Albert Sir, I am persuaded of his merit. Everyday we see how this sort of man learns secrets from traveling the world over.
Jenny Ah, heaven! You are about to witness another perfect folly. If it continues, you'll have to tie her up.
(Enter Arabella, her hair is completely grey, her clothes disheveled.)
Arabella Good day, sweet friends, God protect ye, my children! Well, what is it? How do you spend your time? May heaven send you health for a long time, and keep you strong and happy. Sorrow's no good and frets the spirit. You have to enjoy yourself, and it's I who say it.
Worthy In spite of her age, I find her charming. One can still look for the return of youth.
Arabella Ho! You look at me--you are amazed to find me so young with grey hair. I feel better than all of you: I take four meals a day, and I read without glasses. I drink rum, or whatever is available, stale or fresh. I drink it to the last drop--and I never mix it with water. I genteelly empty my two bottles.
Arabella Yes, truly, some more champagne--without any delay. You can see all my teeth in my mouth. Do you see, I'll be ninety-eight come Easter?
Arabella There's more still. But I am of a green old age. At the age I'm at, I still don't allow myself any servants--besides, they'd charge me too much. But, do you see, my friend, do you want me to tell you? People today, they're shoddy goods--they're not worth anything, and I wouldn't bend over to pick up the lot of them.
Worthy Is she often overcome with these vapors?
Albert Alas, never. She must be bewitched.
Arabella At my age, I am still worth my weight in gold. My children have done me wrong. I don't look half my age. If I hadn't been married at thirteen--to tell you the truth, marriage and childbearing puts an end to youth. Such great peril. I never can remember having been a child. To tell you the truth, I was pretty enough. At twenty-seven I had fourteen children.
Arabella Yes, all swarming. And all boys. I've never had any girls. And you see others turn out like ours. But (winking) they're rogues who'll turn out badly. These evil ones wanted to see me in a hospital. Would you believe that after the death of their late father, they squabbled with me over my dower rights? A dower earned so legitimately.