A FOUR O'CLOCK TEA.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIV, Issue XX, 19 May 1900, Page 944

A FOUR O'CLOCK TEA.

AN UP-TO-DATE SKIT ON COUONIAU LIFE.

PERSONS: Dolls Deepdimple —The Girl. Mrs Van Ripper —The Chaperon. Tommie Tackle- The Man. And Others. SCKNE. A well-known afternoon tea resort. Time 4.30. The room is» crowded, and from the small screen-cd-oft’ table comes a perpetual hum of punctuated wit h light laughter and the clink of tea cups. Pretty “lady” waitresses in smart uniforms of purple frocks and white aprons provide afternoon tea. ires and fruit salads. Outside in the street the Italian musicians are playing “.I ust ()ne Girl.” ARG I’M ENT. It is like this. Dolly Deepdimple has refused Tommie Taele at a dance given by Mrs Van Ripper the previous evening. They have all met to-day as though nothing had happened. Dolly, feeling that Tommies proposal will keep in cold is very gay. Tommie is pale. Mrs Van Ripper is sweetly sympathetic. Dolly (to Tommie): Won’t you have a biscuit. Mr Tackle? They are Tommie: Thank you. no. Miss Deep* <li inple. Mrs Van Ripper (bowing and smiling at some one across the room). There’s Mr Rackette. Was he al my house last night ? I didn’t see him oner. Dolly: Yes dear old .lack! We had a delightful time. Tommie: Where on the stairs or on the verandah? Dollv (with dignitv): Yon seem to forget. Mr Tackle. Neither Mr Racket tv nor I belong to the Sina-rt Set. Tommie: No. that's a fart, bon both know too much for that! Dolly: Yes. we graduated long ago. Jack’s not a hit slow! Tommie: Emmy girl. Cora Evathvrby; the other afternoon she said ha ha- ha—she said

Dolly: Please spare us any of Miss Eeatherby’s jokes. We must draw the line somewhere. Tommie: Never mind. Mrs Van Ripper. I'll tell you some time when we are alone. Dolly (her eyes flashing dangerously): Nowadays men think anything that is fast is brilliant. Tommie: It's the inevitable reaction. You see there are so many debutantes this year. White tulle and pearls are all very nice in their way. but one must have Dolly: A few spangles! Tommie (musing): But Cora is such a bright girl! Dolly: 1 wonder where she ever got that nose? Jack Rackette says it’s the noblest Roman he ever saw on a girl! (Dolly's own nose tip tilts poi ntedly). ’l’oininie (looking pensively at Mrs Van Ripper's nose, which is a pure Grecian): Do you know—it's a fact. Mrs Van—you don't see on* good nose in twenty! Do.l\ (lightly): Don't despair. Mi Tackle: you can have ’(‘in changed nowadays! Mrs Van Ripper: But Cora Ecal herby really is an interesting modern ty|ie. Why. there she is now (Ibowing and smiling)—and another stunning gown! Dolly (bowing coldly): White broadcloth and gold embroidery. Awfully loud! Tommie (bowing and smiling effus ively): \’<iy striking continue! 'That hat's a beauty, isn't it? I helped her to pick it out the other morning. Dolly: Now there’s a girl that doesn’t care! I wish I could lie like her. She flirts with every man she meets- sin* Tommie: Yes I heard her say the other evening that she never let inc get away! Ha-ha—ha —! Dolly; But simply because tdie’s she's “sporty” as Jack Rackette says she’s called a beauty! Mrs Van Ripper: She really isn’t good looking even!

Tommie: But she's got a good heart. Dolly: 1 suppose she's what you call up-to-date! That stands for everything! Tommie: I should never call Miss Eeat herby up-to-date in that sense. The up-to-date girl is absolutely superficial. insincere, without any heart whatever; and as for her soul, it's so small you can hear it rattle when she walks. (He looks pointedly at Dolly, who sips tea languidly). Mrs Van Ripper: Why. ’Torn! 'Phis is so sudden! I thought you liked girls? Tommie (with a blase air): Oh. of course I like girls—as girls. There are lots of nice girls in the world. You are two of the nicest I know. (He bows to Mrs Van Ripper). But you take the usual sort of society girl, who thinks it’s great fun to lead a chap on Dolly: Some men accuse you of leading them on if you've let them buy you a few boxes of chocolate creams and let them take you to Dollard’s or Bland Holt's once or t wice. 'l'oininie: They have no depth. They can't talk--except to say unkind things. which they’ think are funny. But they lack everything that one associates with the true womanly Dolly: Cora Eeatherby. for instance? Tommie (sternly): Let us leave Miss Eeatherby’s name out of the discussion. I am talking generally. The society girl regards a man's most sacred emotions as as a joke. She likes to fancy them as slaves chasing after her chariot wheels Dollv: Bike is more recent, Mr Tackle. Mrs Van Ripper: All girls are not like I hat. you know. Tommie: No. you were never like that. Vera pardon me, but it seems so stupid to call you Mrs

Van Kipper when we are such friends!"’ Mrs Van Ripper: Oh. 1 was an old fashioned girl! Tommie ( with feeling): The sort of girl a man never forgets! He may jest with others —stop to play now and then—but there’s always one girl he remembers! Dolly: Even though she's married? Tommie: Oh, you don't understand, little girl. Run away! (Mrs Van Ripper has lowered her eyes until they rest in her tea eup. Dolly’s have opened very wide over the top of hers. Suddenly she drops her lashes and looks sideways at them both. She seems to experience some slight difficulty in swallowing her tea. In another girl it would be called a gulp) Tommie (musing): What a nice girl you were! Mrs Van Ripper: It seems such a long time ago! Tommie: Only four years. Dolly (who feels forgotten): I beg pardon for interrupting Tommie: Not at. all. Dolly: I was speaking to Vera. Did you really know each other? Mrs Van Ripper: Why, yes; Mr Van and Tom were great chum- you Tommie: He was my best friend! Dolly: Huh hm-m-m! Tommie: But I was careless and Van Ripper carried off the prize; but they allowed me to be usher. (Mis Van Ripper and Tommie laugh and are joined by Dolly, but her laugh is distinctly unhappy.) Dolly (with an attempt at lightness): How does it feel to be a buried sorrow? Tommie: Oh. everything gets to be a joke when you've had it—-even appendicitis! But the first time a man is in love is the only time, after a 11! A fellow meets a pretty

girl and proposes to her, because—--4 well, because she seems to look for it (Dolly raises her cup to her lips , and swallows hard. A moisture has appeared about her lashes. Mrs. Van Ripper notices this and pours more tea.) Mrs. Van Ripper: But it's all an old story now. By the way, do you know we start for Rotorua and the Lakes in another week? There are eight of us going. Why don’t you come along, if you don’t think It will be too stupid? Nearly all old married people, you know — except Cora—and Jack and 1 want Dolly to go. Tommie: Is Van going? Mrs. Van Ripper: No; he can’t get away until later. Tommie: Are you going, Miss Deepdimple? Dolly (who is no longer gay): No, I’m going to be bridesmaid for Pinkie I’eacli bloom. Tommie (with sudden decision): I think I can get away for a week or two. Mrs Van Ripper, if you are quite sure 1 won’t be in the way. Mrs Van Ripper: We shall be delighted. You must bring your banjo and golf sticks ami things. Oh, it is so lovely at Rotorua and Taupo. Tommie: Such moonlight nights—and stars. Don you know, the stars never seem—quite the same here! (At this point a large tear appears on the tip of each of Miss Deepdimple's lashes and falls into her cup. She also gulps.) Dolly (suddenly): There’s Peachie now. Won’t you both excuse me for just a moment, Vera? (She rushes off. Air. Tackle draws a deep breath. Mrs. Van Ripr per laughs. They shake hands across the table.) Tommie: That’s the worst game T was ever in, but it did work beautifully, didn’t it? You are a brick! I’d ■never have thought of it —wouldn’t have dared Great Scott! Mrs. Van Ripper: Oh, 1 know girls. , I once was one myself. If you’d moped and acted as though you cared, she’d have gone on making fun of you. Tommie: And now, what next? Do you think she’ll ever forgive me? Mrs." Van Ripper (thoughtfully): You might apologise. Tommie: Yes; that always pleases a girl! - - - • Mrs. Van Ripper: Then .I’ll get her to go to Rotorua. Tommie: Do you think she’ll go after ail this, really? Mrs. Van Ripper: Like a lamb! Sh! She’s coming! Look into my eyes and hold mv hand!- That’s lovely.! Sh! —Adapted from New York “Herald.”