The Gay Lord Quex | Page 3

pays at the desk while SOPHY _rattles on._ SOPHY _is a pretty, elegant, innocently vulgar, fascinating young woman of six-and-twenty._
SOPHY.
[_With the air of the proprietress of a prosperous establishment._] Oh, yes, it did slip my memory to come on Thursday, didn't it? The truth is I had a most racking head, a thing I never have--well, I oughtn't to say never have, ought I? [To MISS LIMBIRD.] Now, Miss Limbird, see that two pots of Cr��me de Mimosa are posted to Mrs. Arment, Carlos Place; and book me, please--_me_--you thoroughly understand?--to attend upon Miss Arment to-morrow evening at seven. [_Accompanying the customer, who now withdraws._] To-morrow evening at seven--without fail. [_Raising her voice._] The door, Miss Claridge. Good morning, madam. Good afternoon.
[_The door-gong sounds._
SOPHY.
Come, girls, you can get to your lunches.
[MISS LIMBIRD _leaves her desk and goes out._
MISS MOON.
Here's Mr. Valma, Miss Fullgarney.
SOPHY.
[_With a little gasp._] Mr. Valma. [_Approaching him._] How do you do?
POLLITT.
[_Advancing._] Pardon me for the liberty I have taken in again crossing the leads.
SOPHY.
[_Looking away from him._] No liberty at all.
POLLITT.
I desire a few words with you, Miss Fullgarney, and it struck me that at this time of the day--
SOPHY.
Yes, there's nothing doing here just at lunch-time.
POLLITT.
Perhaps you would graciously allow me to converse with you while you--
SOPHY.
[_Regaining her self-possession._] Oh, I had my lunch an hour ago; I came over so ravenous. [Going to MISS MOON, who is still lost in admiration of POLLITT--_in a whisper._] Be off, child. Don't stand staring at Mr. Valma.
MISS MOON.
[In SOPHY'S _ear._] I think I've got him another!
SOPHY.
Shut up!
[MISS MOON _withdraws, with her bowl and towel._
SOPHY.
[To POLLITT.] Did you catch what she said? Oh, it doesn't matter if you did; you know we are all working for you, like niggers.
POLLITT.
[_Tenderly._] Ah!
SOPHY.
Not a customer leaves my place without having heard your name mentioned. My girls are regular bricks.
POLLITT.
[_Approaching her._] And what are you?
SOPHY.
[_Looking away again._] Oh, I do no more than any of the others.
POLLITT.
Do you expect me to believe that? you, their queen! No, it is you who have helped me to steer my bark into the flowing waters of popularity.
SOPHY.
[_Nervously._] Extremely pleased, I--I'm sure. [_He is close beside her; a cork is drawn loudly. They part, startled and disturbed. She goes to the opening in the partition, raising her voice slightly._] Girls, can't you draw your corks a shade quieter? Nice if somebody was coming upstairs!
MISS LIMBIRD.
[_In the distance._] Very sorry, Miss Fullgarney.
SOPHY.
[To POLLITT, _as she toys with the articles upon the circular table._] Everything is so up this weather. It's their lime-juice champagne.
POLLITT.
[_By her side again--suddenly._] I love you!
SOPHY.
Oh, Mr. Valma!
POLLITT.
I love you! Ever since I had the honour of being presented to you by Mr. Salmon, the picture-dealer next door, I have thought of you, dreamt of you, constantly. [_She brushes past him; he follows her._] Miss Fullgarney, you will accord me permission to pay you my addresses?
SOPHY.
[_In a flutter._] I--I am highly flattered and complimented, Mr. Valma, by your proposal--
POLLITT.
[_Taking her hand._] Flattered--no!
SOPHY.
[_Withdrawing her hand._] Oh, but please wait!
POLLITT.
Wait!
SOPHY.
I mean, I certainly couldn't dream of accepting the attentions of any man until he fully understood--
POLLITT.
Understood what?
SOPHY.
[_Summoning all her dignity._] Oh, I'll be perfectly straight with you--until he fully understood that, whatever my station in life may be now, I have risen from rather--well, I may say very small beginnings.
POLLITT.
What matters that?
SOPHY.
Oh, but I beg your pardon--it does. [_Relaxing._] I am sure I can depend on you not to give me away all over the place?
POLLITT.
Miss Fullgarney--!
SOPHY.
[_After a cautious glance round._] You know, Mr. Valma, I was always a self-willed, independent sort of a girl--a handful, they used to call me; and when father died I determined to have done with my step-mother, and to come to London at any price. I was seventeen then.
POLLITT.
Yes?
SOPHY.
Oh, it's nothing to be ashamed of, really; still, I did begin life in town--[_with an uneasy little laugh and a toss of the head_]--you'd hardly believe it!--as a nursery-maid.
POLLITT.
H'm! I am aware that is not considered--
SOPHY.
I should think not! Oh, of course, in time I rose to be Useful Maid, and then Maid. I've been lady's-maid in some excellent houses. And when I got sick of maiding I went to Dundas's opposite, and served three years at the hairdressing; that's an extremely refined position, I needn't say. And then some kind friends routed me out, [_surveying the room proudly_] and put me into this.
POLLITT.
Then why bestow a second thought upon your beginnings?
SOPHY.
No, I suppose I oughtn't to. Nobody can breathe a word against my respectability. All the same, I am quite aware that it mightn't be over pleasant for a gentleman to remember that his wife was once--[_sitting in the screen-chair_] well, a servant.
POLLITT.
[_By her chair._] It would not weigh on my mind if you had been kitchen-maid [_pointing out of the