Part 10 (1/2)

Do look how pretty they are!

SHE IS ILL

_A bed-room in the country-house; autumnal suns.h.i.+ne filters in through closed blinds_. SHE _lies on a couch, apparently asleep, dressed in a white woolen gown_. KIKI-THE-DEMURE _makes his toilet on a narrow console-table_. TOBY-DOG, _on the carpet, in a sphinx-like att.i.tude, watches_ HER _and at the same time, is attentive to the words of his master, who is leaving the room on tip-toe._

HE, (_in a very low voice to the two animals_)

s.h.!.+ Don't wake her. Be good. I'm going downstairs, to write.

(_He closes the door noiselessly after him_.) TOBY-DOG, (_to_ KIKI-THE-DEMURE)

What did He say?

KIKI-THE-DEMURE

I don't know. Something vague. Directions, like: stay there, good-by.

TOBY-DOG

He said, ”'s.h.!.+” _I'm_ not making any noise.

KIKI-THE-DEMURE, (_ironically_)

They're astonis.h.i.+ng! They say ”no noise,” and thereupon walk off with a step a deaf rat could hear two miles away.

TOBY-DOG Some truth in that. (_He looks at the sleeping figure on the couch_.) Her face still looks very small. She's asleep. If you jump down from that table don't land with a big thump.

KIKI-THE-DEMURE, (_stiffly_)

Ah, you're teaching me to jump now, are you? Oh, worthy counselor!

(_quoting_) Put a beggar in your barn and he'll make himself your heir.

TOBY-DOG

What's that?

KIKI-THE-DEMURE

Nothing. An Oriental proverb. If I wished, dog, to disturb the silence of this room I'd be clever enough to choose a rickety chair; its feet would pound out a regular tic-toc, tic-toc, tic-toc, in time with my tongue as I washed myself. It's a means I've invented to gain my liberty. Tic-toc, tic-toc, says the chair. She happens to be reading or writing, is easily irritated, and cries, ”Be quiet, Kiki!” But I go on unconscious of any wrong-doing; tic-toc, tic-toc. She jumps up distracted and opens the door wide for me: slowly, like one exiled, I cross its threshold and once outside, laugh to find myself so superior to them all.

TOBY-DOG, (_who hasn't been listening, yawns_)

What a sad week, eh? I don't know what it is to take a walk any more. I haven't taken any pleasure in eating either, since She fell from her horse.

KIKI-THE-DEMURE

Heavens, one can love people and care for one's stomach too.