up your mind, you know. Pay up, or lock up--take your choice.
MRS. TEMPENNY.
(_At window. Excitedly aside_.) He disappears--he"s lost to view--the danger"s past.
GROGGINS.
Well, if you _won"t_ speak, you _won"t_, of course! I"ve done my "umble best to do my dooty affable, and since you"re sulky, why--(_Going up to lay-figure_) Mr. Rembrandt Tempenny, I"ve a warrant for your arrest.
(_He slaps the lay-figure on the shoulder, it collapses with a crash_).
GROGGINS (_falling back in terror_).
Got "em again, as I"m a sinner!
(MRS. TEMPENNY _runs to_ D.F. _as if to go_. ROSALINE _half opens_ R.D.
_and pops her head out with an e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.n_.)
_Act drop, quick_.
ACT II.
SCENE:--SYLVESTER"S _Studio_. (_The next day_.) _Doors R. and L. At back cupboard_. TEMPENNY _discovered painting_, ROSALINE _posed_.
ROSALINE.
I"m getting tired.
REMBRANDT TEMPENNY.
Sh! (_goes on working frenziedly_).
ROSALINE.
I say I"m getting tired.
REMBRANDT TEMPENNY.
Wait a minute, and you shall rest. There! now you can move if you like.
ROSALINE (_stretching herself_).
Thank goodness. Let us look! (_Looks at canvas_.) Oh!
REMBRANDT TEMPENNY.
What do you think of it?
ROSALINE.
Not much.
REMBRANDT TEMPENNY.
Ah, that shows your profound ignorance of the School. It promises to be a superb example. (_Contemplates it sideways_.) Exquisite!