THE ART OF MARRYIMG.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVII, Issue XIX, 7 November 1896, Page 23

THE ART OF MARRYIMG.

-Characters Rev. Percy Woffington, M.A., Rector of Sandean ; Margaret, bis wife ; Daisy, their daughter ; and Frank Panton, an ‘eligible.* Scene:—The Rector's study, morning. THE CAUSE. Rev. Woffington (writing out the housekeeping cheque) : Margaret, our girls must get married.’ Mrs Woffington: * My dear, I’m sure they do their best.* Rev. Woffington : * Then they must surpass themselves. For the last five years we have been living beyond our income and spending our capital. That can’t last.' Mrs Woffington : * Certainly not; but yon see. dear, we can’t force things. Of course, it’s very expensive ; but they must dress.’ Rev. Woffington (humorously): * Quite so ; but you see, for five years I have been sinking my capital in what we may call the Woffington Marriage Association, and the undertaking has not hitherto paid a dividend. Now, I look upon you as the managing director, and I say it’s time onr enterprise met with some success. Don’t misunderstand me. Onr girls are nice, good girls, quite attractive enough, and sufficiently accomplished. I’m not anxious to get rid of them, but I hold that the natural sphere for a woman is matrimony, and for the last tew years we have been entertaining in our modest little way, and the girls have been visiting all about the -county, and we ought to take advantage of this and see them properly settled.’ Mrs Woffington: * Young men are so tiresome nowadays.’ Rev. Woffington : * And so poor.’ Mrs Woffington : * And so wrapped up in cricket and football.’ Rev. Woffington: * Not to mention comic opera. ’ Mrs Woffington : * And the girls are so different. They don’t seem to look upon marriage as they used to. When I was a girl we were taught to look upon it as the coping stone of our education ; but now they wonder if a woman is justified in burying herself alive.’ Rev. Woffington: ‘Now, there is young

Pan ton. For the last twelve months he has been running about after Daisy. He’s not rich, to be sure, but his prospects are not half bad, and he seems to be a capital sort of a fellow. Now, can't you use a little tact and bring things to a head ’ If we once made a start no doubt the others would follow.’ Mrs Woffington (thoughtfully): • I’ll see what I can do, Percy.’ Rev. Woffington : * I am going to make one or two calls in the parish. Speak to Daisy this morning. I’ll send her to you as Igo out. (Exit.) Mrs Woffington : ‘Yes, I’ll speak to her, but it won’t do to set about it quite like that.’ Daisy (entering): * What’s up, mater ?’ Mrs Woffington : ‘ Sit down, dear. I want to talk to you. Your father has been grumbling about Frank Panton paying you so much attention.’ Daisy : ‘ Well, I'm sure there’s no harm in it.’ Mrs Woffington : * He says that Frank is continually with you.’ Daisy : ‘ What of it ? We do it openly. Everybody sees us.’ Mrs Woffington : * My dear girl, I’m not blaming you. I stood up for you. I don’t see any harm in young people indulging in a little harmless—well—flirtation, as long, of course, as it isn’t carried too far. But, of course, your father has such very peculiar views on these things, and I know you wouldn’t like to offend him.’ Daisy : ‘Of course not, but 1 don’t see that he’s got anything to be offended about. Even if Frank proposed, I don’t see that the pater could object. His position is about as good as most of the men we know.’ Mrs Woffington : * Couldn’t you manage to like Mr Marlowe ?’ Daisy : ‘ No, I’m sure I couldn’t.' Mrs Woffington : • He comes into a lot of money some day, and he’s steady.’ Daisy : • He’s a fool.’ Mrs Woffington (shocked): ‘ Daisy !’ Daisy: ‘So he is, mater, and you know it. I don’t know that I want to marry anybody, so there’s no need for the pater to get into a panic, but, if I had to marry one of them, I’d rather marry Frank on twopence a week, than that donkey.’ Mrs Woffington : ‘ Well, well, dear, we mustn’t get angry about it.’

Daisy (steadily): * And I don’t see why papa should object about Frank.* Mrs Woffington: * Your father has such very funny views, my dear.* Daisy : * It’s absurd. I believe Frank is very fond of me, and if he says anything, I’m not at all sure but what I should accept him. I don’t see that papa wonld have any ground to oppose us. ’ Mrs Woffington : ‘Of course, if it ever came to that, Daisy, I shouldn’t oppose you, and I should help you as much as I could with your father, but I can’t answer for him. Is Frank going to be at the dance to-night ?' Daisy: ‘Yes.’ Mrs Woffington : ‘ Well, if I were you, I wouldn’t let his attentions be too pronounced. Your father and I will both be there, and he is so fussy about you girls. Keep him at a little distance. Don’t be too much at his disposal. ’ Daisy (thoughtfully): * Perhaps you are right.’ the effect. (Time. —The following morning. Rev. Woffington seated at work. Enter Frank Panton, nervously.) Frank : * Good morning, sir.’ Rev. Woffington: ‘What, Frank, my boy, anything the matter ? Sit down.’ Frank (speaking rapidly, and without a stop): ‘ Yes, sir—that is. No—it’s Daisy. I spoke to her last night, I want to marry her, I’m very fond of her, and I’ll try to make her a good husband, and I want your permission.’ Rev. Woffington (looking shocked and disappointed): ‘ You want to marry Daisy ’’ Frank : ‘ Yes, sir.’ Rev. Woffington : ‘ She’s very young, and so are you, Frank.’ Frank: *I am twenty-six. I love Daisy very much, and—(swallowing something) I think she likes me.* Rev. Woffington (shaking his head with a grave smile): * Ah, young people only think of that, they don’t look to the future. I don’t want to part with my girls, Frank.’ Frank (argumentatively): * You’ll have three left, sir.’

Rev. Woffington: ‘ Still, I should be losing one. Perhaps I had better ask my

wife to come here. I never interfere in these things. (Rings a bell.) Rev. Woffington (to servant) : ‘Aekyonr mistress to come here for a few minutes. (To Frank) What about your father ?’ Frank : * I have spoken to him, Mr Woffington. He gives bis very hearty approval. (Enter Mrs Woffington.) Rev. Woffington : * Margaret, this young man wishes to marry Daisy. How old is she ?’

Mrs W< fling ton: ‘Twenty-three in May.’ Rev. W< flington : * Isn’t that too young ?’ Mrs Woffington : ‘ I wasn't twenty-one when I married yon. Yon didn’t think me too young.’ Rev. Woffington (smiling kindly) : ‘No, dear, but things are so different nowadays. Well, I shall leave it to you, Margaret.* Mrs Woffington : * I think you ought to decide, Percy.’ Rev. Woffington (firmly) : * No, dear ! Mothers understand their daughters beet. You must decide.*

Mrs Woffington : *lf I decide I shall say yes 1’ (Mr Woffington rises solemnly from his seat, and placing his left hand on his wife's shoulder, gives hie right to Frank.)

Rev. Woffington (with the air of a man who feels he is making a noble sacrifice): * Then, Frank, you must take that as your answer.’—L.W., in Black and White.