The Winged Beetle

MR TODD 183 drel, you’re shaking me to pieces ! Emily, do get a gentler footman. Oh ! Oh ! Nobody cares for the poor old man. I am thrown on the dust-heap. Oh, Emily, may you suffer one day as I suffer ! Oh ! Oh ! Oh ! [The Nurse comes forward and soothes him. NURSE. You must really be more careful of my patient, Thomas. THOMAS. I humbly beg pardon, miss. I think the balls is gritty, miss. I’ll ile ’em to-morrow. GRANDFATHER. There, you see, Nurse is the only one that loves me. I should like to marry you, Nurse, eh ? And cut ’em all out ? MRS. OSSORY. [Glares at Nurse in silence, not trusting herself to speak to her.] Now, grandpa, don’t be silly ! You know how we all love you ! [She goes to the chair and shakes it, unseen.] Thomas, there you are again ! How can you be so thoughtless ? GRANDFATHER. Oh ! Oh ! Oh ! [They get him out of the room. MRS. OSSORY [returning]. Good-bye, Mr. Carr. It is so good of you to help. CARR. Not at all, Mrs. Ossory, not at all. I am only too glad. You should try and get a nap after lunch. MRS. OSSORY. I will—I really think I will. [Exit. CARR. [Closes the door, turns to EUPHEMIA, executes a quiet hornpipe, goes to EUPHEMIA, holds out his arms.] Sweetheart ! EUPHEMIA. How dare you ! How can you ! With poor Uncle Henry lying dead ! CARR. Why have a long Latin name if you mean to play