The Second Mrs. Tanqueray - LightNovelsOnl.com
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PAULA.
What are you staring at? Don't you admire my cloak?
AUBREY.
Yes.
PAULA.
Couldn't you wait till I'd gone before reading your letters?
AUBREY.
[_Putting the letter away._] I beg your pardon.
PAULA.
Take me downstairs to the carriage. [_Slipping her arm through his._] How I tease you! To-morrow! I'm so happy!
[_They go out._
THE SECOND ACT
_A morning-room in_ AUBREY TANQUERAY'S _house, "Highercoombe,"
near Willowmere, Surrey--a bright and prettily furnished apartment of irregular shape, with double doors opening into a small hall at the back, another door on the left, and a large recessed window through which is obtained a view of extensive grounds. Everything about the room is charming and graceful.
The fire is burning in the grate, and a small table is tastefully laid for breakfast. It is a morning in early Spring, and the sun is streaming in through the window._
AUBREY _and_ PAULA _are seated at breakfast, and_ AUBREY _is silently reading his letters. Two servants, a man and a woman, hand dishes and then retire. After a little while_ AUBREY _puts his letters aside and looks across to the window._
AUBREY.
Suns.h.i.+ne! Spring!
PAULA.
[_Glancing at the clock._] Exactly six minutes.
AUBREY.
Six minutes?
PAULA.
Six minutes, Aubrey dear, since you made your last remark.
AUBREY.
I beg your pardon; I was reading my letters. Have you seen Ellean this morning?
PAULA.
[_Coldly._] Your last observation but one was about Ellean.
AUBREY.
Dearest, what shall I talk about?
PAULA.
Ellean breakfasted two hours ago, Morgan tells me, and then went out walking with her dog.
AUBREY.
She wraps up warmly, I hope; this suns.h.i.+ne is deceptive.
PAULA.
I ran about the lawn last night, after dinner, in satin shoes. Were you anxious about me?
AUBREY.
Certainly.
PAULA.
[_Melting._] Really?
AUBREY.
You make me wretchedly anxious; you delight in doing incautious things. You are incurable.
PAULA.
Ah, what a beast I am! [_Going to him and kissing him, then glancing at the letters by his side._] A letter from Cayley?
AUBREY.
He is staying very near here, with Mrs.---- Very near here.
PAULA.
With the lady whose chimneys we have the honour of contemplating from our windows?
AUBREY.
