MISS P. I was merely doing some--Why, dear me, I have no silk in my needle! (_Holds up sock._)
CECIL (_coming in front of table and laughingly snatching sock_). Just as I said, sentimentalizing over Arthur’s socks, the dear boy! (_MISS P. recovers sock, continues working._) You see, he did not receive us with vials of wrath. I like the Princess Kiku, don’t you?
MISS P. She has pretty, caressing manners, but their incessant bows and elaborate politeness try me.
CECIL. I should have thought you would have revelled in it. However, here we are, but Arthur is no nearer finding the shipwrecked baby. Why can’t the foolish boy enjoy the money? He now intends to lay the whole thing before the Emperor, and he’ll send a--what do you call it--an edict or something through the land, and all the lost infants will assemble here. Won’t it be fun? Why, though, G. dear, how stupid of me! She won’t be a baby now. She will be as old as I am, twenty-three.
MISS P. (_precisely_). An exact definition of age is unnecessary in a woman; it is sufficient for you to assert that you are of age, or that you have reached years of discretion--a little more reserve is advisable.
CECIL. With you, G.? Why, you came to us when Arthur was only four, and he is five years older than I am, that----
MISS P. (_hastily_). Cecil, my dear, I have dropped my needle.
CECIL. It is sticking aggressively in that sock. I am jealous. Arthur has his man, and I have no maid; you don’t trouble about my wardrobe.
MISS P. A woman should be at home with her needle. Ar--his lordship cannot darn socks, and though Maitland is as handy as all old soldiers, I could not trust him with silk ones.
CECIL. Nobody knits me anything, I--am only a girl. (_Turns L._) G., dear, I smell (_MISS P. starts_)--I smell a whiff of real English tobacco; his lordship, having wearied of running coolies off their legs, has returned. You will be caught--G., dear, you will be caught--you will be caught! (_MISS P. hurries across stage, dropping sock, etc._)
[EXIT _L. CECIL laughs, and turns to follow as curtain falls._
SCENE IV.--_A room in the house of SAKARA, who is seated C. by a table, which is covered with Japanese books, etc., a box in front of her, two or three small tables (really low, square stools), some rugs on the floor, sword hanging from roof C., R. 1 E. and L. 1 E. The room is made with plain screens. ITO stands R., down stage._