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قراءة كتاب Penelope A Comedy in Three Acts
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no one to receive him.
Barlow.
[In a tone of surprise.] Is Mrs. O’Farrell not here?
Peyton.
No, sir.
Barlow.
H’m.... Will you let her know I’ve come?
Peyton.
Mrs. O’Farrell is not at home, sir.
Barlow.
Not at home?... But....
Peyton.
Mrs. O’Farrell said, would you kindly sit down and make yourself comfortable? And I was to give you the Morning Post.
Barlow.
[Pompously.] I can’t imagine why Mrs. O’Farrell should think I haven’t read the Morning Post at six o’clock in the evening.
Peyton.
[Imperturbably.] And Mrs. O’Farrell said, will you have a whisky and soda, sir?
Barlow.
But when is Mrs. O’Farrell coming in?
Peyton.
Barlow.
But she telegraphed to me this afternoon, asking me to come and see her at once.
Peyton.
Yes, sir; I took the telegram to the post office myself.
Barlow.
It seems very extraordinary that she should have gone out. The matter was of considerable importance.
Peyton.
[Politely.] Yes, sir.
Barlow.
Very well, I’ll sit down and wait. But I can’t stay long. I’m dining at ... no matter.
Peyton.
Very good, sir.
[Peyton goes out. Barlow goes to a looking-glass, takes a little brush out of his pocket, and brushes his moustache. Peyton comes in again with a small tray on which are a decanter, a syphon, and a glass.
Barlow.
Oh, thank you. Did you say you had the Morning Post?
Peyton.
Yes, sir. [She hands it to him.
Barlow.
Ah, thank you.
[Peyton goes out. Barlow helps himself to a whisky and soda, turns to the fashionable intelligence in the paper, and begins to read it with a little smile of self-satisfaction.
Barlow.
[Half to himself.] The Duchess of St. Erth returned to Wales yesterday. The Marchioness of Mereston has arrived at 89 Grosvenor Square. The Marchioness of Serlo and Lady Eleanor King leave for Paris this morning.
[Peyton comes in, followed by Mrs. Golightly. Mrs. Golightly is an extremely stout, good-natured lady of middle age. She is very active, but short of breath. She gives one a continual impression of having just run up a steep hill. She is Davenport Barlow’s sister.
Peyton.
Mrs. Golightly.
Barlow.
Isabel!
Mrs. Golightly.
Are you here, Davenport? Where’s Penelope?
Barlow.
[As if