OLIVIA. Perhaps you are, darling; but you must let us find out our own mistakes for ourselves. (_Sits on stool_ L.C.) At any rate, Brian is a gentleman; he loves Dinah, Dinah loves him; he"s earning enough to support himself, and you are earning enough to support Dinah.
GEORGE (_amazed_). What?
OLIVIA. I think it"s worth risking, George.
GEORGE (_stiffly_). I can only say the whole question demands much more anxious thought than you seem to have given it. You say that he is a gentleman. He knows how to behave, I admit; but if his morals are as topsy-turvy as his tastes and--er--politics, as I"ve no doubt they are (_rising and moving to_ L.), then-er--In short, I do _not_ approve of Brian Strange as a husband for my niece and ward. (_Knocks pipe out down_ L.)
OLIVIA (_looking at him thoughtfully_). You _are_ a curious mixture, George. You were so very unconventional when you married me, and you"re so very conventional when Brian wants to marry Dinah.... George Marden to marry the widow of a convict!
GEORGE (_advancing_). Convict! What do you mean?
OLIVIA. Jacob Telworthy, convict--I forget his number--surely I told you all this, dear, when we got engaged?
GEORGE. Never!
OLIVIA. Oh, but I told you how he carelessly put the wrong signature to a cheque for a thousand pounds in England; how he made a little mistake about two or three companies he"d promoted in Australia; and how--
GEORGE. Yes, yes (_crossing slowly to_ C. _below_ OLIVIA), but you never told me he"d been--er--well--_convicted_!
OLIVIA. What difference does it make?
GEORGE. My dear Olivia, if you can"t see that--a--a--oh, well!
OLIVIA. Oh! A convict! So, you see, we needn"t be too particular about our niece, need we?
GEORGE. I think we had better leave your first husband out of the conversation altogether. I never wished to refer to him; I never wish to hear about him again. I certainly had not realized that he was actually-- er--well--convicted for his--er--(_moving to writing-table and picking up his cap_).
OLIVIA. Mistakes. GEORGE. Well, we needn"t go into that. As for this other matter, I don"t for a moment take it seriously. Dinah is an exceptionally pretty girl, and young. Strange is a good-looking boy.
(_Coming down to back of settee_ L.) If they are attracted to each other, it is a mere outward attraction which I am convinced will not lead to any lasting happiness. (OLIVIA _is about to protest_.) That must be regarded as my last word in the matter, Olivia. If this Mr.--er--what was his name, comes, I shall be down at the farm. (GEORGE _goes out by the staircase up_ R.)
(_Left alone,_ OLIVIA _rises, goes up_ C., _takes up her curtains again and crossing down_ L. _sits on settee, and gets calmly to work upon them_.)
(DINAH _comes in by the windows from up_ R. _and crosses to_ L. _window at back, then seeing_ OLIVIA, _beckons to_ BRIAN _and runs down to back of settee to_ R. _of_ OLIVIA. BRIAN _enters from up_ R., _and follows down to back of table_ L.C.)
DINAH (_over back of settee_). Finished?
OLIVIA (_startled_). Oh, no, I"ve got all these rings to put on.
DINAH. I meant talking to George.
OLIVIA. Oh!
BRIAN. We walked about outside----
DINAH. Until we heard him _not_ talking to you any more----
BRIAN. And we didn"t kiss each other once.
DINAH AND BRIAN (_pointing roguishly and with satisfaction at_ OLIVIA).
Ah!
DINAH. Brian was very George-like. He wouldn"t even let me tickle the back of his neck. (_She goes suddenly to_ OLIVIA _and sits on her_ L.) Darling (_putting her arms round_ OLIVIA _and kissing her_), being George-like is a very nice thing to be--I mean a nice thing for other people to be--I mean--oh, you know what I mean. But say that he"s going to be decent about it.
OLIVIA. Of course he is, Dinah.
BRIAN (_sits on stool_ L.C., _and leans forward eagerly_). You mean he"ll let me come here as--as----
DINAH. As my young man?
OLIVIA. Oh, I think so.
DINAH (_kissing_ OLIVIA). Olivia, you"re a wonder.
(_Embraces her round the neck_.)
(_Rising and crossing below_ BRIAN, _touching him on the shoulder_.)
Brian!
(_Crossing to piano, sits and plays five bars of "The Wedding March,"
rises and crosses at back of_ BRIAN _to_ L. _of_ OLIVIA _behind settee_.)
Have you really talked him round?
OLIVIA. I haven"t said anything yet.
DINAH (_very disappointed_). Oh!
(BRIAN _rises and backs to_ C.)
OLIVIA. But I dare say I shall think of something.
BRIAN. Oh! my lord.
DINAH (_disappointedly_). Oh!
BRIAN (_going up_ C.). After all, Dinah, I"m going back to London to- morrow----
DINAH (_crossing quickly towards_ BRIAN). Oh, no, no!
OLIVIA. Now, Dinah. You can be good for one more day, and then when Brian isn"t here, we"ll see what we can do.
DINAH (_placing her hands on_ BRIAN"S _shoulders_). Yes, but I didn"t want him to go back to-morrow.
BRIAN (_sternly, taking her hands away_). Must. Hard work before me.
(DINAH _moves to back of table_ L.C.) Earn thousands a year. (_Going down_ R. DINAH _and_ OLIVIA _are amused_). Paint the Mayor and Corporation of Pudsey, life-size, including chains of office; paint slice of haddock on plate. Copy Landseer for old gentleman in Bayswater. Design antimaca.s.sar for middle-aged sofa in Streatham. (_Sitting and putting his legs up on settee R_.) Oh, yes. Earn a living for you. Dinah.
DINAH (_giggling_). Oh, Brian, you"re heavenly. What fun we shall have when we"re married.