Americans -- England -- Drama; Aristocracy (Social class) -- England -- Drama; Comedy plays
Asa There goes that benighted aristocrat and that little toad of a sick
gal. [Looks off.] There he's a settling her in a chair and covering her
all over with shawls. Ah! it's a caution, how these women do fix our
flint for us. Here he comes. [Takes out bottle.] How are you, hair dye.
[Goes behind dairy.]
Enter Dundreary.
Dun That lovely Georgina puts me in mind of that beautiful piece of
poetry. Let me see how it goes. The rose is red, the violet's blue. [Asa
tips his hat over his eyes.]
Dun [Repeats.]
Asa [Repeats business.]
Dun [Comes down, takes off hat, looking in it.] There must be something
alive in that hat. [Goes up, and commences again.] The rose is red, the
violet's blue, sugar is sweet, and so is somebody, and so is somebody
else.
Asa puts yoke on Dundreary's shoulders gently. Dundreary comes down with
pails.
Dun I wonder what the devil that is? [Lowers one, then the other, they
trip him up.] Oh, I see, somebody has been fishing and caught a pail.
[Goes hopping up stage, stumbling over against spinning wheel. Looks at
yarn on stick.] Why, what a little old man. [Sees Asa.] Say, Mr. Exile,
what the devil is this?
Asa That is a steam engine, and will bust in about a minute.
Dun Well, I haven't a minute to spare, so I'll not wait till it busts.
[Crosses to R., knocks against private box, R. H., apologizes.]
Asa Say, whiskers, I want to ask a favor of you.
Dun [Attempts to sneeze.] Now I've got it.
Asa Wal, but say. [Dundreary's sneezing bus.]
Asa [Takes his hand.] How are you. [Squeezes it.]
Dun There, you've spoiled it.
Asa Spoiled what?
Dun Spoiled what! why a magnificent sneeze.
Asa Oh! was that what you was trying to get through you?
Dun Get through me: he's mad.
Asa Wal, now, the naked truth is--[Leans arm on Dundreary's shoulder.
Bus. by Dundreary.] Oh, come now, don't be putting on airs. Say, do you
know Lieut. Vernon?
Dun Slightly.
Asa Wal, what do you think of him, on an average?
Dun Think of a man on an average?
Asa Wal, I think he's a real hoss, and he wants a ship.
Dun Well if he's a real hoss, he must want a carriage.
Asa Darn me, if that ain't good.
Dun That's good.
Asa Yes, that is good.
Dun Very good.
Asa Very good, indeed, _for you_.
Dun Now I've got it. [Tries to sneeze.]
Asa Wal, now, I say. [Dundreary trying to sneeze.]
Asa What, are you at that again?
Dundreary business. Asa bites his finger. Dundreary goes up, stumbles
against chair and comes down again.
Dun I've got the influenza.
Asa Got the what?
Dun He says I've got a wart. I've got the influenza.
Asa That's it exactly. I want your influence, sir, to get that ship.
Dun That's good.
Asa Yes, that's good, ain't it.
Dun Very good.
Asa Yes, darn me, if that ain't good.
Dun For you. Ha! ha! One on that Yankee.
Asa Well done, Britisher. Wal, now, about that ship?
Dun I want all my influence, sir, for my own w--w--welations.
[Stammering.]
Asa Oh! you want it for your own w--w--welations. [Mimicing.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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