If her ladyship antic.i.p.ates a tragic situation, I would venture to recommend it. A really pathetic scene is impossible without a quant.i.ty of hair worn quite high on the head.
LADY FREDERICK.
Oh, I know. Whenever I want to soften the hard heart of a creditor I clap on every bit I"ve got. But I don"t think I will to-day. I"ll tell you what, a temple curl would just fit the case.
MAID.
Then her ladyship inclines to comedy. Very well, I say no more.
[LADY FREDERICK _takes two temple-curls from the drawer._
LADY FREDERICK.
Aren"t they dears?
MERESTON.
Yes.
LADY FREDERICK.
You"ve admired them very often, Charlie, haven"t you? I suppose you never knew they cost a guinea each?
MERESTON.
It never occurred to me they were false.
LADY FREDERICK.
The masculine intelligence is so gross. Didn"t your mother tell you?
MERESTON.
My mother told me a great deal.
LADY FREDERICK.
I expect she overdid it. There. Now that"s done. D"you think it looks nice?
MERESTON.
Charming.
LADY FREDERICK.
Angelique, his lordship is satisfied. You may disappear.
MAID.
Yes, miladi.
[_She goes._
LADY FREDERICK.
Now, tell me you think I"m the most ravishing creature you ever saw in your life.
MERESTON.
I"ve told you that so often.
LADY FREDERICK.
[_Stretching out her hands._] You are a nice boy. It was charming of you to say--what you did yesterday. I could have hugged you there and then.
MERESTON.
Could you?
LADY FREDERICK.
Oh, my dear, don"t be so cold.
MERESTON.
I"m very sorry, I didn"t mean to be.
LADY FREDERICK.
Haven"t you got anything nice to say to me at all?
MERESTON.
I don"t know what I can say that I"ve not said a thousand times already.
LADY FREDERICK.
Tell me what you thought of all night when you tossed on that sleepless pillow of yours.
MERESTON.
I was awfully anxious to see you again.
LADY FREDERICK.
Didn"t you have a dreadful fear that I shouldn"t be as nice as you imagined? Now, come--honestly.
MERESTON.