Part 7 (1/2)

DR. (_picking up book_) And with my sermons on her lap again. (_wakes her_) Diana!

MRS. D. (_waking_) It's very strange, I can't get to sleep. (_rises_) You must know, Mrs. Blake, I am a victim to insomnia.

ALMA. I see. You take sermons medicinally.

MRS. D. Good gracious, Dionysius! What have you there? (_points to b.u.t.tonhole_)

DR. A rose, my love--a simple rose. There is no evil in a simple rose.

NED. Don't you admire it?

MRS. D. I don't like the look of it at all. Where did you get it from?

DR. Hem! hem! (_fidgetting with the book; down, R.C._) A tendency to be too interrogative is the besetting weakness of the age we live in.

MRS. D. Come, Dionysius, the truth!

DR. It is to this undue yearning after truth that I attribute the prevailing scepticism.

MRS. D. That isn't answering my question.

ALMA. (_conquering her laughter, comes to his rescue_) I'm sorry you don't like it, Mrs. Dozey. Your husband thought you'd be so pleased with it. (_gives DR. DOZEY a slight nudge_)

MRS. D. He gathered it for _me!_

DR. (_presenting it_) Diana, you are always on my mind.

MRS. D. How can I thank you, Dionysius? (_embraces DR. DOZEY, while ALMA shakes hands with him behind his back, where he is holding the book_)

DR. (_turning aside, and down, R._) That is a very clever woman.

(_opens book and reads; business with ALMA, as below_)

_Re-enter SIR HUMPHREY and d.i.c.k, R._

d.i.c.k. (_wiping his mouth_) Capital Heidseck.

SIR H. Glad you enjoyed it, Mr. d.i.c.k.

d.i.c.k. Capital wine.

MRS. D. Sir Humphrey, see what Dionysius has given me. (_showing rose_)

SIR H. Charming--exquisite!

d.i.c.k. Call that a rose?

SIR H. Mr. d.i.c.k--Mrs. Dozey.

d.i.c.k. My man, Groggins, would turn you out a better article.

Groggins's the man for flowers.