+Young Man with a Glove.+
Fear not!
Although a chromo, as compared to us,
Ill-dressed, pretentious, modern at its worst,
Your hair is not unTitianesque, your lines
Susceptible of change!
+Laura.+
You horrid thing!
Charley, why don’t you knock him down?
+Woman at her Toilet.+
We waste the daylight! Come!
[_Trying to lead the_ +Glove Young Man+ _to the right._]
+Unseen Pictures.+
Do as she bids!
+Glove Young Man.+
[_Ruefully, to_ +Laura+.]
Sorry, my dear! This lady seems to have
A lien upon me!--At your service, ma’am!
We’ll take a taxi to the nearest shop,
Outfitted with a raincoat, rubber shoes,
Hairpins and usual et ceteras
You won’t feel quite so, well, conspicuous
In Paris!
+Woman at her Toilet.+
Wonted to the gaze am I
Of the admiring throng! As breath of life
To me their plaudits are! O welcome chance
On exhibition so to place myself!
Then, come!
+Young Man with a Glove.+
And you, into the background thrust
A hundred years or so haply may learn
Humbly, upon your knees, the rudiments
Of all you glibly chatter now about!
+Unseen Pictures.+
[_With a menacing clash._]
Do as they bid!
+Laura.+
I won’t! I’d sooner die!
Charley, forgive me! It is you I love,
While as for you--You cinquecento dude--
[_There is a terrible sword clash, followed by lightning and
violent thunder. When the darkness clears the_ +Young Man with
a Glove+ _is seen in his original attitude within his frame,
while the_ +Woman at her Toilet+ _has disappeared._ +Laura+ _is
composedly gathering up her painting materials, the_ +Glove
Young Man+, _fully equipped, assisting her._]
+Glove Young Man.+
Storm’s over.
[_Picking up the easel._]
+Laura.+
[_Looking at her study of the picture._]
’Tisn’t really good!
+Glove Young Man.+
[_Admiring it._]
Oh, yes,
It is, though!
+Laura.+
[_Comparing it with the original._]
No. I know enough to know
What I don’t know! Still, I will keep it as
A souvenir.
[_Dreamily._]
+Glove Young Man.+
Of what?
+Laura.+
[_As if waking, laughs._]
I do not know.
Charley, he looks a little bit like you!
+Glove Young Man.+
Well, I can stand it, if he can! This way!
[_Leading_ +Laura+ _to the right._]
I saw a picture of a red-haired girl....
Like you!
[_They laugh, and kiss._]
+Gardien.+
[_Passing through._]
On ferme!
+Glove Young Man.+
Where would you like to spend
The honeymoon: in Italy?
+Laura.+
N-no!
That’s too exciting. Just some quiet place!
+Glove Young Man.+
Why not Niagara?
+Laura.+
[_Agreeing._]
Niagara!
+Gardien.+
[_Again passing through._]
On ferme! On ferme!
[_The lovers kiss again and pass out on the right._]
+Gardien.+
[_Again passing through._]
On ferme!
+Woman at her Toilet.+
[_Advances stealthily a few steps from the right._]
Signore.... Our ruse succeeded!
+Young Man with a Glove.+
So it seems,
Madonna!
+Woman at her Toilet.+
Fare you well, then!
+Young Man with a Glove.+
Fare you well!
[_The_ +Woman at her Toilet+ _disappears on the right._ +The
Young Man with a Glove+ _becomes a picture again. The light
fades. The_ +Gardien+, _again passing through, cries, “On
ferme!” on which the curtains are drawn._]