Love's Comedy Part 16

FALK.

No, first I'll act. I've slept too long and late.

[Looks up at SVANHILD's window, and exclaims, as if seized with a sudden resolution: Good-night! Good-night! Sweet dreams to-night be thine; To-morrow, Svanhild, thou art plighted mine!

[Goes out quickly to the right; from the water the CHORUS is heard again.

CHORUS.

Maybe I shall shatter my roaming bark, But it's pa.s.sing sweet to be roaming!

[The boat slowly glides away as the curtain falls.

ACT SECOND

Sunday afternoon. Well-dressed ladies and gentlemen are drinking coffee on the verandah. Several of the guests appear through the open gla.s.s door in the garden-room; the following song is heard from within.

CHORUS.

Welcome, welcome, new plighted pair To the merry ranks of the plighted!

Now you may revel as free as air, Caress without stint and kiss without care,-- No longer of footfall affrighted.

Now you are licensed, wherever you go, To rapture of cooing and billing; Now you have leisure love's seed to sow, Water, and tend it, and make it grow;-- Let us see you've a talent for tilling!

MISS JAY [within].

Ah Lind, if I only had chanced to hear, I would have teased you!

A LADY [within].

How vexatious though!

ANOTHER LADY [in the doorway].

Dear Anna, did he ask in writing?

AN AUNT.

No!

Mine did.

A LADY [on the verandah].

How long has it been secret, dear?

[Runs into the room.

MISS JAY.

To-morrow there will be the ring to choose.

LADIES [eagerly].

We'll take his measure!

MISS JAY.

Nay; that she must do.

MRS. STRAWMAN [on the verandah, to a lady who is busy with embroidery].

What kind of knitting-needles do you use?

A SERVANT [in the door with a coffee-pot].

More coffee, madam?

A LADY.

Thanks, a drop or two.

MISS JAY [to ANNA].

How fortunate you've got your new manteau Next week to go your round of visits in!

AN ELDERLY LADY [at the window].

When shall we go and order the trousseau?

MRS. STRAWMAN.

How are they selling cotton-bombasine?

A GENTLEMAN [to some ladies on the verandah].

Just look at Lind and Anna; what's his sport?

LADIES [with shrill ecstasy].

Gracious, he kissed her glove!

OTHERS [similarly, springing up].

No! Kiss'd it! Really?

LIND [appears, red and embarra.s.sed, in the doorway].

O, stuff and nonsense! [Disappears.

MISS JAY.

Yes, I saw it clearly.

STIVER [in the door, with a coffee-cup in one hand and a biscuit in the other].

The witnesses must not mislead the court; I here make affidavit, they're in error.

MISS JAY [within].

Come forward, Anna; stand before this mirror!

SOME LADIES [calling].

You, too, Lind!

MISS JAY.

Back to back! A little nearer!