Mr. Pim Passes By - LightNovelsOnl.com
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GEORGE (_down_ L.). Nearly finished 'em?
OLIVIA. Very nearly. (_Smiling to herself, turns away to R., pretending to look for scissors_.) Have you seen my scissors anywhere?
GEORGE (_looking round_). Scissors?
OLIVIA (_turns to_ L. _and finds them in her work-box_). It's all right, here they are----
GEORGE (_down_ L. _below chair facing_ OLIVIA). Where are you thinking of hanging 'em?
OLIVIA (_as if really wondering_). I don't quite know.... I _had_ thought of this room, but--I'm not quite sure.
GEORGE (_crossing below_ OLIVIA _to centre_). Ah! Yes! Brighten the room up a bit.
OLIVIA. Yes.
GEORGE (_walking up centre a little towards windows_). H'm, yes----They are a bit faded.
OLIVIA (_shaking out hers, and looking at them critically_). You know, sometimes I think I love them, and sometimes I'm not quite sure.
GEORGE. Best way is to hang 'em up and see how you like 'em. Always take 'em down again.
OLIVIA. Oh, that's a good idea, George.
GEORGE. Best way.
OLIVIA. Yes.... I think we might try that--(_looking round at settee and carpets, etc_.)--the only thing is--(_She hesitates_.)
GEORGE. What?
OLIVIA. Well, the carpets and the chair-covers and the cus.h.i.+ons and things--
GEORGE. Well, what about 'em?
OLIVIA. Well, if we had new curtains--
GEORGE. You'd want a new carpet, eh?
OLIVIA (_doubtfully_). Well, _new chair-covers, anyhow._
GEORGE. H'm!... Well, why not?
OLIVIA. Oh, but--
GEORGE (_with an awkward laugh_). We're not so hard up as all that, you know.
OLIVIA (_quickly_). No, I don't suppose we are really--
GEORGE. No, no, no, yes--I mean no.
OLIVIA (_thoughtfully_). I suppose it would mean that I should have to go up to London to choose them. You know, that's rather a nuisance.
GEORGE (_extremely casual and moving towards_ OLIVIA). Oh, I don't know.
We might go up together one day.
OLIVIA. Well, of course if we _were_ up--for anything else--
GEORGE (_moving away dubiously_). Yes, yes! That's what I meant.
(_There is another silence_. GEORGE _is wondering whether to come to closer quarters with the great question_.)
OLIVIA. Oh, by the way, George--
GEORGE. Yes?
OLIVIA (_innocently_). I told Brian, and of course he'll tell Dinah, that Mr. Pim had made a mistake about the name.
GEORGE (_astonished, moving towards_ OLIVIA). Mistake about the name?
OLIVIA. Yes--I told Brian that the whole thing was a mistake, I thought that was the simplest way.
GEORGE. Olivia--(_crossing below and to her_ L.)--then you mean that Brian and Dinah think that--that we have been married all the time?
OLIVIA. Yes.
GEORGE (_coming closer to her_). Olivia, does that mean that you are thinking of marrying me?
OLIVIA. At your old registry office?
GEORGE (_eagerly_). Yes!
OLIVIA. To-morrow?
GEORGE. Yes.
OLIVIA. Do you want me to very much?
GEORGE. My darling, you know I do.
OLIVIA. We should have to keep it very quiet, George.
GEORGE. Well, of course--(_sitting to her_ L.)--n.o.body need know. We don't want anybody to know. And now that you've put Brian and Dinah off the scent, by telling them that--(_he breaks off and says admiringly_)-- that was very clever of you, Olivia. I should never have thought of that.
OLIVIA (_innocently_). George--you don't think it was _wrong_, do you?
GEORGE (_his verdict, taking her hands and patting them_). An innocent deception... perfectly harmless.
OLIVIA. Yes, dear, that was what I thought about--about--(_laughing to herself_) what I was doing.
