The Servant in the House Part 11
You’re reading novel The Servant in the House Part 11 online at LightNovelFree.com. Please use the follow button to get notification about the latest chapter next time when you visit LightNovelFree.com. Use F11 button to read novel in full-screen(PC only). Drop by anytime you want to read free – fast – latest novel. It’s great if you could leave a comment, share your opinion about the new chapters, new novel with others on the internet. We’ll do our best to bring you the finest, latest novel everyday. Enjoy!
ROBERT. 'Ere! Did 'e say _bishop_?
MANSON. Yes.
ROBERT. Comin' 'ere? Now?
[MANSON nods his head to each inquiry.]
Well, I ain't agoin' ter leave my sossingers, not if 'e was a bloomin' archangel, see!
[ROGERS, still jiggered, ushers in JAMES PONSONBY MAKESHYFTE, D.D., the Most Reverend the Lord Bishop of Lancas.h.i.+re. He looks his name, his goggles and ear-trumpet lending a beautiful perfection to the resemblance.]
[MANSON has risen: ROBERT, imperturbable, discusses sossingers: ROGERS, with a last excruciation of his ailment, vanishes.]
[The Most Reverend Father in G.o.d stands blinking for recognition.
Pained at the non-fulfilment of this worthy expectation, he moves--a little blindly--towards the table. Here he encounters the oppugnant back of the voracious ROBERT, who grows quite annoyed.
Indeed, be as good as says so.]
'Ere, where ye comin' to?
BISHOP [peering closely into his face, the other edging away]. Ah!
Mr. Smythe, or I am mistaken.
ROBERT. Smith's my name! Don't you call me Smythe!
BISHOP. My dear sir, don't mention it: my sister has explained everything. I bear you no grudge--none whatever!
ROBERT. What's the silly ole josser jawin' abaht now?
BISHOP. But I perceive that I have--er--[sniffing] disturbed you at your morning meal . . .
ROBERT [with conviction]. You 'av' that!
BISHOP. Eh? . . .
ROBERT [louder]. I say, you 'av'!
BISHOP [fixing his ear-trumpet]. Just once more . . .
ROB ERT. Oh, Moses! [Roaring, and indicating his breakfast.] You 'av' blarst you!
BISHOP [mistaking the gesticulation]. Thank you, you are very kind. I think I will. I could get nothing on the journey but a cup of coffee and a bun.
[He sits at the table without ever having perceived MANSON, who has nevertheless been serving him.]
ROBERT. Yus, you look as if you fed on buns!
[Throughout the play the audience will understand where the BISHOP does, and where he does not, hear by his use or non-use of the ear-trumpet. Perhaps the reader will be good enough to imagine these occasions for himself, as he may have observed a reluctance on the part of the author to enc.u.mber the text with stage directions.]
BISHOP [eating, and at the same time addressing the beca.s.socked ROBERT]. And you must not think, on account of the little coolness between us, that I have not followed your career with great interest--very great interest! Your scholastic achievements have been most praiseworthy--especially under the unfortunate circ.u.mstances. . . . Although, by-the-way, I cannot at all agree with your gloss on Romans fourteen, twenty-three; _Katakekritai_ either means _d.a.m.ned_ or nothing at all.
ROBERT [gesticulating]. It was _'im_ as said _d.a.m.ned_!
BISHOP. No, no, sir: it is perfectly indefensible!
ROBERT. I'll use what langwidge I like!
BISHOP [warming]. You said _katakekritai_ . . .
ROBERT. I never did, _I_ tek my oath!
BISHOP. My dear sir, I learned my Greek at Shrewsbury, before you were born! Don't argue, sir!
ROBERT. Oo is argufying? . . . Talking to me about yer Katama-what-d'you-call-it!
BISHOP. We had better drop the subject! . . . Boeotian! After all, it is not precisely the matter which has brought us together.
And that reminds me . . . [Trumpet.] Has he come yet?
ROBERT. Oo?
BISHOP. Your brother, of course.
ROBERT. My brother! Oh, you'll see _'im_ soon enough!
BISHOP. I gather from your remark that he has not arrived yet.
Good! The fact is, I should like a preliminary discussion with yourself before meeting your ill.u.s.trious brother.
ROBERT. Then you'd better look slippy!
BISHOP. I beg your pardon? . . .
ROBERT [with a flap at the trumpet]. Go on: you 'eard.
BISHOP. Of course, the _financial_ undertaking is considerable: it's not like an _investment_, where there is some reasonable hope of a return: it's merely a matter of charity! The money's--gone, so to speak.
ROBERT. Yus, I've noticed that about money, myself.
BISHOP. At the same time, I should like my _name_ to be a.s.sociated with your brother's, in so worthy an enterprise . . .
ROBERT [mildly sarcastic]. You don't say!
BISHOP. And then again, I _trust_--I say I _trust_--I am not impervious to the more sacred obligations involved; but . . .
[He gropes blindly for bread.]
ROBERT. I allus notice that sort of 'igh talk ends with a "but" . . .
BISHOP. Naturally, I should like to learn a little, beforehand, of your brother's _views_. From what I gather, they are not altogether likely to coincide with my own. Of course, he is an idealist, a dreamer. Now, under these circ.u.mstances, perhaps . . .
Eh, what-- Oh! Bless my soul!
The Servant in the House Part 11
You're reading novel The Servant in the House Part 11 online at LightNovelFree.com. You can use the follow function to bookmark your favorite novel ( Only for registered users ). If you find any errors ( broken links, can't load photos, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. And when you start a conversation or debate about a certain topic with other people, please do not offend them just because you don't like their opinions.
The Servant in the House Part 11 summary
You're reading The Servant in the House Part 11. This novel has been translated by Updating. Author: Charles Rann Kennedy already has 515 views.
It's great if you read and follow any novel on our website. We promise you that we'll bring you the latest, hottest novel everyday and FREE.
LightNovelFree.com is a most smartest website for reading novel online, it can automatic resize images to fit your pc screen, even on your mobile. Experience now by using your smartphone and access to LightNovelFree.com
- Related chapter:
- The Servant in the House Part 10
- The Servant in the House Part 12