FRANK. Exactly! Surely, at his age, he is old enough to go alone!
ADELA. No, no; go you, and I will stay here and bear your grandfather
company.
FRANK. (_aside_) The devil! leave them together. (_aloud_) Why, you
see----
ADELA. I entreat you, the air is so chilly, and as he is suffering
with the rheumatism----
FRANK. Ah, true! (_shouting to SIMON_) Don't stir! this young lady
will keep you company----
SIMON. (_aside to FRANK_) And I shouldn't at all mind keeping company
with her.
FRANK. (_punching him slyly_) Must I murder you?
SIMON. No, you mustn't.
FRANK. (_aside to him_) Mind that to everything she says, you answer
only, "My wife will be back directly."
SIMON. Yes, sir.
FRANK. (_to ADELAIDE_) Now I'm off to fetch grandmother.
_Exit, C. door._
ADELA. (_looking after FRANK_) That, then, is the Mr. Harry of whom I
have heard so much from my sister. He is not at all bad-looking; but
with all his good looks, he is a very worthless fellow.
SIMON. (_coughing_) Hum! hum!
ADELA. Oh! I was quite forgetting the old gentleman. (_going to
SIMON_) There, place your feet on that. (_giving him a footstool_)
Now, are you comfortable?
SIMON. My wife will be back directly.
ADELA. You are not cold?
SIMON. (_taking a pinch of snuff_) My wife will be back directly.
ADELA. There is a draught from this side--ah! this cushion. (_places a
cushion at his back_)
SIMON. (_aside_) Isn't she tucking me up nicely! it's rather pleasant
to be old--atchieu! (_sneezing_)
ADELA. Heaven bless you!
SIMON. My wife will be back directly.
ADELA. He is deaf as a post. (_to herself_) Yes, Mr. Harry is a scamp:
but luckily, we had for neighbour that good man, Mr. Dunstable.
(_shouting to SIMON_) Your friend Dunstable.