But--
(_She hesitates_.)
GEORGE. But what?
OLIVIA. Well, if you want to marry me to-morrow, George, oughtn't you to
propose to me first?
GEORGE (_amazed_). Propose?
OLIVIA. Yes. It is usual, isn't it, to propose to a person before you
marry her? And--and we want to do the usual thing, don't we?
GEORGE (_upset_). But you--I mean we--
OLIVIA. You are George Marden, I am Olivia Telworthy, you are attracted
by me and think I would make you a good wife, and you want to marry me--
very well, then, naturally you propose to me first.
GEORGE (_falling into the humour of it, as he thinks, and with a hearty
laugh moves to below stool_ L.C.). The baby! Did she want to be proposed
to all over again?
OLIVIA (_coyly_). Well, she did rather.
GEORGE (_rather fancying himself as an actor, he adopts what he considers
to be an appropriate attitude_). She shall then. Er--ah, Mrs. Telworthy,
I have long admired you in silence, and the time has now come to put my
admiration into words (_but apparently he finds a difficulty_)--er--er--
OLIVIA (_looking up at him quizzically and prompting him into words;
repeating_). I--I--(_Looking down coyly_.) Oh, Mr. Marden!
(GEORGE _roars with laughter and crosses to centre_.)
GEORGE (_returning to her_). Olivia--er--may I call you Olivia?
OLIVIA. Yes, George.
(OLIVIA _puts out her hand and_ GEORGE _notices it_.)
GEORGE. I beg your pardon! Oh, I see. (_Taking her hand in his he gives
it a good slap and she winces_.
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