BOBBY. But it wouldnt be for her happiness to marry me when I dont
really care for her.
JUGGINS. Women dont always marry for happiness, sir. They often
marry because they wish to be married women and not old maids.
BOBBY. Then what am I to do?
JUGGINS. Marry her, sir, or behave like a cad.
BOBBY. [Jumping up] Well, I wont marry her: thats flat. What
would you do if you were in my place?
JUGGINS. I should tell the young lady that I found I couldnt fulfil
my engagement.
BOBBY. But youd have to make some excuse, you know. I want to give
it a gentlemanly turn: to say I'm not worthy of her, or something
like that.
JUGGINS. That is not a gentlemanly turn, sir. Quite the contrary.
BOBBY. I dont see that at all. Do you mean that it's not exactly
true?
JUGGINS. Not at all, sir.
BOBBY. I can say that no other girl can ever be to me what shes been.
That would be quite true, because our circumstances have been rather
exceptional; and she'll imagine I mean I'm fonder of her than I can
ever be of anyone else. You see, Juggins, a gentleman has to think of
a girl's feelings.
JUGGINS. If you wish to spare her feelings, sir, you can marry her.
If you hurt her feelings by refusing, you had better not try to get
credit for considerateness at the same time by pretending to spare
them. She wont like it. And it will start an argument, of which you
will get the worse.
BOBBY. But, you know, I'm not really worthy of her.
Pages:
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66