THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL. And your wife, dear?
VERNON. She’s here!
THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL. Here?
_Fanny_, _from behind the screen_, _laughs_.
VERNON. We’ll have some light. [_He whispers to them_.] Not a
word—haven’t told her yet. [_Feeling his way to the wall_, _he turns on
the electric light_.]
_Fanny is revealed_, _having slipped out from behind the screen_. _There
is a pause_. _Vernon_, _standing near the fire_, _watches admiringly_.
FANNY. Hope you are going to like me.
THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL. My dear, I am sure we shall.
THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL. It is so easy to love the young and pretty.
[_They have drawn close to her_. _They seem to hesitate_.]
FANNY [_laughs_]. It doesn’t come off, does it, Vernon, dear? [_Vernon
laughs_. _The two ladies_, _laughing_, _kiss her_.] I’m so glad you
think I’m pretty. As a matter of fact, I’m not. There’s a certain charm
about me, I admit. It deceives people.
THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL. We were afraid—you know, dear, boys—[_she
looks at Vernon and smiles_] sometimes fall in love with women much older
than themselves—especially women—[_She grows confused_. _She takes the
girl’s hand_.] We are so relieved that you—that you are yourself, dear,
FANNY. You were quite right, dear. They are sweet. Which is which?
VERNON [_laughs_]. Upon my word, I never can tell.
THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL. Vernon! And you know I was always your
favourite!
THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL. Dear!
VERNON. Then this is Aunt Alice.
THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL. No dear, Edith.
[_Vernon throws up his hands in despair_. _They all laugh_.]
FANNY. I think I shall dress you differently; put you in blue and you in
pink. [_She laughs_.] Is this the drawing-room?
VERNON. Your room, dear.
FANNY. I like a room where one can stretch one’s legs. [_She walks
across it_.] A little too much desk [_referring to a massive brass-bound
desk_, _facing the three windows_].
THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL. It belonged to the elder Pitt.
FANNY. Um! Suppose we must find a corner for it somewhere. That’s a
good picture.
THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL. It is by Hoppner.
FANNY. One of your artist friends?
VERNON. Well—you see, dear, that’s a portrait of my great-grandmother,
painted from life.
FANNY [_she whistles_]. I am awfully ignorant on some topics. One good
thing, I always was a quick study. Not a bad-looking woman.