Part 5 (1/2)

CELIA. (_With entire change of manner_) Call him down here, Phyllis, please, and tell him I want to speak to him.

PHYLLIS. Celia! (_Crossing to center_) But why?

CELIA. Oh, nothing. I only want to thank him, you know, about old Admiral Grice, and tell him that he need no longer complicate his anxiety about his election with worries about me or the color of my stockings.

PHYLLIS. (_Startled_) Why, Celia--what do you mean?

CELIA. Well, you see--(_Laughs_)--I am not quite accustomed to announcing--_my_ engagement.

PHYLLIS. (_With undisguised amazement. Haltingly_) _Your engagement?_ Why--it's impossible.

CELIA. Yes, that's what Mr. Tarver says. Well, now suppose we call him down here, Phyllis, and tell him he is mistaken.

PHYLLIS. Oh-Ce-lia! (_Embraces_ CELIA _gus.h.i.+ngly. Rushes up to_ TARVER _and calling_) Bobby, Bobby, Bobby, Bobby! (_TARVER drops his magazine_, PHYLLIS _drags him down_ R. _of_ CELIA. _He is right of_ PHYLLIS.) What do you think? Celia's engaged to be married.

TARVER. (_Looks at her, greatly astonished, dropping his eyegla.s.s_) Never!

CELIA. (_Sarcastically_) Thanks so much, Mr. Tarver, for your kind congratulations.

PHYLLIS. (_Who has run up to card room, calling_) Aunt Ida, Aunt Ida!

(TARVER _pauses a moment and then goes_ R., _looking over at_ CELIA _incredulously as he goes. He finally sits on fender_.)

CELIA. (_Calling up to_ PHYLLIS) Oh, Phyllis, I only meant to tell you and Mr. Tarver.

PHYLLIS. (_Excitedly. Bringing down_ AUNT IDA _extreme_ L.) Aunt Ida!

Celia is engaged to be married.

AUNT IDA. (_Coming down left of table and below table to_ CELIA.

_Smiling happily_) Darling--at last---- (_Kisses_ CELIA.)

PHYLLIS. (_Dances across to center_) I can be married now. _I_ can be married now. (_Runs across to_ MADGE _and sits on piano stool_.)

AUNT IDA. I knew that this would happen.

CELIA. Did you, Aunt Ida? (_These last two lines spoken hurriedly and together_.)

PHYLLIS. Madge, what do you think? Celia is engaged.

MADGE. (_Rises, drops her pen in blank surprise_) _Not really!_

(PHYLLIS _runs to_ BOBBY, _who is on fender, and they sit together, talking excitedly, and looking at_ CELIA.)