FullReads

COUN

. Ah! heavens! (To JULIA) Pray, excuse her rudeness, Madam. (To ANDREE) I told you my closet, great ass; that is the place where I keep my dresses.

AND

. Please, Ma’am, is a cupboard called a closet at court?

COUN

. Yes, dunce; it is thus that a place where clothes are kept is called.

AND

. I will remember it, Ma’am, as well as the word furniture warehouse for your attic.

SCENE IV

.–THE COUNTESS, JULIA.

COUN

. What trouble it gives me to have to teach such simpletons.

JU

. I think them very fortunate to be under your discipline, Madam.

COUN

. She is my nurse’s daughter, whom I have made lady’s-maid; the post is quite new to her, as yet.

JU

. It shows a generous soul, Madam, and it is glorious thus to form people.

COUN

. Come, some seats, I say! Here, little page! little page! little page-boy! Truly, this is too bad not to have a page to give us chairs! My maids! my page! my page! my maids! Ho! somebody! I really think that they must be all dead, and that we shall have to find seats for ourselves.

SCENE V

.–THE COUNTESS, JULIA, ANDREE.

AND

. What is it you want, Ma’am?

COUN

. You do make people scream after you, you servants!

AND

. I was putting your muff and head-dress away in the cup … in the closet, I mean.

COUN

. Call in that rascal of a page.

AND

. I say, Criquet!

COUN

. Cease that “Criquet” of yours, stupid, and call out “Page.”

AND

. Page then, and not Criquet, come and speak to missis. I think he must be deaf. Criq … Page! page!

SCENE VI

.–THE COUNTESS, JULIA, ANDREE, CRIQUET.

CRI

. What is it you want?

COUN

. Where were you, you rascal?

CRI

. In the street, Ma’am.

COUN

. Why in the street?

CRI

. You told me to go outside.

COUN

. You are a rude little fellow, and you ought to know that outside among people of quality, means the ante-room. Andree, mind you ask my equerry to flog this little rogue. He is an incorrigible little wretch.

AND

. Whom do you mean by your equerry, Ma’am? Is it Mr. Charles you call by that name?

COUN

. Be silent, impertinent girl! You can hardly open your month without making some rude remark. (To CRIQUET) Quick, some seats; (to ANDREE) and you, light two wax candles in my silver candlesticks; it is getting late. What is it now? why do you look so scared?

AND

. Ma’am.

COUN

. Well–Ma’am–what is the matter?

AND

. It is that …

COUN

. What?

AND

. I have no wax candles, but only dips.

COUN

. The simpleton! And where are the wax candles I bought a few days ago?

AND

. I have seen none since I have been here.

COUN

. Get out from my presence, rude girl. I will send you back to your home again. Bring me a glass of water.

SCENE VII

.–THE COUNTESS and JULIA (making much ceremony before they sit down).

COUN

. Madam!

JU

. Madam!