The Double Widowing | Page 4

useless talk. I ought first to talk of the charms of this young beauty who--
Desmond What charms she has, Lucy, what charms! She has so many!
Lucy The most pretty little charms. Not fifteen years old, these charms, and new ones added every day. And, you will marry all of them soon.
Desmond It's the greatest misfortune that can happen to me.
Lucy A misfortune to possess something you love so much! Here's one of your bizarre refinements. You are the most reasonable gentleman in England--but you've no common sense. Speak to me reasonably: do you wish to marry her?
Desmond Do I ever wish it!
Lucy If you wish this marriage ardently, let's work in concert. I hope Arabella will be your wife today.
Desmond Alas, that's what I fear.
Lucy Again! Oh, you exaggerate. Is this crazy love or simply craziness?
Desmond No, Lucy, no--it is not caprice, it is not exaggeration. I fear with my mind that which I want with all my heart. I am well aware that I cannot live without the adorable Arabella. But, I foresee we will be unhappy together. In a word, we are unable to agree about anything.
Lucy And, what is it necessary to agree about to get married?
Desmond If you knew the reception she just gave me--
Lucy She was wrong--
Desmond She received me with an air--
Lucy Is it possible?
Desmond After eight days absence.
Lucy She received you coldly?
Desmond She received me shouting, dancing. I saw her jump about with happiness.
Lucy My word, you're not wise. What! You despair because she's delighted to see you?
Desmond Delighted to see me! I cannot compare that dissipated delight with the sensitive pleasure and passion the sight of a loved one should inspire. For example, from the moment I saw her I stood immobile, seized by a languor--my heart beat, my eyes clouded. Ahh! That's the way to express passion. But she is incapable of such a solid, passionate love--which is the only kind that can content me.
Lucy If I was a man, I'd choose for my wife a woman who was always gay, never moody or sensitive.
Desmond I want sensibility.
Lucy In a mistress--but in a wife, shame!
Desmond It's all an amusement.
Lucy It's an amusement very dangerous for the husband.
Desmond One can have feelings and be virtuous.
Lucy Virtue doesn't always make a woman faithful. I'd like a woman better who had no passions rather than one who is governed by them.
(Enter Arabella, singing.)
Arabella La, la, la, la--la, la, la, la, la.
Desmond Do you hear, Lucy, do you hear?
Lucy She has a nice voice, doesn't she?
Desmond After having seen me before her overcome by emotion--
Arabella La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la.
Desmond (walking away) I am outraged to hear that.
Arabella Hey! Here you both are-- You don't see what's going on here because you're wrapped up in your somber mood.
Desmond My emotion is well justified.
Arabella You are angry to see me laugh, and I am laughing to see you angry.
Desmond Is this a way to talk of love?
Arabella As for love--will yours always be so afflicted?
Desmond If I had less refinement--
Arabella You would be more reasonable.
Desmond Is there anything more reasonable than my complaints?
Arabella Oh, your exaggerations are always full of reason. But they don't make you happy.
Desmond What a conversation. Alas--how different your character is from mine.
Arabella Marriage will solve all that.
Desmond There, Lucy, I ask you to judge--
Lucy I have nothing to gain by judging. Judge yourselves. I am going to get my mistress up.
Arabella Dress her up quickly, for the Countess wants to see her right away.
Lucy Your aunt Bramble is not yet awake--and between the wake up and the coming down of a middle aged woman, there are numerous ceremonies of the toilette.
(Exit Lucy.)
Arabella We've got to get some money from my aunt. It's essential.
Desmond The essential thing is to find out if we're going to be happy together.
Arabella Nice question! With this type of humor we're going to get along fine; and I'm going to get rid of all your peculiarities.
Desmond I am not being peculiar, when, after quiet reasoning, I conclude that your frivolousness--
Arabella Oh, my frivolousness, my frivolousness; I believe that my gayety ought to prove my tenderness. Here's how I think you ought to have reasoned, knowing me, and my fear of marriage because it is sad. I naturally fear marriage. I see they want to marry me to you--and I show no emotion. Well--to be gay under these circumstances--doesn't that prove I love you?
Desmond That's not to hate me.
Arabella If you don't want me to hate you, don't anger me any more with the tone you're taking. Seems to me, I love you passably well.
Desmond Passably--there's a very touching expression. "Passably."
Arabella Oh--I wish you could count the joys I feel.
Desmond That joy would be properly expressed if you were sure our marriage will succeed--but in