The Second Mrs. Tanqueray Part 15

PAULA.

What are you staring at? Don't you admire my cloak?

AUBREY.

Yes.

PAULA.

Couldn't you wait till I'd gone before reading your letters?

AUBREY.

[_Putting the letter away._] I beg your pardon.

PAULA.

Take me downstairs to the carriage. [_Slipping her arm through his._] How I tease you! To-morrow! I'm so happy!

[_They go out._

THE SECOND ACT

_A morning-room in_ AUBREY TANQUERAY'S _house, "Highercoombe,"

near Willowmere, Surrey--a bright and prettily furnished apartment of irregular shape, with double doors opening into a small hall at the back, another door on the left, and a large recessed window through which is obtained a view of extensive grounds. Everything about the room is charming and graceful.

The fire is burning in the grate, and a small table is tastefully laid for breakfast. It is a morning in early Spring, and the sun is streaming in through the window._

AUBREY _and_ PAULA _are seated at breakfast, and_ AUBREY _is silently reading his letters. Two servants, a man and a woman, hand dishes and then retire. After a little while_ AUBREY _puts his letters aside and looks across to the window._

AUBREY.

Suns.h.i.+ne! Spring!

PAULA.

[_Glancing at the clock._] Exactly six minutes.

AUBREY.

Six minutes?

PAULA.

Six minutes, Aubrey dear, since you made your last remark.

AUBREY.

I beg your pardon; I was reading my letters. Have you seen Ellean this morning?

PAULA.

[_Coldly._] Your last observation but one was about Ellean.

AUBREY.

Dearest, what shall I talk about?

PAULA.

Ellean breakfasted two hours ago, Morgan tells me, and then went out walking with her dog.

AUBREY.

She wraps up warmly, I hope; this suns.h.i.+ne is deceptive.

PAULA.

I ran about the lawn last night, after dinner, in satin shoes. Were you anxious about me?

AUBREY.

Certainly.

PAULA.

[_Melting._] Really?

AUBREY.

You make me wretchedly anxious; you delight in doing incautious things. You are incurable.

PAULA.

Ah, what a beast I am! [_Going to him and kissing him, then glancing at the letters by his side._] A letter from Cayley?

AUBREY.

He is staying very near here, with Mrs.---- Very near here.

PAULA.

With the lady whose chimneys we have the honour of contemplating from our windows?

AUBREY.