[_Charles places the decanter and the glasses on the table._]
_Gadd._
[_Whose luck has been against him, throwing himself, sulkily, onto the
couch._] Bah! I'll risk no further stake.
_Colpoys._
Just because you lose sevenpence in coppers you go on like this!
[_Charles, turning from the table, faces Colpoys._]
======== below this needs correction ===
_Colpoys._
[_Tearing his hair, and glaring at Charles wildly._] Ah--h--h, I am
ruined! I have lost my all! my children are beggars----!
_Charles._
Ho, ho, ho! he, he, he!
_Rose._
Hush, hush! [_Charles goes out laughing. To everybody;_]Sherry?
_Gadd._
[_Rising._] Sherry!
[_Avonia, Colpoys; and Gadd gather round the table, and help themselves
to sherry and biscuits._]
_Rose._
[_To Tom._] Tom, won't you-----?
_Tom._
[_Watching Gadd anxiously._] No, thank you. The fact is, we--we have
already partaken of refreshments, once or twice during the evening----
[_Colpoys and Avonia, each carrying a glass of wine and munching a
biscuit, go to the couch, where they sit._]
_Gadd._
[_Pouring out sherry--singing._] "And let me the canakin clink,
clink---"
_Rose._
[_Coming to him._] Be quiet, Gadd!
_Colpoys._
[_Raising his glass._] The Bride!
_Rose._
[_Turning, kissing her hand to Avonia._] Yes, yes [_Gadd hands Rose his
glass; she puts her lips to it._] The Bride!
[_She returns the glass to Gadd._]
_Gadd._
[_Sitting._] My bride!
[_Tom, from behind the table, unperceived, takes the decanter and hides
it under the table, then sits. Gadd, missing the decanter, contents
himself with the biscuits._]
_Avonia._
Well, Rose, my darling, we've been talking about nothing but ourselves.
How are you getting along here?
_Rose._
Getting along? oh, I--I don't fancy I'm getting along very well, thank
you!
_Colpoys. and Avonia._
Not----!
_Gadd._
[_His mouth full of biscuit._] Not----!
_Rose._
[_Sitting by the card-table._] No, boys; no 'Vonia. The truth is,
it isn't as nice as you'd think it. I suppose the Profession had its
drawbacks--mother used to say so--but [_raising her arms_] one could
fly. Yes, in Brydon Crescent one was a dirty little London sparrow,
perhaps; but here, in this grand square----! Oh, it's the story of the
caged bird, over again.
_Avonia._
A love-bird, though.
_Rose._
Poor Arthur? yes, he's a dear. [_Rising._] But the Gowers--the old
Gowers! the Gowers! the Gowers I [_She paces the room, beating her
hands together. In her excitement, she ceases to whisper, and gradually
becomes loud and voluble. The others, following her leady chatter
noisily--excepting Tom, who sits thoughtfully, looking before him._]
_Rose._
The ancient Gowers! the venerable Gowers!
_Avonia._
You mean, the grandfather-----?
_Rose._
And the aunt--the great-aunt--the great bore of a great-aunt! The very
mention of 'em makes something go "tap, tap, tap, tap" at the top of my
head.
_Avonia._
Oh, I am sorry to hear this. Well, upon my word----!
_Rose._
Would you believe it? 'Vonia--boys--you'll never believe it! I mayn't
walk out with Arthur alone, nor see him here alone. I mayn't sing; no,
nor sneeze even----
_Avonia._
[_Shrilly._]Not sing or sneeze!
_Colpoys._
[_Indignantly. _] Not sneeze!
_Rose._
No, nor sit on the floor--the floor!
_Avonia._
Why, when we shared rooms together, you were always on the floor!
_Gadd._
[_Producing a pipe, and knocking out the ashes on the heel of his
boot._] In Heaven's name, what kind of house can this be!
_Avonia._