Quality Street Part 21

MISS f.a.n.n.y. Phoebe?

VALENTINE. Yes, ma'am.

(_The ladies are for a moment bereft of speech, and the uplifted_ PHOEBE _cannot refrain from a movement which, if completed, would be a curtsy. Her punishment follows promptly._)

MISS HENRIETTA (_from her heart_). Phoebe, I am so happy 'tis you.

MISS f.a.n.n.y. Dear Phoebe, I give you joy. And you also, sir. (MISS PHOEBE _sends her sister a glance of unutterable woe, and escapes from the room. It is most ill-bred of her._) Miss Susan, I do not understand!

MISS HENRIETTA. Is it that Miss Livvy is an obstacle?

MISS SUSAN (_who knows that there is no hope for her but in flight_).

I think I hear Phoebe calling me--a sudden indisposition. Pray excuse me, Henrietta. (_She goes._)

MISS HENRIETTA. We know not, sir, whether to offer you our felicitations?

VALENTINE (_cogitating_). May I ask, ma'am, what you mean by an obstacle? Is there some mystery about Miss Livvy?

MISS HENRIETTA. So much so, sir, that we at one time thought she and Miss Phoebe were the same person.

VALENTINE. Pshaw!

MISS f.a.n.n.y. Why will they admit no physician into her presence?

MISS HENRIETTA. The blinds of her room are kept most artfully drawn.

MISS f.a.n.n.y (_plaintively_). We have never seen her, sir. Neither Miss Susan nor Miss Phoebe will present her to us.

VALENTINE (_impressed_). Indeed.

(MISS HENRIETTA _and_ MISS f.a.n.n.y, _encouraged by his sympathy, draw nearer the door of the interesting bedchamber. They falter. Any one who thinks, however, that they would so far forget themselves as to open the door and peep in, has no understanding of the ladies of Quality Street. They are, nevertheless, not perfect, for_ MISS HENRIETTA _knocks on the door._)

MISS HENRIETTA. How do you find yourself, dear Miss Livvy?

(_There is no answer. It is our pride to record that they come away without even touching the handle. They look appealing at_ CAPTAIN BROWN, _whose face has grown grave._)

VALENTINE. I think, ladies, as a physician--

(_He walks into the bedroom. They feel an ign.o.ble drawing to follow him, but do not yield to it. When he returns his face is inscrutable._)

MISS HENRIETTA. Is she very poorly, sir?

VALENTINE. Ha.

MISS f.a.n.n.y. We did not hear you address her.

VALENTINE. She is not awake, ma'am.

MISS HENRIETTA. It is provoking.

MISS f.a.n.n.y (_sternly just_). They informed Mary that she was nigh asleep.

VALENTINE. It is not a serious illness I think, ma'am. With the permission of Miss Phoebe and Miss Susan I will make myself more acquaint with her disorder presently. (_He is desirous to be alone._) But we must not talk lest we disturb her.

MISS f.a.n.n.y. You suggest our retiring, sir?

VALENTINE. Nay, Miss f.a.n.n.y----

MISS f.a.n.n.y. You are very obliging; but I think, Henrietta----

MISS HENRIETTA (_rising_). Yes, f.a.n.n.y.

(_No doubt they are the more ready to depart that they wish to inform_ MISS WILLOUGHBY _at once of these strange doings. As they go_, MISS SUSAN _and_ MISS PHOEBE _return, and the adieux are less elaborate than usual. Neither visitors nor hostesses quite know what to say_. MISS SUSAN _is merely relieved to see them leave, but_ MISS PHOEBE _has read something in their manner that makes her uneasy._)

PHOEBE. Why have they departed so hurriedly, sir? They--they did not go in to see Livvy?

VALENTINE. No.

(_She reads danger in his face._)

PHOEBE. Why do you look at me so strangely?

VALENTINE (_somewhat stern_). Miss Phoebe, I desire to see Miss Livvy.

PHOEBE. Impossible.

VALENTINE. Why impossible? They tell me strange stories about no one's seeing her. Miss Phoebe, I will not leave this house until I have seen her.

PHOEBE. You cannot. (_But he is very determined, and she is afraid of him._) Will you excuse me, sir, while I talk with Susan behind the door?

(_The sisters go guiltily into the bedroom, and_ CAPTAIN BROWN _after some hesitation rings for_ PATTY.)

VALENTINE. Patty, come here. Why is this trick being played upon me?

PATTY (_with all her wits about her_). Trick, sir! Who would dare?

VALENTINE. I know, Patty, that Miss Phoebe has been Miss Livvy all the time.

PATTY. I give in!

VALENTINE. Why has she done this?

PATTY (_beseechingly_). Are you laughing, sir?

VALENTINE. I am very far from laughing.

PATTY (_turning on him_). 'Twas you that began it, all by not knowing her in the white gown.