URSULA. Yes, Your Majesty, and she bade me call her when you
came, but we can't find her, Your Majesty.
(_The_ PASTRY COOKS _whisper._ URSULA _is in tears._)
CHANCELLOR. This should not be countenanced, Your Majesty. The
word "pokey" cannot be found in the dictionary. It is the most
flagrant disrespect to use a word that is not in the dictionary
in connection with a king.
POMPDEBILE. We are quite aware of that, Chancellor, and although
we may appear calm on the surface, inwardly we are swelling,
_swelling_, with rage and indignation.
KNAVE (_looking out the window_). I see the Lady Violetta in the
garden. (_He goes to the door and holds it open, bowing._) The Lady
Violetta is at the door, Your Majesty.
(_Enter the_ LADY VIOLETTA, _her purple train over her arm. She has
been running._)
VIOLETTA. Am I late? I just remembered and came as fast as I
could. I bumped into a sentry and he fell down. I didn't. That's
strange, isn't it? I suppose it's because he stands in one
position so long he--Why, Pompy dear, what's the matter? Oh, oh!
(_Walking closer_) Your feelings are hurt!
POMPDEBILE. _Don't_ call us Pompy. It doesn't seem to matter
to you whether you are divorced or not.
VIOLETTA (_anxiously_). Is that why your feelings are hurt?
POMPDEBILE. Our feelings are not hurt, not at all.
VIOLETTA. Oh, yes, they are, Pompdebile dear. I know, because
they are connected with your eyebrows. When your feelings go
down, up go your eyebrows, and when your feelings go up, they go
down--always.
POMPDEBILE (_severely_). Where have you been?
VIOLETTA. I, just now?
POMPDEBILE. Just now, when you should have been outside that door
waiting _breathlessly._
VIOLETTA. I was in the garden. Really, Pompy, you couldn't expect
me to stay all day in that ridiculous pantry; and as for being
breathless, it's quite impossible to be it unless one has been
jumping or something.
POMPDEBILE. What were you doing in the garden?
VIOLETTA (_laughing_). Oh, it was too funny. I must tell you. I
found a goat there who had a beard just like the Chancellor's--really
it was quite remarkable, the resemblance--in other ways too. I
took him by the horns and I looked deep into his eyes, and I
said, "Chancellor, if you try to influence Pompy--"
POMPDEBILE (_shouting_). Don't call us Pompy.