Dolly Reforming Herself - LightNovelsOnl.com
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[_Gets away from her, and busies himself with his cigar, lights it._
_Renie._ Good-night, Dolly!
_Dolly._ I'll come up with you, and stay till you're quite comfortable.
_Renie._ Shall I ever be comfortable again? Will things ever be the same? I wonder!
[_Goes off mournfully and tragically at back with a prolonged sigh._ MATT _has seated himself on sofa and taken up paper._
_Dolly._ [_Calls his attention to_ RENIE'S _exit and makes a furious gesture after her._] I know she'll be here next Christmas! [_Marches down enraged to_ MATT _and repeats in an angry, aggrieved way, emphasizing each word._] I know that woman will be here next Christmas!
_Matt._ [_Seated comfortably with his cigar and paper_] I daresay she will----
[DOLLY _marches indignantly and decisively to door and exit._
CURTAIN.
(_Half an hour pa.s.ses between Acts II and III._)
ACT III.
SCENE: _The same. Discover_ MATT _in the same seat and att.i.tude, with paper and cigar._ DOLLY _enters._
_Matt._ Well??
_Dolly._ I've had an awful time with her----
_Matt._ How?
_Dolly._ [_Seated._] First she had another fit of hysterics--then she longed to go out into the night air to cool her fevered brow--then she moaned out something about her n.o.ble Lucas----
_Matt._ And now?
_Dolly._ I've persuaded her to let Peters undress her. I've got her off my hands at last.
_Matt._ That's a comfort.
_Dolly._ Dad!
_Matt._ Yes.
_Dolly._ I won't have her here next Christmas.
_Matt._ No, I wouldn't.
_Dolly._ [_Repeats in a slow, aggrieved, enraged way, emphasizing each syllable._] Whatever happens, I will not have that woman in my house next Christmas. You hear that?
_Matt._ Yes. You won't have her here next Christmas!
_Dolly._ I mean it, this time. And I won't have Lucas here again for a very long time.
_Matt._ I wouldn't.
_Dolly._ [_Seated beside him._] Dad, please put away that paper. You're going over to Aldershot to-morrow to try to get Lucas exchanged?
_Matt._ I'll try.
_Dolly._ Where can you get him sent?
_Matt._ Gibraltar--India--South Africa--according as an appointment happens to be vacant.
_Dolly._ The further the better, and the longer.
PETERS _appears at door._
_Dolly._ Well, Peters, have you made Mrs. Sturgess comfortable?
_Peters._ I'm trying to, ma'am.
_Dolly._ Is she in bed yet?
_Peters._ No, ma'am.
_Dolly._ Not in bed!
_Peters._ No, ma'am, but she seems rather quieter.
_Dolly._ She let you undress her, I suppose?
_Peters._ I'm just going to, ma'am. She says her brain is still throbbing.
_Dolly._ Throbbing!
_Peters._ And could you lend her your hop-pillow?
_Dolly._ You'll find it in my wardrobe.
_Peters._ Yes, ma'am.
_Dolly._ Peters, pat up the hop-pillow for her, and insist on undressing her----
_Peters._ Yes, ma'am. [_Going._
