fanny and the servant problem- 第10部分

FANNY　＇she　turnswalks　slowly　back　towards　the　tea…table。　　Halfway　she　pauses；　and　leaning　over　the　back　of　a　chair　regards　in　silence　for　a　while　the　portrait　of　the　first　Lady　Bantock＇。　　I　do　wish　I　could　tell　what　you　were　saying。

The　door　opens。　　The　Misses　Wetherell　come　in。　　They　wear　the　same　frocks　that　they　wore　in　the　first　act。　　They　pause。　　Fanny　is　still　gazing　at　the　portrait。

THE　ELDER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　Don't　you　notice　it；　dear？

THE　YOUNGER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　Yes。　　There　really　is。

THE　ELDER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　It　struck　me　the　first　day。　　＇To　Fanny；　who　has　turned＇　　Your　likeness；　dear；　to　Lady　Constance。　　It's　really　quite　remarkable。

FANNY。　　You　think　so？

THE　YOUNGER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　It's　your　expressionwhen　you　are　serious。

FANNY　＇laughs＇。　　I　must　try　to　be　more　serious。

THE　ELDER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　It　will　come；　dear。

They　take　their　places　side　by　side　on　the　settee。

THE　YOUNGER　MISS　WETHERELL　＇to　her　sister；　with　a　pat　of　the　hand＇。　In　good　time。　　It's　so　nice　to　have　her　young。　　I　wonder　if　anybody'll　come　this　afternoon。

THE　ELDER　MISS　WETHERELL　＇to　Fanny＇。　　You　see；　dear；　most　of　the　county　people　are　still　in　town。

FANNY　＇who　is　pouring　out　tea＇。　　I'm　not　grumbling。

THE　ELDER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　Oh；　you'll　like　them；　dear。　　The　Cracklethorpes　especially。　　＇To　her　sister　for　confirmation＇　　Bella　Cracklethorpe　is　so　clever。

THE　YOUNGER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　And　the　Engells。　　She'll　like　the　Engells。　　All　the　Engell　girls　are　so　pretty。　　＇Fanny　brings　over　two　cups　of　tea。＇　　Thank　you；　dear。

THE　ELDER　MISS　WETHERELL　＇as　she　takes　her　cuppatting　Fanny's　hand＇。　　And　they'll　like　you；　dear；　ALL　of　them。

FANNY　＇returning　to　table＇。　　I　hope　so。

THE　ELDER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　It's　wonderful；　dearyou　won't　mind　my　saying　it？how　you've　improved。

THE　YOUNGER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　Of　course　it　was　such　a　change　for　you。　And　at　first　＇turns　to　her　sister＇　we　were　a　little　anxious　about　her；　weren't　we？

Fanny　has　returned　to　them　with　the　cake…basket。

THE　ELDER　MISS　WETHERELL　＇as　she　takes　a　piece＇。　　Bennet　＇she　lingers　on　the　name　as　that　of　an　authority＇　was　saying　only　yesterday　that　he　had　great　hopes　of　you。

THE　YOUNGER　MISS　WETHERELL　＇Fanny　is　handing　the　basket　to　her＇。　Thank　you；　dear。

THE　ELDER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　I　told　Vernon。　　He　was　SO　pleased。

FANNY。　　VERNON　was？

THE　ELDER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　He　attaches　so　much　importance　to　Bennet's　opinion。

FANNY。　　Um。　　I'm　glad　I　appear　to　be　giving　satisfaction。　　＇She　has　returned　to　her　seat　at　the　table。＇　　I　suppose　when　you　go　to　town；　you　take　the　Bennets　with　you？

THE　ELDER　MISS　WETHERELL　＇surprised　at　the　question＇。　　Of　course；　dear。

THE　YOUNGER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　Vernon　didn't　wish　to　go　this　year。　　He　thought　you　would　prefer　…

FANNY。　　I　was　merely　thinking　of　when　he　did。　　Do　you　ever　go　abroad　for　the　winter？　　So　many　people　do；　nowadays。

THE　ELDER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　We　tried　it　once。　　But　there　was　nothing　for　dear　Vernon　to　do。　　You　see；　he's　so　fond　of　hunting。

THE　YOUNGER　MISS　WETHERELL　＇to　her　sister＇。　　And　then　there　will　be　his　Parliamentary　duties　that　he　will　have　to　take　up　now。

Fanny　rises；　abruptly。

THE　ELDER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　You're　not　ill；　dear？

FANNY。　　No。　　Merely　felt　I　wanted　some　air。　　You　don't　mind；　do　you？　＇She　flings　a　casement　open。＇

THE　YOUNGER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　Not　at　all；　dear。　　＇To　her　sister＇　　It　IS　a　bit　close。

THE　ELDER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　One　could　really　do　without　fires。

THE　YOUNGER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　If　it　wasn't　for　the　evenings。

THE　ELDER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　And　then；　of　course；　the　cold　weather　might　come　again。　　One　can　never　feel　safe　until　…

The　door　opens。　　Dr。　Freemantle　enters；　announced　by　Bennet。　　The　old　ladies　go　to　rise。　　He　stops　them。

DR。　FREEMANTLE。　　Don't　get　up。　　＇He　shakes　hands　with　them。＇　　How　are　we　this　afternoon？　　＇He　shakes　his　head　and　clicks　his　tongue。＇　Really；　I　think　I　shall　have　to　bring　an　action　for　damages　against　Lady　Bantock。　　Ever　since　she　…

THE　ELDER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　Hush！　　＇She　points　to　the　window。＇　　Fanny。

THE　YOUNGER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　Here's　Doctor　Freemantle。

Fanny　comes　from　the　window。

DR。　FREEMANTLE　＇he　meets　her　and　takes　her　hand＇。　　Was　just　saying；　I　really　think　I　shall　have　to　claim　damages　against　you；　Lady　Bantock。　You've　practically　deprived　me　of　two　of　my　best　paying　patients。　Used　to　be　sending　for　me　every　other　day　before　you　came。　　Now　look　at　them！　　＇The　two　ladies　laugh。＇　　She's　not　as　bad　as　we　expected。　＇He　pats　her　hand。＇　　Do　you　remember　my　description　of　what　I　thought　she　was　going　to　be　like？

THE　YOUNGER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　She's　a　dear　girl。

THE　ELDER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　Bennet　…

FANNY　＇she　has　crossed　to　tableis　pouring　out　the　Doctor's　tea＇。　Oh；　mightn't　we　have　a　holiday　from　Bennet？

DR。　FREEMANTLE　＇laughs＇。　　Seems　to　be　having　a　holiday　himself　to…　day。

THE　YOUNGER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　A　holiday？

DR。　FREEMANTLE。　　Didn't　you　know？　　Oh；　there's　an　awfully　swagger　party　on　downstairs。　　They　were　all　trooping　in　as　I　came。

THE　YOUNGER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　I'd　no　idea　he　was　giving　a　party。　　＇To　Fanny＇　　Did　you；　dear？

FANNY　＇she　hands　the　Doctor　his　tea＇。　　Yes。　　It's　a　prayer　meeting。　The　whole　family；　I　expect；　has　been　summoned。

DR。　FREEMANTLE。　　A　prayer　meeting！　　Didn't　look　like　it。

THE　ELDER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　But　why　should　he　be　holding　a　prayer　meeting？

FANNY。　　Oh；　one　of　the　family　…

DR。　FREEMANTLE。　　And　why　twelve　girls　in　a　van？

THE　YOUNGER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　In　a　van？

DR。　FREEMANTLE。　　One　of　Hutton's　from　the　Station　Hotelwith　a　big　poster　pinned　on　the　door：　　〃Our　Empire。〃

Fanny　has　risen。　　She　crosses　and　rings　the　bell。

THE　YOUNGER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　What's　the　matter；　dear？

FANNY。　　I'm　not　quite　sure　yet。　　＇Her　whole　manner　is　changed。　　A　look　has　come　into　her　eyes　that　has　not　been　there　before。　　She　speaks　in　quiet；　determined　tones。　　She　rings　again。　　Then　returning　to　table；　hands　the　cake…basket　to　the　Doctor。＇　　Won't　you　take　one；　Doctor？　　They're　not　as　indigestible　as　they　look。　　＇Laughs。＇

DR。　FREEMANTLE　＇he　also　is　bewildered　at　the　changed　atmosphere＇。　Thank　you。　　I　hope　I　…

FANNY　＇she　turns　to　Ernest；　who　has　entered。　　Her　tone；　for　the　first　time；　is　that　of　a　mistress　speaking　to　her　servants＇。　　Have　any　visitors　called　for　me　this　afternoon？

ERNEST。　　Vi…visitors？

FANNY。　　Some　ladies。

ERNEST　＇he　is　in　a　slough　of　doubt　and　terror＇。　　Lladies？

FANNY。　　Yes。　　Please　try　to　understand　the　English　language。　　Has　a　party　of　ladies　called　here　this　afternoon？

ERNEST。　　There　have　been　some　ladies。　　Theywe　…

FANNY。　　Where　are　they？

ERNEST。　　TheyI　…

FANNY。　　Send　Bennet　up　to　me。　　Instantly；　please。

Ernest；　only　too　glad　to　be　off；　stumbles　out。

THE　YOUNGER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　My　dear　…

FANNY。　　You'll　take　some　more　tea；　won't　you？　　Do　you　mind；　Doctor；　passing　Miss　Wetherell's　cup？　　And　the　other　one。　　Thank　you。　　And　will　you　pass　them　the　biscuits？　　You　see；　I　am　doing　all　I　can　on　your　behalf。　　＇She　is　talking　and　laughinga　little　hysterically　for　the　purpose　of　filling　time。＇　　Tea　and　hot　cakecould　anything　be　worse　for　them？

DR。　FREEMANTLE。　　Well；　tea；　you　know　…

FANNY。　　I　know。　　＇Laughs。＇　　You　doctors　are　all　alike。　　You　all　denounce　it；　but　you　all　drink　it。　　＇She　hands　him　the　two　cups。＇　That　one　is　for　Aunt　Wetherell　of　the　beautiful　hair；　and　the　other　is　for　Aunt　Wetherell　of　the　beautiful　eyes。　　＇Laughs。＇　　It's　the　only　way　I　can　distinguish　them。

Bennet　enters。

Oh；　Bennet！

BENNET。　　You　sent　for　me？

FANNY。　　Yes。　　I　understand　some　ladies　have　called。

BENNET。　　I　think　your　ladyship　must　have　been　misinformed。　　I　most　certainly　have　seen　none。

FANNY。　　I　have　to　assume；　Bennet；　that　either　Dr。　Freemantle　or　you　are　telling　lies。

A　silence。

BENNET。　　A　party　of　over…dressed　young　women；　claiming　to　be　acquainted　with　your　ladyship；　have　arrived　in　a　van。　　I　am　giving　them　tea　in　the　servants'　hall；　and　will　see　to　it　that　they　are　sent　back　to　the　station　in　ample　time　to　catch　their　train　back　to　town。

FANNY。　　Please　show　them　up。　　They　will　have　their　tea　here。

BENNET　＇her　very　quietness　is　beginning　to　alarm　him。　　It　shakes　him　from　his　customary　perfection　of　manners＇。　　The　Lady　Bantocks　do　not　as　a　rule　receive　circus　girls　in　their　boudoir。

FANNY　＇still　with　her　alarming　quietness＇。　　Neither　do　they　argue　with　their　servants。　　Please　show　these　ladies　in。

BENNET。　　I　warn　you　…

FANNY。　　You　heard　my　orders。　　＇Her　tone　has　the　right　ring。　　The　force　of　habit　is　too　strong　upon　him。　　He　yieldssavagelyand　goes　out。　　She　turns　to　the　Doctor。＇　　So　sorry　I　had　to　drag　you　into　it。　I　didn't　see　how　else　I　was　going　to　floor　him。

DR。　FREEMANTLE。　　Splendid！　　＇He　grips　her　hand。＇

FANNY　＇she　goes　to　the　old　ladies　who　sit　bewildered　terrified。＇　They　won't　be　here　for　more　than　a　few　minutesthey　can't　be。　　I　want　you　to　be　nice　to　themboth　of　you。　　They　are　friends　of　mine。　＇She　turns　to　the　Doctor。＇　　They're　the　girls　I　used　to　act　with。　　We　went　all　over　Europetwelve　of　usrepresenting　the　British　Empire。　They　are　playing　in　London　now。

DR。　FREEMANTLE。　　To…night？　　＇He　looks　at　his　watch。＇

FANNY　＇she　is　busy　at　the　tea…table＇。　　Yes。　　They