The Cabinet Minister Part 32

Valentine.

VALENTINE WHITE.

Why, what have you there?

Imogen.

A modern young lady's jewel casket. Open it, please. [Kneeling, he opens the box.]

VALENTINE WHITE.

[Looking into the box.] Imogen! The tea-things! I recognize them!

IMOGEN.

You see, I've never parted with my playthings, Val.

VALENTINE WHITE.

[Dragging out a large, faded, once gaudy doll.] And here's Rosa! I helped to cut out Rosa's mantle. Battered old Rosa!

IMOGEN.

[Taking the doll from him.] Don't! Old she may be, but her s.e.x should protect her from insult.

VALENTINE WHITE.

And here are my marbles! and the top! Ah, ah! the skipping-rope!

Imogen--perhaps--I--I've done you an injustice.

IMOGEN.

Do you think so?

VALENTINE WHITE.

I feared fas.h.i.+on had put your bright little nature into tight corsets--but--I see--I see----

IMOGEN.

[Replacing the toys in the box.] You see, Val.

VALENTINE WHITE.

I see you have some affection for the time when you were not Miss Twombley, but only--little Jenny.

IMOGEN.

Ah!

VALENTINE WHITE.

Not that these old dumb things prove much.

IMOGEN.

Oh, Val!

VALENTINE WHITE.

They prove their own existence--not the existence of little Jenny.

IMOGEN.

[Crying.] How unjust you are!

VALENTINE WHITE.

Perhaps. But your words and actions are so unlike.

IMOGEN.

[Wiping her eyes upon the doll's frock.] No, no.

VALENTINE WHITE.

I fancy we are children again when I hear you; but when I see your prim figure and stately walk I miss the little girl whose hair never submitted to a ribbon or a hairpin----

IMOGEN.

Oh!

[Impulsively she lets down her hair and disorders it wildly.]

VALENTINE WHITE.

[Not observing her.] I miss the little Jenny with a tumbled frock [She quickly disarranges her bow and sash.], the thoughtless romp who was generally minus one shoe!

IMOGEN.

[Fiercely.] Valentine!

[She takes off a shoe and flings it away.]

VALENTINE WHITE.

Jenny!