Why...?!
LOLO
Do you know when he asked me the last time, Countess? Less than a month ago.
MIZZIE
And you said no?
LOLO
I did. It would have done no good. Me a Countess! Can you imagine it? I being your stepmother, Countess...! Then we could not have been chatting nicely as we are doing now.
MIZZIE
If you only knew how sympathetically you affect me....
LOLO
But I don"t want to appear better than I am. And who knows what I might....
MIZZIE
What might you?
LOLO
Well, this is the truth of it. I have gone clear off my head about Wasner. Which I hope won"t make you think the worse of me. In all these eighteen years I have had nothing to blame myself with, as far as your dear papa is concerned. But you can"t wonder if my feelings began to cool off a little as the years pa.s.sed along. And rather than to make your dear papa--oh, no, no, Countess ... I owe him too much grat.i.tude for that.... Lord!
MIZZIE
What is it?
LOLO
There he is now, looking right at me.
MIZZIE (_looks in the direction indicated_)
WASNER (_who has appeared at the entrance, raises his tall hat in salute_)
LOLO
Don"t you think me an awful fool, Countess? Every time I catch sight of him suddenly, my heart starts beating like everything. Yes, there"s no fool like an old one.
MIZZIE
Old...? Do you call yourself old? Why, there can"t be much difference between us.
LOLO
Oh, mercy.... (_With a glance at Mizzie_)
MIZZIE
I am thirty-seven.--No, don"t look at me with any pity. There is no cause for that. None whatever.
LOLO (_apparently relieved_)
I have heard some whispers. Countess--of course, I didn"t believe anything. But I thank heaven it was true. (_They shake hands_)
MIZZIE
I should like to congratulate your fiance right now, if you"ll permit me.
LOLO
That"s too sweet of you--but what about the Count--perhaps he wouldn"t like...?
MIZZIE
My dear, I have always been accustomed to do as I pleased. (_They go together toward the entrance_)
WASNER
You"re too kind, Countess....
[_The Count, the Prince and Philip have reappeared in the meantime._
COUNT
Look at that, will you!
WASNER
Good morning, Count. Good morning, Highness.
PRINCE
I say, Wasner, you may just as well take your bride home in that trap of yours. My son is coming with me.
WASNER
Your son...?
PHILIP
Why haven"t you told me that you were engaged, Wasner?