(During this, Melissa has entered un.o.bserved; she looks on in amazement.)
Melissa: (Coming down) Oh, Lady Psyche!
Psyche: (Terrified) What! You heard us then?
Oh, all is lost!
Melissa: Not so! I"ll breathe no word!
(Advancing in astonishment to Florian) How marvelously strange! and are you then Indeed young men?
Florian: Well, yes, just now we are-- But hope by dint of study to become, In course of time, young women.
Melissa: (Eagerly) No, no, no -- Oh, don"t do that! Is this indeed a man?
I"ve often heard of them, but, till to-day, Never set eyes on one. They told me men Were hideous, idiotic, and deformed!
They are quite as beautiful as women are!
As beautiful, they"re infinitely more so!
Their cheeks have not that pulpy softness which One gets so weary of in womankind: Their features are more marked -- and -- oh, their chins!
(Feeling Florian"s chin) How curious!
Florian: I fear it"s rather rough.
Melissa: (Eagerly) Oh, don"t apologize -- I like it so!
QUINTET (Psyche, Melissa, Cyril, Hilarion and Florian) "The Woman of the Wisest Wit"
Psyche: The woman of the wisest win May sometimes be mistaken, O!
In Ida"s views, I must admit, My faith is somewhat shaken O!
Cyril: On every other point than this Her learning is untainted, O!
But Man"s a theme with which she is Entirely unacquainted, O!
--acquainted, O!
--acquainted, O!
Entirely unacquainted, O!
All: Then jump for joy and gaily bound, The truth is found -- the truth is found!
Set bells a-ringing through the air-- Ring here and there and ev"rywhere--
3 Men: And echo forth the joyous sound,
All: The truth is found -- the truth is found!
3 Men: And echo forth the joyous sound,
All: The truth is found -- the truth is found!
And echo forth the joyous sound, The truth is found -- the truth is found!
(Dance)
Melissa: My natural instinct teaches me (And instinct is important, O!) You"re ev"rything you ought to be, And nothing that you oughtn"t, O!
Hilarion: That fact was seen at once by you In casual conversation, O!
Which is most creditable to Your powers of observation, O!
-servation, O!
-servation, O!
Your powers of observation, O!
All: Then jump for joy and gaily bound, The truth is found, the truth is found!
Set bells a-ringing through the air, Ring here and there and ev"rywhere.
3 Men: And echo forth the joyous sound,
All: The truth is found -- the truth is found!
3 Men: And echo forth the joyous sound,
All: The truth is found -- the truth is found!
And echo forth the joyous sound, The truth is found -- the truth is found!
(Exeunt Psyche, Hilarion, Cyril and Florian,
Melissa going.)
(Enter Lady Blanche.
Blanche: Melissa!
Melissa: (Returning) Mother!
Blanche: Here -- a word with you.
Those are the three new students?
Melissa: (Confused) Yes, they are.
They"re charming girls.
Blanche: Particularly so.
So graceful, and so very womanly!
So skilled in all a girl"s accomplishments!
Melissa: (Confused) Yes -- very skilled.
Blanche: They sing so nicely too!
Melissa: They do sing nicely!
Blanche: Humph! It"s very odd.
Two are tenors, one is a baritone!
Melissa: (Much agitated) They"ve all got colds!
Blanche: Colds! Bah! D"ye think I"m blind?