The Cabinet Minister - LightNovelsOnl.com
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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!
