If Only etc. Part 36

ROSALINE.

Of course his name is Tempenny--I never denied it.

REMBRANDT TEMPENNY and MRS. SYLVESTER (_aside_).

What?

ROSALINE.

I am n.o.body's accomplice--I am an honest woman earning a living. I will tell lies for no one.

REMBRANDT TEMPENNY (_aside_).

The cat!

MRS. SYLVESTER.

Oh, this is infamous! So Mr. Tempenny a.s.sists my husband to deceive me, does he? We will see what his wife has to say to it. Birds of a feather--as I always thought. Abandoned wretches both!

(_Exit L_.)

REMBRANDT TEMPENNY (_springing up_).

You mischief-making little beast--what have you done?

ROSALINE.

Don't you talk to me like that--I won't have it!

REMBRANDT TEMPENNY (_furiously_).

You won't have it!

ROSALINE.

No, I won't.

REMBRANDT TEMPENNY.

You--you--! You smacked my face!

ROSALINE.

And I'll smack it again if you aggravate me. If it weren't that _he_ will be here later on, I'd walk straight out of the studio, and never come into it again.

REMBRANDT TEMPENNY.

I've a good mind to bundle you out neck and crop, I can tell you. That woman has gone off to complain to my wife. Here, get me out of these things. (_He divests himself of the Chinese wig and costume_.) I think I had better go. I don't know how I'll do the picture--I'll _never_ do the picture. I think _you_ had better go--if Charlie Sylvester finds you here after this, he will murder you.

CHARLES SYLVESTER (_off_).

Tempenny!--Tempenny--are you upstairs?

REMBRANDT TEMPENNY (_agitated_).

He! Oh, I say, you know--don't yer know--this is awful!

ROSALINE (_rapturously_).

I know his voice.

REMBRANDT TEMPENNY (_dancing with terror_).

Yes, so do I! He'll kill you--I warn you he will make a corse of you--or _me_. I won't meet him. I can't. Get rid of him for the Lord's sake--I'll hide in there till he has gone.

(_Exit R_.)

ROSALINE (_taking out powder puff_).

After years we meet again!

(_Enter_ SYLVESTER _L_.)

CHARLES SYLVESTER.

Why the devil couldn't you answer, Tempenny, I say--

ROSALINE (_turning_).

Charles! Ah! once more!

CHARLES SYLVESTER.

Great Scott! My dear girl, what on earth are you here for?

ROSALINE.

It is like that you greet me?

CHARLES SYLVESTER.

"Greet" you? Well, upon my word I don't quite know what you expect. I thought it was understood between us last time we met that--that--we weren't to meet? You see I've got a wife, and--

ROSALINE.

I know. I have just seen her.

CHARLES SYLVESTER.