The Equinox (Volume I, Number IV)

MR. TODD GRANDFATHER. Oh, my sciatica! You careless scoundrel, 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. tTHomas. 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 thatlovesme. I should like to marry you, Nurse, eh? And cut ’em all out? MRS. ossoryY. [Glares at Nurse in silence, not trusting her- self 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 [veturning]. Good-bye, Mr. Carr. It is so good of you to help. carr. Not at all, Mrs. Ossory, not at all. Iam only too glad. You should try and get a nap after lunch. mrs. ossory. I will—I really think I will. [Bxit. caRR. [Closes the door, turns to EUPHEMIA, executes a quiet hornpipe, goes to Euruemia, holds out his arms.] Sweetheart | EUPHEMIA. How dare you! Howcan you! With poor Uncle Henry lying dead! 219