DOMINICA—What does this silence mean? Why don’t you speak? [_Another
silence during which BEATRICE enters._]
BEATRICE—[_Regards the silent group; terror seizes her; she cries out._]
Merciful heaven! Has something happened again?
HYACINTH—The professor was kissed.
BEATRICE—[_In alarm._] By whom?
HYACINTH—By Albert.
BEATRICE—[_With a sigh of relief._] Oh!
DOMINICA—What does this mean? One after another, you are all kissing this
person. What sort of man is he?
HYACINTH—A most admirable man.
BEATRICE—Did you kiss him, too?
HYACINTH—Yesterday. But I shall kiss him again before he goes away.
DOMINICA—There appears to be no further need for me to talk to him. The
young man has had his reward.
ALBERT—It seems to me, mother, that a man who had performed such a great
service for the family deserved it. Not only from the bride but also from
the bridegroom. [_DOMINICA nods assent._]
HYACINTH—Especially from the bridegroom.
DOMINICA—Quite right.
BEATRICE—If he hasn’t gone yet ... perhaps I ought to kiss him too ...
what?
DOMINICA—I fancy he has had enough. But I shall kiss ... your daughter.
ALEXANDRA—Dear Aunt ... if you deem me worthy....
DOMINICA—Entirely, my dear daughter, with only this suggestion: That you
remember now and again that your sainted father used to call you his
swan. Think often of what it means to be a swan ... gliding proudly ...
majestically ... where the moon gleams on the mirror of the water ...
gliding always in that purple radiance ... and never coming ashore. For
when a swan walks, my daughter ... when she waddles up the bank ... then
she painfully resembles another bird.
ALEXANDRA—[_Softly ironical at her own expense._] A goose?
DOMINICA—Almost, my girl. Natural history teaches that the swan is
nothing but an aristocratic duck. That is why she must stay on the mirror
of the water. She is a bird, but she may never fly. She knows a song, but
she may never sing until she is about to die. Yes, dear, glide on the
water ... head high ... stately silence ... and the song—never! [_There
is a pause._]
CÆSAR—[_Entering at right._] Breakfast is served. [_HYACINTH proffers
DOMINICA his arm. Next goes BEATRICE alone. Then ALBERT and ALEXANDRA arm
in arm. They exit. CÆSAR strides majestically after them as_]