270
The Fool's Hour
but she is not quite the person I should cast for la Marquise de la
Perdrigonde. Ah ! if you were on the stage, Miss de Trappe !
You have just the exquisite charm, the grace, the majesty of
bearing which, in the opinion of those who have never been to
Court, is the peculiar distinction of women accustomed to the
highest society.
'Julia. Oh, I should like to be an actress !
Mandeville. No ! no ! I spoke selfishly—if you only acted
with me, it would be different; but—but I could not bear to see
another man making love to you—another man holding your hand
and singing into your eyes—and—and- Oh, this is madness.
You must not listen to me.
Julia. I am not—angry, but—you must never again say things
which you do not mean. If I thought you were untruthful it
would make me so—so miserable. Always teil me the truth.
\_Holds out her hand.~\
Mandeville. You are very beautiful !
[She drops her eyes, smiles, and wanders unconsciously to the
mirror.]
[Lady Doldrummond suddenly enters from the boudoir, and Cyril
from the middle door. Cyril is handsome, but bis features have
that delicacy and Iiis expression that pensiveness which promise
artistic longings and domestic disappointment.~\
Cyril. [Cordially and in a State of suppressed excitement.] Oh,
mother, this is my friend Mandeville. You have heard me men-
tion him ?
Lady Dol. I do not remember, but-
Cyril. When I promised to go out with you this afternoon, I
forgot that I had another engagement. Mandeville has been kind
enough to call for me,
Lady
The Fool's Hour
but she is not quite the person I should cast for la Marquise de la
Perdrigonde. Ah ! if you were on the stage, Miss de Trappe !
You have just the exquisite charm, the grace, the majesty of
bearing which, in the opinion of those who have never been to
Court, is the peculiar distinction of women accustomed to the
highest society.
'Julia. Oh, I should like to be an actress !
Mandeville. No ! no ! I spoke selfishly—if you only acted
with me, it would be different; but—but I could not bear to see
another man making love to you—another man holding your hand
and singing into your eyes—and—and- Oh, this is madness.
You must not listen to me.
Julia. I am not—angry, but—you must never again say things
which you do not mean. If I thought you were untruthful it
would make me so—so miserable. Always teil me the truth.
\_Holds out her hand.~\
Mandeville. You are very beautiful !
[She drops her eyes, smiles, and wanders unconsciously to the
mirror.]
[Lady Doldrummond suddenly enters from the boudoir, and Cyril
from the middle door. Cyril is handsome, but bis features have
that delicacy and Iiis expression that pensiveness which promise
artistic longings and domestic disappointment.~\
Cyril. [Cordially and in a State of suppressed excitement.] Oh,
mother, this is my friend Mandeville. You have heard me men-
tion him ?
Lady Dol. I do not remember, but-
Cyril. When I promised to go out with you this afternoon, I
forgot that I had another engagement. Mandeville has been kind
enough to call for me,
Lady