The Schoolmistress: A Farce in Three ActsPinero, Arthur Wing
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The Schoolmistress: A Farce in Three Acts
Pinero, Arthur Wing
Comedy plays; English drama -- 19th century
[_To himself._] Is that a charming young fellow? [_Dinah expostulates in
undertones with Reginald; he answering with violent gestures and glaring
at Rankling, who mutters comments on Dinah's resemblance to various
members of his family. Peggy endeavours to pacify Mallory who is
evidently annoyed, and altogether there is much hubbub, with signs of
general ill-feeling._]
QUECKETT.
[_Sinking back in his chair._] Oh, what a party! [_Jane enters._]
JANE.
[_Quietly to Queckett._] The pudding is in the arey, sir, waiting to be
paid.
QUECKETT.
I'll come to it. [_Jane goes out. To Peggy._] Margaret, show Admiral
Rankling and Mr. Mallory where the cigarettes are--they may like--[_To
himself_] Years are going off my life! [_He goes out._]
PEGGY.
[_ To Mallory._] May I take you to the cigarettes?
MALLORY.
[_To Peggy._] You may take me anywhere.
PEGGY.
[_Bashfully._] Oh! [_To Rankling._] The cigarettes are in the next room,
Admiral Rankling.
RANKLING.
[_Not hearing Peggy, but still eyeing Dinah._] That girl has a look
of Emma's sister Susan. [_Peggy and Mallory go out. Reginald seeing
Rankling is still looking at Dinah, abruptly takes her over to the door,
glaring at Rankling as he passes._]
REGINALD.
[_To Dinah, fiercely._] Come away, Dinah!
DINAH.
[_To Reginald, tearfully._] Oh, Reggie, dear Reggie, you are so
different when people are not present. [_They go out. Rankling watches
them through the doorway. Gwendoline has meanwhile seated herself
beside Saunders, whose head has gradually fallen till it rests upon her
shoulder. She is now sitting quite still, looking down upon the boy's
face._]
ERMYNTRUDE.
[_Watching them enviously._] Well, considering that Mr. Saunders was
introduced to us asleep, I don't think Gwendoline's behaviour is _coînme
il faut!_ [_She bumps gently against Rankling._] Oh!
RANKLING.
[_Looking at Ermyntrude, rather dazed._] My dear, I am quite glad to see
somebody who isn't like any of my relations. Come along. [_They go out.
Saunders moves dreamily and murmurs._]
SAUNDERS.
[_Waking._] All right, ma dear--I'll come down directly. [_He raises
his head and kisses Gwendoline, then opens his eyes, and looks at her,
startled._] Oh, I've been dreaming about my ma! I--I don't know you, do
I?
GWENDOLINE.
It doesn't matter, Mr. Saunders. You've had such a good sleep. [_She
kisses his forehead gently._]
SAUNDERS.
Oh, that's just like my ma! Where are the others?
GWENDOLINE.
[_Arranging his curls upon his forehead._] I'll take you to them.
SAUNDERS.
Thank you. What's your name?
GWENDOLINE.
Gwendoline.
SAUNDERS.
Gwen's short for that, isn't it? [_Rubbing his eyes with his fists, then
offering her his arm._] Permit me, Gwen. [_They go out. Queckett, his
hair disarranged, his appearance generally wild, immediately enters,
followed by Jane and Tyler._]
QUECKETT.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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