The House of Mirth Page #5

Nothing will happen.

Of course not. I'm sure.

- Have you seen Bertha?

- No, is she not up yet?

Not up yet! Has she gone to bed?

Do you know what time

she came aboard this morning?

- At seven!

- Seven? Was there an accident?

There was no accident.

I waited for them all night.

Why didn't you call me

to share your vigil?

You would not have cared

for the denouement.

The denouement? Isn't that too

big a word for a small incident?

DON'T!

Don't.

I only want to help you.

You do so by being sweet

and patient with me

but you can't want

to see me ridiculous.

If it hadn't been for you

I'd have ended it long ago.

- I'll go to see Selden.

- No!

- No.

- Why not?

One lawyer will do

just as well as another.

Very well, go and see Mr Selden then.

You should have time before dinner.

I suppose I ought

to say good morning.

I tried to see you

but you weren't up.

No, I got to bed late.

After we separated during the fte

we thought we should wait

but we missed you.

You missed us?

But I thought you didn't return

until this morning?

- Who told you that?

- George.

Is that his version?

Poor George.

He's had one of his attacks again.

It is very bad for him to be worried.

Whenever anything upsetting happens

it brings on an attack.

Anything 'upsetting'?

Yes. Such as having you

on his hands during the small hours.

You know, my dear

you're rather a responsibility

in such a scandalous place

after midnight.

Well, really, considering

you left him the responsibility.

A married man shouldn't be seen alone

with a single woman.

Yes, we were alone.

Is that so dreadful?

After all, we lost you

as much as you mislaid us.

Oh, so now it is my fault

for not having the cleverness

to find you in that dreadful crowd?

Or the imagination to believe

that you wouldn't wait for us

on the quay until we met you?

No, simply by us all

keeping together!

Keeping together?

You are not a child

to be led by the hand.

Nor to be lectured, Bertha.

Lecture you?

Heaven forbid.

I was merely trying

to give you a friendly hint.

But usually

it's the other way around, isn't it?

I'm expected to take hints

not to give them.

Hints? From me to you?

Negative ones merely.

What not to be, or to do, or to see.

But my dear

if you will let me say so

I didn't understand

that one of my negative duties

was not to warn you when you

carried your imprudence too far.

- Did you see George today?

- Yes.

Well? What happened?

What will happen?

Nothing, as yet. And nothing

in the future, I think.

You're sure?

I'm not sure, but I'm

a good deal surer. No, thank you.

Assume everything is as usual.

Before I go

I want to leave you the Brys.

It is charming of you to remember me.

You mean you've snubbed them

and you know they know it.

Carry!

If you'd had them invited

to The Sabrina once.

Especially when royalty was coming.

Stay over and I'll get the Duchess

to dine with them.

I shan't stay over.

The Gormers have paid

for my salon-lit, I leave tonight.

But get the Duchess

to dine with them all the same.

They'd be much obliged.

Do you sing? Really?

Come on, Lily, if you're going back

to the yacht.

Miss Bart is not returning

to the yacht.

Bertha...

Miss Bart, there has been

some misunderstanding.

Some mistake.

Miss Bart remains here.

And I think we had better not

detain our guests any longer.

I have some business to attend to

and it is easier for me

to remain ashore for the night.

Mr Selden, you promised

to see me to my cab.

Do you know of a quiet hotel?

That you can go to alone? Lmpossible.

- There must be someone.

- At this hour?

- If you had only listened!

- Not now.

You must go immediately

to the Stepneys'.

You mustn't ask me to.

You don't know Gwen.

Come, you must appear

to have gone there directly.

- What if she refuses?

- She won't. Trust me.

"I, Julia Grace Peniston

"being of sound mind and body

"declare this

to be my last will and testament

"hereby revoking

and declaring utterly void

"all wills and clauses

of wills heretofore made by me.

"It is my will and desire that

after my death

"all my just debts to whomsoever

"shall be paid by my executives

herein after named.

"Second, it is my will and desire..."

'Lily will get everything

of course.'

'Aunt Julia

was always a just woman.'

'Well, it's only

about four hundred thousand.'

"...Eight, and to my niece

Miss Lily Bart

"I bequeath the sum

of ten thousand dollars.

"Nine, and the residue of my estate

"I bequeath to my dear niece

and namesake, Grace Julia Stepney.

"Given under my hand and seal

22nd of May, 1906."

My dear Grace... I am so glad.

- What sweet shall we have?

- Lily!

My dear, you wouldn't

have the head waiter see

I've nothing to live on

but Aunt Julia's legacy?

Think of Bertha Dorset's satisfaction

to find us lunching

on cold mutton and tea.

I was horrid to you

in Monte Carlo, Lily.

I'm thoroughly ashamed of myself.

I've wanted to tell you ever since -

that's the truth.

Well, what is truth?

Where a woman is concerned, it's

a story that's easiest to believe.

If I'd gotten the money

no one would dare ignore me.

If they did, it wouldn't matter

I'd be independent of them.

Oh, Lily. It's so unjust.

Grace must feel she has

no right to that inheritance.

Anyone who could please Aunt Julia

has a right to her money.

- But she was devoted to you.

- Be honest, Carry.

She disapproved

of my going with the Dorsets

and she heard of my break with them.

After all, Bertha did turn me off

the yacht.

I must know where I stand, Carry.

I must know what is being said of me.

I don't listen.

One hears such things

without listening.

- Good afternoon, Mrs Fisher.

- Carry, how delightful to see you.

- How delightful, Judy.

- Oh... Lily.

What a pleasure

it is to see you.

- Gus!

- Miss Bart.

I must see the head waiter, Judy.

Where Judy leads

all the world will follow.

Not your real friends.

Meanwhile, what do you say

to putting a few things in a trunk

and spending the summer

with me and the Gormers?

To take me out

of my FRIENDS' way, you mean?

To keep you away till they

see how much they miss you.

Besides, the Gormers have taken

a tremendous fancy to you.

Oh, I know they're not quite

your set, a social Coney Island

but anyone is welcome who makes

noise and doesn't put on airs.

Yes, I shall come.

Well, what shall it be?

Coup Jacques or pches la melba?

The more I think of getting you here

the better I like it.

More noise, more colour

more slap-dash sociability.

But greater good nature, too.

Less rivalry.

Yes, it's true.

Soon everybody will be leaving

for Newport and Bar Harbor

and Long Island.

And me to a hotel

in broiling New York.

Lily, you must marry.

As soon as you can.

Do you mean to recommend me

to a good man's love?

No, I don't think either of

my candidates fit that description.

Either? There are actually two?

Well, perhaps I ought

to say one and a half.

Other things being equal, I think

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