More Portmanteau Plays Part 49

I think I'll tell you two a secret. (_Susan p.r.i.c.ks up her ears_) Do you like secrets?

SUSAN

Yes, sir.

NATHANIEL

And can you keep them?

SUSAN

Oh, yes, sir.

NATHANIEL

Well, some day Mlle. Perrault is going to be my wife.

[_He kisses Mlle. Perrault's hand._

_Mlle. Perrault shows her engagement ring._

SUSAN

When?

NATHANIEL

Very soon. She is here on some war work and when she and her father go back to France I shall follow and we shall be married.

SUSAN

Ooh--

NATHANIEL

Now you mustn't tell.

SUSAN

Honest.

JONATHAN

No, sir!

MLLE. PERRAULT

Now, we have a secret. And you are going to sing me a little song.

SUSAN

Come on, Jonathan. Let's do the new one.

JONATHAN

Well, I'll try.

[_He is quite miserable with stage-fright._

_Susan sits at the piano and plays a chord. Then Jonathan begins to sing with much fear in his voice._

JONATHAN (_singing_)

All on a summer's day, With flowers by the way, A fair young prince and his purple knight Found a princess at her play.

So by the crescent moon He asked a royal boon And sat him down on a soft green knoll-- And the night-time came too soon.

MLLE. PERRAULT

Oh, that is just like a little French peasant song! How does it go?

La--la--la--la--la--la.

[_Susan begins to play it again._

_Jonathan sings more surely than before._

_Slowly Mlle. Perrault falls into the rhythm and very simply dances a little peasant dance to Jonathan's and Susan's song. The two youngsters are in the seventh heaven of delight._

So--when one is very happy or very sad, he makes a song and when he's very, very happy, he dances. And when he is very, very, very unhappy he dies. You see, _I_ am very, very happy. When do you play _Zen.o.bia_, Mr. Jefferson, Sr.?

JONATHAN

I'll have it ready tomorrow, maybe tonight.

NATHANIEL

We shall have a season ticket. But now, I want you to meet my blessed Aunt Let.i.tia. She hasn't changed one bit in all these years.

MLLE. PERRAULT

To Aunt Let.i.tia then. Good-bye, Jonathan. Tomorrow is the day of the great premiere.

JONATHAN (_awkwardly_)

Thanks.

MLLE. PERRAULT

And la belle pet.i.te Susanne, au revoir.