Tit for Tat

Otago Witness, Issue 2569, 10 June 1903, Page 77

Tit for Tat

Mias Mimi St. Claire, of to- o Hall- (resting), to Mr Mervyn Fariant, manager of tho Folly Theatre: — "Dear Mr Farrant. — Do bo nice, and rrcid me a" box for ntoct Monday night. When arc you coming to tea with me again? It is ages pince I have seen you '—Yours ever, Mimi St. Clure."

?.T; Mervyn Farrant to Mis Mimi St Claire: —

"My Dear Mi«s St. Claire,— Any rc-^ .^ from you 19 v command, h- ;', \ iherefore hasten to enclose ti)~ \,-jx for next Monday that you ask f^,. I must, liowe\er, point out iljal^ ; j3 our free 1-nt is entirely suspended", I mn4 ask you to look upon this order as strictly personal, and not transferable, fain only waiting for an invitation to another of your charmn.? tea? — Yours mc*t ciuerrely, Mebvj>- Fahuast."

Mi=s Mimi St. Clairo to Madame Felicite, Modiste and Milliner, of Sloanc etieet : —

"My Dear Felicice, — I am 60 sorry that I ehall not be ablo to settle that account of yours biJoro the end of this month. I am enc'osmg a box for tho Folly next Monday n.ght. The show there is quite first rate. Hoping- you will enjoy it. — Yours -\ery truly, Mini St. Clause." Muni St. Clairo to Mr Mervyn Farrant : — "Dear Mr Farrant, — Such a bore ! I find I have an c-ngagement for Monday night that I cannot get out of, and I am therefore giving up the box to an intimate friend of mino, ,in whose favour I am sure you will be good enough to withdraw the 'strictly personal' proviso. I shall bo all alone at tea-time on Thursday, if you care ,to come in for n chat. — Yours ever, Mini St. Olaire." Scene : Mi;s Mimi St. Claire's dressing room at 4 o'clock on Thursday afternoon. Miss Mimi is arrajed in a beautiful frothy teagown composed chiefly of lace and ac-cordion-pleated chiffon. Enter her maid. The Ma.d : If you please, Madame, there is a gentleman below who wishes to see Madame. Mimi (loolding up from her fashion paper): Oh, what in he liLe? The Maid : Madame, ho is the most beautifully-dre t=ed gc-ntlcman that I have ever se-en, and ho Las with him a bouquet which is a perfect pc-em. Mimi : Oh, yes. That's Mervyn Forrsnt all light! Show the gentleman up. (Exit the maid, and cjiter a faultlesslyattired gentleman bearing a bouquet of violets and hiies-cf-the-v alley.) The Gentltman : I must apologise for intruding in th i> way, Miss St. Oiaire, but I have my excuse hero. (Handing her the bouquet and a no^e.) Mimi (looking doubtfully at him): But it •was Mr Mervya Farrant that I was expecting. The Gentleman: Exactly, and the note that I bring is from him. Mimi (ope-uing th? letter, rpad=) : ''Dear Miss St. Claire, — Such a bore ! I find that I have an .engagement for Thursday afternoon that I cannot possibly got out of, and I am therefor© passing your invitaticm to an intimate friend of mine, whoso company I feel sure you will find far more agreeable than my own. Hoping to see you ere long. — Yours very eincorely, Mervyn Fabbant." MimL (frowning) : "What 'horrid cheok ! The G-entleman. (apologetically) : Of course, if I am in the way, I will Mimi (examining him carefully, and coming to the conclusion that he is really very nice-looking) : Not at all, Mr — er, Ido not think I (know your name. The Gentleman (bowing politely) : Mr Pulford — Walter Pulford is my name. Mimi (brightly): Well, Mr Pulford, ring the be-11 for tea, and then sit down and mako , yourself comfortable. Oh! and first let me thank you for these really lovely flowers. Mr Pulford (with a tender iglanoe): I thought them beautiful -when I got them-, but now I find that their beauty quite pales before Mimi (laughing) : Oh I come now. That's really very pretty of you indeed ! Do you know that Mr Farrant doesn't pay me, half such nice compliments as that? Mr Pulford (emphatically) : But that is not a compliment. It is a bare statement of fact Mimi: I am afraid, Mr Pulford, that you are a sad flatterer. Mr Pulford (ecstatically) : To flatter anyone so beautiful would be clearly an impossibility. Mimi (pourimg out a cup of tea for him) : I won't give you any sugar in your tea, Mx'. Pulford', for fear you should make your compliments more sugary still. (The conversation goes on in this 6train until at length the visitor feels unwillingly compelled to face the fact that the time hafs come when politeness necessitates his bringing Ins visit to an find.) Mr Pulford: Gcod-bye, Miss St. Claire. I inwt really be going. I sco it is nearly 6 o'clot-k. Mimi (increduloui-ly) : Oh ! impossible ! (Looking at her little jewe'Aed watch.) Why, so it is ! How fsst,the time does pass in — no, I diun't mean that. Mr Pulford : : Oh ! but I hope you did. (Pressing her Laud tenderly ) Do you know. I cannot tell you how much I ha\e enjoyed myself. Mimi (blushing) : I — perhaps I ought not to tell you — but I think >cv are e\er io much nicer than Mr Farrant. Mr Pulford (brindling) : Do you, leally? Well, it's awfully sweet of \ou to say c o. At anyrate, I pay my way an I go, which is mora than Mr Farrant dM". Mimi (doubtfully) : What do you mean by that? Mr Pulford (cheerfully) : Why, you see, the fact is I am Mr Farrant'e tailor, and he pas=rd on your invitation to me on condi tion that I was not t-o send in 1113 bill again foi another six month?. M'lni: Oh! (di sohes in hysterics.)