قراءة كتاب Dolly Reforming Herself A Comedy in Four Acts
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Dolly Reforming Herself A Comedy in Four Acts
her to take. She takes it, pops it in her novel, and goes on reading. He moves away from her.] Take only our own family. Harry and I both have turned over a new leaf. Renie, you said Mr. Pilcher had set you thinking deeply——
Renie. Yes, dear, very deeply.
Dolly. Lu, you said the sermon had done you a lot of good.
Lucas. Heaps! I won't say I'm going to set up for a saint straight off, because—well—I'm not so sure I could bring it off, even if I tried——
Matt. That's what holds me back, my wretched nervous fear that I shouldn't bring it off. Still, in justice to Pilcher, I hope you're not going to let his sermon be wasted.
Lucas. Oh, no! My first spare five minutes I'm going to brisk about, and do a bit of New Year's tidying up.
[He is standing over Renie, who has opened his letter in her novel; he again exchanges a secret look of understanding with her, and makes a sign to her to go into the conservatory.
Enter Criddle.
Criddle. [Announcing.] Mr. Pilcher!
Dolly. How d'ye do? [Shaking hands.
Pilcher. How d'ye do? Happy New Year, once more! Happy New Year, Mr. Barron!
Matt. [Shaking hands.] A happy New Year.
Pilcher. How do again, Telfer?
Harry. How are you?
Pilcher. Good morning, Mrs. Sturgess.
Renie. Good morning.
[At Pilcher's entrance she has hidden her French novel behind her in the chair. In shaking hands with Pilcher it drops on to the floor and Lucas's letter drops out. Lucas goes to pick it up, Mr. Pilcher is before him, picks up the novel and letter and hands them to Renie. In taking them she shows some confusion.
Pilcher. [Genially.] Improving the New Year by getting a thorough knowledge of Parisian life and manners, I see.
Renie. [Confused.] No!—I had begun the book a week ago and so I thought—a—I'd better finish it.
Lucas. Good morning, Mr. Pilcher.
Pilcher. [Shaking hands.] Good morning.
Lucas. Rattling good sermon you gave us last night.
Pilcher. I'm glad you thought it worth coming so far to hear.
Lucas. Not at all. Jolly well worth coming for, eh, Mrs. Sturgess?
[With a sly little look and shake of the head at Renie.
Renie. I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Pilcher. [A little surprised.] Enjoyed it! Now I meant to make you all very uncomfortable!
Dolly. Oh, you gave us a good shaking up, and we deserved it! I don't think you've met Professor Sturgess?
Pilcher. [Advancing to Professor.] No, but I've read his book, "Man, the Automaton."
Prof. [Bowing.] Not with disapproval, I trust?
Pilcher. [Shaking hands very cordially.] With the most profound disapproval, with boundless, uncompromising dissent and antagonism!
Prof. I'm sorry!
Pilcher. Why, you deny that man has any vestige of free will.
Prof. Certainly. The longer I live, the more I'm convinced that free will is a purely subjective illusion.