第 2 节
作者:
着凉 更新:2021-02-24 22:26 字数:9322
DR。 FREEMANTLE。 I should say not。
THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL。 She comes of quite a good family。
THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL。 Her uncle was a bishop。
DR。 FREEMANTLE。 Bishop? Of where?
THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL 'with the letter'。 He says he can't spell it。 It's somewhere in New Zealand。
DR。 FREEMANTLE。 Do they have bishops over there?
THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL。 Well; evidently。
THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL。 Then her cousin is a judge。
DR。 FREEMANTLE。 In New Zealand?
THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL 'again referring to the letter'。 Noin Ohio。
DR。 FREEMANTLE。 Seems to have been a somewhat scattered family。
THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL。 People go about so much nowadays。
Mrs。 Bennet has entered。 She is the housekeeper。
MRS。 BENNET 'she is about to speak to the Misses Wetherell; sees the Doctor'。 Good afternoon; doctor。
DR。 FREEMANTLE。 Afternoon; Mrs。 Bennet。
MRS。 BENNET 'she turns to the Misses Wetherell; her watch in her hand'。 I was thinking of having the fire lighted in her ladyship's bedroom。 It is half past six。
THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL。 You are always so thoughtful。 She may be tired。
MRS。 BENNET。 If so; everything will be quite ready。 'She goes out; closing door。'
DR。 FREEMANTLE。 What do they think about it allthe Bennets? You have told them?
THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL。 We thought it better。 You see; one hardly regards them as servants。 They have been in the family so long。 Three generations of them。
THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL。 Really; since our poor dear brother's death; Bennet has been more like the head of the house than the butler。
THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL。 Of course; he doesn't say much。
THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL。 It is her having been on the stage that they feel so。
THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL。 You see; they have always been a religious family。
THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL。 Do you know; I really think they feel it more than we do。 I found Peggy crying about it yesterday; in the scullery。
DR。 FREEMANTLE 'he has been listening with a touch of amusement。' Peggy Bennet?
THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL。 Yes。 CHARLES Bennet's daughter。
DR。 FREEMANTLE。 Happen to have a servant about the place who isn't a Bennet?
THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL。 No; no; I don't really think we have。 Oh; yesthat new girl Mrs。 Bennet engaged last week for the dairy。 What is her name?
THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL。 Arnold。
THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL。 Ah; yes; Arnold。
DR。 FREEMANTLE。 Ah!
THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL。 I think she's a cousin; dear。
THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL。 Only a second cousin。
DR。 FREEMANTLE。 Um! Well I should tell the whole family to buck up。 Seems to me; from what you tell me; that their master is bringing them home a treasure。 'He shakes hands briskly with the ladies。' May look in again to…morrow。 Don't forgetone page Marcus Aurelius before breakfastin case of need。 'He goes out。'
The sun has sunk。 The light is twilight。
THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL。 He always cheers one up。
THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL。 He's so alive。
'Mrs。 Bennet comes in from the dressing…room。 She leaves the door ajar。 The sound of a hammer is heard。 It ceases almost immediately。' Oh; Mrs。 Bennet; we were going to ask youwho is to be her ladyship's maid? Have you decided yet?
MRS。 BENNET。 I have come to the conclusionlooking at the thing from every point of viewthat Jane would be the best selection。
THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL。 Jane!
THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL。 But does she understand the duties?
MRS。 BENNET。 A lady's maid; being so much alone with her mistress; is bound to have a certain amount of influence。 And Jane has exceptionally high principles。
THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL。 That is true; dear。
MRS。 BENNET。 As regards the duties; she is very quick at learning anything new。 Of course; at first …
The sound of hammering again comes from the bedroom。
THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL。 Who is that hammering in her ladyship's bedroom?
MRS。 BENNET。 It is Bennet; Miss Edith。 We thought it might be helpful: a few texts; hung where they would always catch her ladyship's eye。 'She notices the look of doubt。' Nothing offensive。 Mere general exhortations such as could be read by any lady。 'The Misses Wetherell look at one another; but do not speak。' I take it; dinner will be at half past seven; as usual?
THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL。 Yes; Mrs。 Bennet; thank you。 They will not be here till about nine。 They will probably prefer a little supper to themselves。
Mrs。 Bennet goes outon her way to the kitchen。 The Misses Wetherell look at one another again。 The hammering recommences。
THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL 'she hesitates a moment; then goes to the open door and calls'。 BennetBennet! 'She returns and waits。 Bennet comes in。'
Oh; Bennet; your wife tells us you are putting up a few texts in her ladyship's bedroom。
BENNET。 It seemed to me that a silent voice; speaking to her; as it were; from the wall …
THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL。 It is so good of youonly; youyou will be careful there is nothing she could regard as a PERSONAL allusion。
BENNET。 Many of the most popular I was compelled to reject; purely for that reason。
THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL。 We felt sure we could trust to your discretion。
THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL。 You see; coming; as she does; from a good family …
BENNET。 It is thatI speak merely for myselfthat gives me hope of reclaiming her。
A silence。 The two ladies; feeling a little helpless; again look at one another。
THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL。 We must be very sympathetic。
THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL。 And patient; Bennet。
BENNET。 It is what I am preparing myself to be。 Of course; if you think them inadvisable; I can take them down again。
THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL。 No; Bennet; oh no! I should leave them up。 Very thoughtful of you; indeed。
BENNET。 It seemed to me one ought to leave no stone unturned。 'He returns to his labours in the bedroom。'
THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL 'after a pause'。 I do hope she'll LIKE the Bennets。
THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL。 I think she willafter a time; when she is used to them。
THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL。 I am so anxious it should turn out well。
THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL。 I feel sure she's a good woman。 Vernon would never have fallen in love with her if she hadn't been good。 'They take each other's hand; and sit side by side; as before; upon the settee。 The twilight has faded: only the faint firelight remains; surrounded by shadows。' Do you remember; when he was a little mite; how he loved to play with your hair? 'The younger Miss Wetherell laughs。' I always envied you your hair。
THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL。 He was so fond of us both。 Do you remember when he was recovering from the measles; his crying for us to bath him instead of Mrs。 Bennet? I have always reproached myself that we refused。
THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL。 He was such a big boy for his age。
THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL。 I think we might have stretched a point in a case of illness。
The room has grown very dark。 The door has been softly opened; Vernon and Fanny have entered noiselessly。 Fanny remains near the door hidden by a screen; Vernon has crept forward。 At this point the two ladies become aware that somebody is in the room。 They are alarmed。
THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL。 Who's there?
VERNON。 It's all right; aunt。 It's only I。
The two ladies have risen。 They run forward; both take him in their arms。
THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL。 Vernon!
THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL。 My dear boy!
THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL。 But we didn't expect you …
THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL。 And your wife; dear?
VERNON。 She's here!
THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL。 Here?
Fanny; from behind the screen; laughs。
VERNON。 We'll have some light。 'He whispers to them。' Not a word haven't told her yet。 'Feeling his way to the wall; he turns on the electric light。'
Fanny is revealed; having slipped out from behind the screen。 There is a pause。 Vernon; standing near the fire; watches admiringly。
FANNY。 Hope you are going to like me。
THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL。 My dear; I am sure we shall。
THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL。 It is so easy to love the young and pretty。 'They have drawn close to her。 They seem to hesitate。'
FANNY 'laughs'。 It doesn't come off; does it; Vernon; dear? 'Vernon laughs。 The two ladies; laughing; kiss her。' I'm so glad you think I'm pretty。 As a matter of fact; I'm not。 There's a certain charm about me; I admit。 It deceives people。
THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL。 We were afraidyou know; dear; boys 'she looks at Vernon and smiles' sometimes fall in love with women much older than themselvesespecially women'She grows confused。 She takes the girl's hand。' We are so relieved that youthat you are yourself; dear;
FANNY。 You were quite right; dear。 They are sweet。 Which is which?
VERNON 'laughs'。 Upon my word; I never can tell。
THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL。 Vernon! And you know I was always your favourite!
THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL。 Dear!
VERNON。 Then this is Aunt Alice。
THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL。 No dear; Edith。
'Vernon throws up his hands in despair。 They all laugh。'
FANNY。 I