FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   66   67   68   69   70   71   72   73   74   75   76   77   78   79   80   81   82   83   84   85   86   87   88   89   90  
91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   >>   >|  
. MRS. HIGGINS. If it's only a bit of breakfast, I don't say but what I mightn't get it, if I'm asked decent. PHILIP (putting back the cheque). Then let me say again, "Two eggs, ham and coffee." And Mary can bring the ham up at once, and I'll get going on that. (Turning away) Thanks very much. MRS. HIGGINS. Well, I--well--well! [Exit speechless.] PHILIP (surprised). Is that all she ever says? It isn't much to worry about. EMILY. Philip, how could you! I should have been terrified. PHILIP. Well, you see, I've done your job for two years out there. EMILY. What job? PHILIP. Mess President.... I think I'll go and see about that ham. (He smiles at her and goes out into the dining-room. AUNT EMILY wanders round the room, putting a few things tidy as is her habit, when she is interrupted by the entrance of UNCLE JAMES. JAMES is not a big man, nor an impressive one in his black morning-coat; and his thin straggly beard, now going grey, does not hide a chin of any great power; but he has a severity which passes for strength with the weak.) JAMES. Philip down yet? EMILY. He's just having his breakfast. JAMES (looking at his watch). Ten o'clock. (Snapping it shut and putting it back) Ten o'clock. I say ten o'clock, Emily. EMILY. Yes, dear, I heard you. JAMES. You don't say anything? EMILY (vaguely). I expect he's tired after that long war. JAMES. That's no excuse for not being punctual. I suppose he learnt punctuality in the Army? EMILY. I expect he learnt it, James, but I understood him to say that he'd forgotten it. JAMES. Then the sooner he learns it again the better. I particularly stayed away from the office to-day in order to talk things over with him, and (looking cat his watch) here's ten o'clock--past ten--and no sign of him. I'm practically throwing away a day. EMILY. What are you going to talk to him about? JAMES. His future, naturally. I have decided that the best thing he can do is to come into the business at once. EMILY. Are you really going to talk it over with him, James, or are you just going to tell him that he _must_ come? JAMES (surprised). What do you mean? What's the difference? Naturally we shall talk it over first, and--er--naturally he'll fall in with my wishes. EMILY. I suppose he can hardly help himself, poor boy. JAMES. Not until he's twenty-five, anyhow. When he's twenty-five he can have his own money and do what he likes with it. EMILY (timidl
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   66   67   68   69   70   71   72   73   74   75   76   77   78   79   80   81   82   83   84   85   86   87   88   89   90  
91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

PHILIP

 

putting

 

naturally

 
twenty
 

Philip

 

breakfast

 

suppose

 
things
 

learnt

 

HIGGINS


surprised

 

expect

 
vaguely
 

learns

 

understood

 
Snapping
 

timidl

 

sooner

 

forgotten

 

punctual


excuse
 

punctuality

 
difference
 

Naturally

 

wishes

 

office

 

stayed

 

practically

 
business
 

decided


future
 

throwing

 

impressive

 

speechless

 
President
 

terrified

 

decent

 

cheque

 
mightn
 

Turning


Thanks

 

coffee

 

morning

 

straggly

 
strength
 

passes

 

severity

 

wanders

 
smiles
 

dining