MR. KNOWLE. Count the gardeners?
MRS. KNOWLE. To make sure that none of them is missing too.
JANE. It's quite all right, Aunt Mary. Sandy will be back by tea-time.
MRS. KNOWLE (resigned). It all comes of christening her Melisande. You
know, Henry, I quite thought you said Millicent.
MR. KNOWLE. Well, talking about tea, my dear--at which happy meal our
long-lost daughter will be restored to us--we have a visitor coming, a
nice young fellow who takes an interest in prints.
MRS. KNOWLE. I've heard nothing of this, Henry.
MR. KNOWLE. No, my dear, that's why I'm telling you now.
MRS. KNOWLE. A young man?
MR. KNOWLE. Yes.
MRS. KNOWLE. Nice-looking?
MR. KNOWLE. Yes.
MRS. KNOWLE. Rich?
MR. KNOWLE. I forgot to ask him, Mary. However, we can remedy that
omission as soon as he arrives.
MRS. KNOWLE. It's a very unfortunate day for him to have chosen.
Here's Sandy lost, and I'm not fit to be seen, and--Jane, your hair
wants tidying----
MR. KNOWLE. He is not coming to see you or Sandy or Jane, my dear; he
is coming to see me. Fortunately, I am looking very beautiful this
afternoon.
MRS. KNOWLE. Jane, you had better be in the garden, dear, and see if
you can stop Sandy before she comes in, and just give her a warning. I
don't know _what_ she'll look like after roaming the fields all day,
and falling into pools----
MR. KNOWLE. A sweet disorder in the dress kindles in clothes a
wantonness.
MRS. KNOWLE. I will go and tidy myself. Jane, I think your mother
would like you to--but, after all, one must think of one's own child
first. You will tell Sandy, won't you? We had better have tea in
here. . . . Henry, your trousers--(she looks to see that JANE is not
listening, and then says in a loud whisper) your trousers----
MR. KNOWLE. I'm afraid I didn't make myself clear, Mary. It's a young
fellow who is coming to see my prints; not the Prince of Wales who is
coming to see my trousers.
MRS. KNOWLE (turning to JANE). You'll remember, Jane?
JANE (smiling). Yes, Aunt Mary.
MRS. KNOWLE. That's a good girl.
[She goes out.
MR. KNOWLE. Ah! . . . Your aunt wasn't very lucid, Jane. Which one of you
is it who is going to marry the gentleman?
JANE. Don't be so absurd, Uncle Henry.
MR. KNOWLE (taking out his catalogue again). Perhaps _he_ would be
interested in Lot 29. (BOBBY comes in through the windows.) Ah, here's
Bobby. Bobby, they tell me that you think of setting up house.
BOBBY (looking quickly at JANE). Who told you that?
MR. KNOWLE. Now, starting with two hip-baths and a stuffed crocodile
for nine shillings and sixpence, and working up to twelve aspidistras,
a towel-horse and "The Maiden's Prayer" for eight shillings, you
practically have the spare room furnished for seventeen and six. But
perhaps I had better leave the catalogue with you. (He presses it into
the bewildered BOBBY'S hands) I must go and tidy myself up. Somebody
is coming to propose to me this afternoon.
[He hurries out.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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