You are here: Archive Home > Curtain Raisers > Mr. Jericho > Web Opera > Dialogue following No. 2
 

Dialogue following No. 2

Lady Bushey enters at back during last refrain, and, as duet finishes, comes rapidly forward and separates Winifred and Horace.

Lady B. Oh, Winifred — unhappy child!

Winifred. Mamma!

Lady B. Can I trust my eyes? Did I see my darling, my pet lamb, locked in the embrace of a total stranger?

Winifred. Oh, mother! A stranger he is, perhaps, but what a perfect stranger?

Lady B. Exactly, so. He is a perfect stranger.

Horace. Madam, you evidently fail to recognise me, but I have often driven you into Oxford Street. I have set you down at Marshall and Snellgrove's; I have dropped you at Peter Robinson's; and yet you speak of me as a stranger!

Lady B. Why, Winifred, can this be the Apollo who drives the eleven o'clock omnibus from Kensal Green?

Winifred. Ah, pity me — pity me, mother — it is he!

Lady B. What a terrible blow! Surely you do not mean to tell me that you love this man!

Winifred. "Love" is scarcely the word, mother. I worship him! To my adoring eyes he seems a young sungod!

HORACE (with a pleased smile ). Ha! That is very soothing!

Lady B. I cannot understand how my daughter should have stooped to love one of such humble birth.

Horace. On the contrary, my elevated seat gave me the advantage. It was I who stooped to love your daughter.

Winifred. You hear how clever he is, mamma. He is always saying witty things like that.

Lady B. My poor child! But I must not temporise — I must act at once, and do what I can to rescue you from the consequences of your folly.

Horace. I trust that you are not going to adopt extreme measures.

Lady B. Do not fear that I shall treat my daughter unkindly. I am going to take her home at once, and for three whole months confine her in the small back room on the top floor. It has been repapered quite recently, and I shall allow her a liberal diet of cold mutton and rice.

Winifred. Oh, mamma, how cruel you are!

Lady B. I have no wish to be harsh, but it is impossible for the daughter of Lady Bushey to marry the driver of an omnibus, however handsome and accomplished he may be.

Previous Page
Previous Song
Opera Home
Next Song
Next Page


Archive Home | Curtain Raisers | Mr. Jericho

Page modified 8 October 2007