GEORGE (fervently). I won't. . . . (Awkwardly) I--I don't think I would
have, you know. I--I--
(DINAH and BRIAN appear at the windows, having seen MR. PIM safely
off.)
DINAH (surprised). Oo, I say!
(GEORGE hastily moves away.)
GEORGE. Hallo!
DINAH (going up impetuously to him). Give _me_ one, too, George; Brian
won't mind.
BRIAN. Really, Dinah, you are the limit.
GEORGE (formally, but enjoying it). Do you mind, Mr. Strange?
BRIAN (a little uncomfortably). Oh, I say, sir--
GEORGE. We'll risk it, Dinah. (He kisses her.)
DINAH (triumphantly to BRIAN). Did you notice that one? That
wasn't just an ordinary affectionate kiss. It was a special
bless--you--my--children one. (to GEORGE) Wasn't it?
OLIVIA. You do talk nonsense, darling.
DINAH. Well, I'm so happy, now that Mr. Pim has relented about your
first husband--
(GEORGE catches OLIVIA'S eye and smiles; she smiles back; but they are
different smiles.)
GEORGE (the actor). Yes, yes, stupid fellow Pim, what?
BRIAN. Absolute idiot.
DINAH.--And now that George has relented about _my_ first husband.
GEORGE. You get on much too quickly, young woman. (to BRIAN) So you
want to marry my Dinah, eh?
BRIAN (with a smile). Well, I do rather, sir.
DINAH (hastily). Not at once, of course, George. We want to be engaged
for a long time first, and write letters to each other, and tell each
other how much we love each other, and sit next to each other when we
go out to dinner.
GEORGE (to OLIVIA). Well, _that_ sounds fairly harmless, I think.
OLIVIA (smiling). I think so. . . .
GEORGE (to BRIAN). Then you'd better have a talk with me--er--Brian.
BRIAN. Thank you very much, sir.
GEORGE. Well, come along then. (Looking at his watch) I am going up to
town after tea, so we'd better--
DINAH. I say! Are you going to London?
GEORGE (with the smile of the conspirator). A little business. Never
you mind, young lady.
DINAH (calmly). All right. Only, bring me back something nice.
GEORGE (to BRIAN). Shall we walk down and look at the pigs?
BRIAN. Righto!
OLIVIA. Don't go far, dear. I may want you in a moment.
GEORGE. All right, darling, we'll be on the terrace.
[They go out together.
DINAH. Brian and George always try to discuss me in front of the pigs.
So tactless of them. Are you going to London, too, darling?
OLIVIA. To-morrow morning.
DINAH. What are you going to do in London?
OLIVIA. Oh, shopping, and--one or two little things.
DINAH. With George?
OLIVIA. Yes. . . .
DINAH. I say, wasn't it lovely about Pim?
OLIVIA. Lovely?
DINAH. Yes; he told me all about it. Making such a hash of things, I
mean.
OLIVIA (innocently). Did he make a hash of things?
DINAH. Well, I mean keeping on coming like that. And if you look at it
all round--well, for all he had to say, he needn't really have come at
all.
OLIVIA (smiling to herself). I shouldn't quite say that, Dinah. (She
stands up and shakes out the curtains.)
DINAH. I say, aren't they jolly?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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