The Barretts of Wimpole Street Page #6

he'd spend half his anger on you for not warning him.

What are you talking about, dear ?

Surtees has just asked me to marry him.

Surtees ?

Captain Cook. I've told you about him.

The guardsman, you know.

Yes, I remember, dear.

And of course I expected him and said that I couldn't...

... and I had to tell him we must

never never see each other again so when we meet tomorrow...

You're not talking sense, child.

What really has happened ?

I don't know, Ba.

Except that we both love each other.

Terribly.

Oh, my darling.

But Henrietta, papa...

Do you think I haven't thought of that ?

He'll never consent. Never.

I know.

Ba, dear, is there anything at all

to be said for papa's attitude towards marriage ?

Can it possibly be wrong

to want a man's love desperately and...

long for babies of my own ?

Love and babies are something I don't know much about.

I know, dear, you're a woman apart.

But love and babies are natural to a normal girl like me.

And what's natural can't be wrong.

No...

And yet the holiest men and women renounce these things.

I daresay, Ba. But I'm not holy.

It's different for you. You're a great genius.

Oh, yes you are. You've got your work, your studies.

But do you know, Ba ?

Sometimes I wonder.

Are you completely satisfied ?

Is it enough just to correspond

with Mr. Browning, for instance ?

Don't you sometimes wish that you could see him ?

If I could see and not be seen.

Why ?

Because at heart I'm as vain as a peacock.

He thinks my verse is stately and beautiful.

Probably thinks me the same.

It would be so humiliating to disillusion him.

Oh, don't be silly, Ba. You're very interesting and picturesque.

Isn't that how the guidebooks usually describe a ruin ?

Oh, Ba, I didn't mean it.

Of course.

Tell me, is your friend very nice ?

Surtees ?

Yes.

Oh, yes.

Oh, Ba, what are we to do ?

Ba, do you think it would be wiser

if we were never to see each other again ?

I think it might be wiser, dear.

Oh...

But at your age one shouldn't be too wise.

Oh, Ba.

Come in.

A gentleman just brought this, dear.

A gentleman ?

Yes. And he said he would wait for an answer.

Really ?

Who is it from ?

Henrietta !

A moment, dear.

Oh !

Oh, Ba, dear, whatever is it ?

Oh, really !

Please tell us, darling.

Why, Ba, you're blushing.

No wonder ! Listen to this.

"Dear Miss Barrett,

I am unable to restrain my impatience to meet you...

... and have taken it upon myself to select February 15th"...

that's today... ..."for that important occasion.

And I am at this moment seated

in your front hall awaiting your permission to present myself."

Wait a moment, there's more.

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