That"s all right. (_Aside to_ REMBRANDT TEMPENNY:) Rosaline"s downstairs--wanting to see you. Where is your wife?
REMBRANDT TEMPENNY.
Out. (_To_ HENRICH SCHERCL.) That poor girl has followed you here.
Perhaps out of pity you ought to go down to her and say a kind word.
HENRICH SCHERCL.
Miss Rosaline--she is here? Well, I never! Yes, I will go down and speak to her. Where is she?
(_Enter_ ROSALINE _L_.)
REMBRANDT TEMPENNY (_aside_).
d.a.m.n it, in the drawing-room! Look here, Schercl, you can"t go till _she_ does. If my wife comes in and finds her, she is your affair.
Don"t leave her for Heaven"s sake.
ROSALINE.
Good morning, gentlemen. Oh, Mr. Schercl! What a pleasure--how _do_ you do?
HENRICH SCHERCL.
I am very well, I thank you. And you?--I need not ask, you look most beautiful.
ROSALINE (_aside_).
Dear man!
HENRICH SCHERCL.
(_Aside to_ CHARLES SYLVESTER.) Why is Tempenny so afraid his wife should see her? You too--why are _you_ so afraid? Is she not of a good character, this Miss Rosaline?
CHARLES SYLVESTER.
(_Aside to_ HENRICH SCHERCL.) The girl is a paragon. They are jealous of her, that"s all. She is too good-looking for "em.
HENRICH SCHERCL.
Ha, ha, I see!
REMBRANDT TEMPENNY.
I think we"ll leave you, old man. Rosaline, Mr. Schercl, has something to say to you--we shall be in the way. (_Aside to_ CHARLES SYLVESTER.) Come on, old chap--I wouldn"t risk being found in the room again with the girl for a monkey.
CHARLES SYLVESTER.
Yes, I have some business to discuss with Mr. Tempenny. If you will excuse us--
(_Exit R._)
REMBRANDT TEMPENNY.
(_Aside to_ HENRICH SCHERCL.) Take her away soon, there"s a trump, or there will be another row. I give you five minutes to get her out of the house, Take her to breakfast--or--or--wherever you like, only hurry! (_Exit L._)
ROSALINE.
How funny to be left alone like this, isn"t it, I really called to know when Mr. Tempenny proposed to continue the sittings. Do you know?
HENRICH SCHERCL.
No, I have no idea. But I am very glad you called--our conversation yesterday was so inderrupted.
ROSALINE.
Yes, and we were getting on so nicely too, weren"t we? Do you like my new hat? I bought it out of the tenner you gave me. What do you think of the bow--isn"t it a duck?
HENRICH SCHERCL.
You do not sit to Mr. Tempenny in a hat, I think.
ROSALINE.
In a--? Oh no, not in--. The subject is cla.s.sical.
HENRICH SCHERCL.
Zo I understand (_he sighs_).
ROSALINE (_sighing_).
Ah!
HENRICH SCHERCL.
Why do you sigh? You are not happy?
ROSALINE.
Did I sigh? I was thinking.
HENRICH SCHERCL (_sighing_).
Heigho!
ROSALINE.
But now it is _you_ who sighs. Aren"t _you_ happy?