Quality Street Part 14

MISS SUSAN. Oh, Valentine Brown, how could you?

PHOEBE. To weary of Phoebe--patient, lady-like Phoebe--the Phoebe whom I have lost--to turn from her with a 'Bah, you make me old,' and become enamoured in a night of a thing like this!

MISS SUSAN. Yes, yes, indeed; yet he has been kind to us also. He has been to visit us several times.

PHOEBE. In the hope to see her. Was he not most silent and gloomy when we said she was gone out?

MISS SUSAN. He is infatuate---- (_She hesitates._) Sister, you are not partial to him still?

PHOEBE. No, Susan, no. I did love him all those years, though I never spoke of it to you. I put hope aside at once, I folded it up and kissed it and put it away like a pretty garment I could never wear again, I but loved to think of him as a n.o.ble man. But he is not a n.o.ble man, and Livvy found it out in an hour. The gallant! I flirted that I might enjoy his fury. Susan, there has been a declaration in his eyes all to-night, and when he cries 'Adorable Miss Livvy, be mine,' I mean to answer with an 'Oh, la, how ridiculous you are. You are much too old--I have been but quizzing you, sir.'

MISS SUSAN. Phoebe, how can you be so cruel?

PHOEBE. Because he has taken from me the one great glory that is in a woman's life. Not a man's love--she can do without that--but her own dear sweet love for him. He is unworthy of my love; that is why I can be so cruel.

MISS SUSAN. Oh, dear.

PHOEBE. And now my triumph is to be denied me, for we must steal away home before Henrietta and f.a.n.n.y see us.

MISS SUSAN. Yes, yes.

PHOEBE (_dispirited_). And to-morrow we must say that Livvy has gone back to her father, for I dare keep up this deception no longer.

Susan, let us go.

(_They are going dejectedly, but are arrested by the apparition of_ MISS HENRIETTA _and_ MISS f.a.n.n.y _peeping into the tent_. PHOEBE _has just time to signify to her sister that she will confess all and beg for mercy, when the intruders speak._)

Miss HENRIETTA (_not triumphant but astounded_). You, Miss Phoebe?

PHOEBE (_with bowed head_). Yes.

MISS f.a.n.n.y. How amazing! You do not deny, ma'am, that you are Miss Phoebe?

PHOEBE (_making confession_). Yes, f.a.n.n.y, I am Miss Phoebe.

(_To her bewilderment_ HENRIETTA _and_ f.a.n.n.y _exchange ashamed glances._)

MISS HENRIETTA. Miss Phoebe, we have done you a cruel wrong.

MISS f.a.n.n.y. Phoebe, we apologise.

MISS HENRIETTA. To think how excitedly we have been following her about in the shrubbery.

MISS f.a.n.n.y. She is wearing your cloak.

MISS HENRIETTA. Ensign Blades told us she was gone to the shrubbery.

MISS f.a.n.n.y. And we were convinced there was no such person.

MISS HENRIETTA. So of course we thought it must be you.

MISS f.a.n.n.y (_who has looked out_). I can discern her in the shrubbery still. She is decidedly taller than Phoebe.

MISS HENRIETTA. I thought she looked taller. I meant to say so.

Phoebe, 'twas the cloak deceived us. We could not see her face.

PHOEBE (_beginning to understand_). Cloak? You mean, Henrietta--you mean, f.a.n.n.y--

MISS f.a.n.n.y. 'Twas wicked of us, my dear, but we--we thought that you and Miss Livvy were the same person. (_They have evidently been stalking_ CHARLOTTE _in_ MISS PHOEBE'S _cloak_. MISS SUSAN _shudders, but_ MISS PHOEBE _utters a cry of reproach, and it is some time before they can persuade her to forgive them. It is of course also some time before we can forgive_ MISS PHOEBE.) Phoebe, you look so pretty. Are they paying you no attentions, my dear?

(PHOEBE _is unable to resist these delightful openings. The imploring looks_ MISS SUSAN _gives her but add to her enjoyment. It is as if the sense of fun she had caged a moment ago were broke loose again._)

PHOEBE. Alas, they think of none but Livvy. They come to me merely to say that they adore her.

MISS HENRIETTA. Surely not Captain Brown?

PHOEBE. He is infatuate about her.

MISS f.a.n.n.y. Poor Phoebe!

(_They make much of her, and she purrs naughtily to their stroking, with lightning peeps at_ MISS SUSAN. _Affronted Providence seeks to pay her out by sending_ ENSIGN BLADES _into the tent. Then the close observer may see_ MISS PHOEBE'S _heart sink like a bucket in a well_.

MISS SUSAN _steals from the tent._)

MISS HENRIETTA. Mr. Blades, I have been saying that if I were a gentleman I would pay my addresses to Miss Phoebe much rather than to her niece.

BLADES. Ma'am, excuse me.

MISS HENRIETTA (_indignant that_ MISS PHOEBE _should be slighted so publicly_). Sir, you are a most ungallant and deficient young man.

BLADES. Really, ma'am, I a.s.sure you----

MISS HENRIETTA. Not another word, sir.

PHOEBE (_in her most old-maidish manner_). Miss f.a.n.n.y, Miss Henrietta, it is time I spoke plainly to this gentleman. Please leave him to me.

Surely 'twill come best from me.

MISS HENRIETTA. Indeed, yes, if it be not too painful to you.

PHOEBE. I must do my duty.

MISS f.a.n.n.y (_wistfully_). If we could remain--

PHOEBE. Would it be seemly, Miss f.a.n.n.y?

MISS HENRIETTA. Come, f.a.n.n.y. (_To_ BLADES.) Sir, you bring your punishment upon yourself.

(_They press_ PHOEBE'S _hand, and go. Her heart returns to its usual abode._)

BLADES (_bewildered_). Are you angry with me, Miss Livvy?