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Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
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Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
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44 GWEN Do you allude to me, Miss Cardew, as an entanglement? You are presumptuous. On an occasion of this kind it becomes more than a moral duty to speak one’s mind. It becomes a pleasure. CEC Do you suggest, Miss Fairfax, that I entrapped Ernest into an engagement? How dare you? This is no time for wearing the shallow mask of manners. When I see a spade I call it a spade. GWEN [Satirically.] I am glad to say that I have never seen a spade. It is obvious that our social spheres have been widely different. [Enter Merriman, followed by the footman. He carries a salver, table cloth, and plate stand. Cecily is about to retort. The presence of the servants exercises a restraining influence, under which both girls chafe.] MERR Shall I lay tea here as usual, Miss? CEC [Sternly, in a calm voice.] Yes, as usual. [Merriman begins to clear table and lay cloth. A long pause. Cecily and Gwendolen glare at each other.] GWEN Are there many interesting walks in the vicinity, Miss Cardew? CEC Oh! yes! a great many. From the top of one of the hills quite close one can see five counties. GWEN Five counties! I don’t think I should like that. I hate crowds.CEC [Sweetly.] I suppose that is why you live in town? [Gwendolen bites her lip, and beats her foot nervously with her parasol.] GWEN [Looking round.] Quite a well-kept garden this is, Miss Cardew. CEC So glad you like it, Miss Fairfax. GWEN I had no idea there were any flowers in the country. CEC Oh, flowers are as common here, Miss Fairfax, as people are in London. |
