But I still fail to see what is to spoil the rug.
Does the villain set fire to the conservatory in this play, or does
he assassinate the virtuous hero here and spill his gore on the
floor?
Bradley. What a blood-and-thunder idea of the drama you have! Of
course he doesn't. There isn't a death in the whole play, and it's
two hours long. One or two people in the audience may die while the
play is going on, but people who haven't strong constitutions
shouldn't attend amateur shows.
Mrs. Perkins. That's true, I fancy.
Mrs. Bradley. Very. It would be very rude for one of your invited
guests to cast a gloom over your evening by dying.
Yardsley. It is seldom done among people who know what is what. But
to explain the point you want explained, Thaddeus: the rug might be
spoiled by a leak in the fountain.
Mrs. Perkins. The fountain?
Perkins. You don't mean to say you're going to have a fountain
playing here?
Bradley. Certainly. A conservatory without a fountain would be like
"Hamlet" with Yorick's skull left out. There's to be a fountain
playing here, and a band playing in the next room--all in a green
light, too.
Pages:
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50