The Man from Home. Booth Tarkington
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somewhat foppish, having a little of the "Guardsman" affectation of languor and indifference.]
Howdy, Countess!
[He drops into a chair at the breakfast-table with a slight effect of sprawling.]
HAWCASTLE
[sharply]
Almeric!
ALMERIC
Out riding a bit ago, you know, with Miss Granger-Simpson. Rippin' girl, isn't she?
HAWCASTLE
[leaning across the table toward him, anxiously]
Go on!
ALMERIC
[continuing, slapping his gaiters carelessly with his crop]
Didn't stop with her, though.
HAWCASTLE
[angrily]
Why not?
ALMERIC
A sort of man in the village got me to go look at a bull-terrier pup. Wonderful little beast for points. Jolly luck—wasn't it? He's got a head on him—
HAWCASTLE
[bitterly]
We'll concede his tremendous advantage over you in that respect.[pg 030]
[Throws his cigar disgustedly into one of the coffee-cups on the table.]
MADAME DE CHAMPIGNY
[eagerly]
Is that all you have to tell us?
ALMERIC
Oh no! She accepted me.
[HAWCASTLE drops into a chair with a long breath of relief.]
MADAME DE CHAMPIGNY
[waving her parasol]
Enfin! Bravo! And will she let it be soon?
ALMERIC
[sincerely]
I dare say there'll be no row about that; I've made her aw'fly happy.
HAWCASTLE
On my soul, I believe you're right—and thank God you are!
[Rises as he speaks and walks up centre. Breaks off short as he sees HORACE.]
"OH NO! SHE ACCEPTED ME"
Here's the brother—attention now!
[HORACE enters the hotel. He is a boyish-looking American of twenty-two, smooth-shaven. He wears white flannels, the coat double-breasted and buttoned, the tie is light blue "puffing" fastened with a large pearl. He wears light-yellow chamois gloves, white shoes, a small, stiff English straw hat with blue-and-white [pg 031] ribbon. When he speaks it is with a strong "English accent," which he sometimes forgets. At present he is flushed and almost overcome with happy emotion. As he comes down the steps MADAME DE CHAMPIGNY rushes toward him, taking both his hands.]
MADAME DE CHAMPIGNY
[excitedly]
Ah, my dear Horace Granger-Simpson! Has your sister told you?
HORACE
[radiant, but almost tearful]
She has, indeed. I assure you I'm quite overcome.
[MADAME DE CHAMPIGNY, dropping his hands, laughs deprecatingly, and steps back from him.]
Really, I assure you.
HAWCASTLE
[shaking hands with him very heartily]
My dear young friend, not at all, not at all.
HORACE
[fanning himself with his hat and wiping his brow]
I assure you I am, I assure you I am—it's quite overpowering—isn't it?
MADAME DE CHAMPIGNY
Ah, poor Monsieur Horace!
ALMERIC
I say, don't take it that way, you know. She's very happy.[pg 032]
HORACE
[crossing and grasping his hand]
She's worthy of it—she's worthy of it. I know she is. And when will it be?
MADAME DE CHAMPIGNY
Enchanting.
HAWCASTLE
Oh, the date? I dare say within a year—two years—
[COMTESSE starts to exclaim, but HAWCASTLE checks her.]
HORACE
Oh, but I say, you know! Isn't that putting it jolly far off? The thing's settled, isn't it? Why not say a month instead of a year?
HAWCASTLE
Oh, if you like, I don't know that there is any real objection.
HORACE
I do like, indeed. Why not let them marry here in Italy?
HAWCASTLE
Ah, the dashing methods of you Americans! Next you'll be saying, "Why not here at Sorrento?"
HORACE
Well, and why not, indeed?
HAWCASTLE
And then it will be, "Why not within a fortnight?"
HORACE
And why should it not be in a fortnight?
HAWCASTLE
Ah, you wonderful people, you are whirlwinds, yet I see no reason why it should not be in a fortnight.[pg 033]
ALMERIC
[passively]
Just as you like, Governor, just as you like.
MADAME DE CHAMPIGNY
Enchanting.
HAWCASTLE
My son is all impatience!
ALMERIC
[genially]
Quite so!
HAWCASTLE
[gayly]
Shall we dispose at once of the necessary little details, the various minor arrangements, the—the settlement?
[Interrupts himself with a friendly laugh.]
Of course, as a man of the world, of our world, you understand there are formalities in the nature of a settlement.
HORACE
[interrupting eagerly and pleasantly, laughing also]
Quite so, of course, I know, certainly, perfectly!
HAWCASTLE
[heartily]
We'll have no difficulty about that, my boy. I'll wire my solicitor immediately, and he'll be here within two days. If you wish to consult your own solicitor you can cable him.
HORACE
[with some embarrassment]
Fact is, I've a notion our solicitor—Ethel's man of business, that is—from Kokomo, Indiana, where our Governor lived—in fact, a sort of guardian of hers—may be here almost any time.[pg 034]
HAWCASTLE
[taken aback]
A sort of guardian—what sort?
HORACE
[apologetically]