Janet. (Handing him the paper, then putting her head close to his and looking at the paper.) What was it he was reading that made him so deaf he couldn't hear his wife when she spoke to him?
Carve. This.
Janet. (Reading.) "Ilam Carve's princely bequest. The International Gallery of Art. Foundation stone laying. Eloquent speech by Lord Rosebery." Oh! So they've begun it at last?
Carve. Yes, they've begun it at last.
Janet. Well, if you ask me, I should have thought he could have found something better to do with his money.
Carve. As for example?
Janet. Well, I should have thought there were more than enough picture galleries as it is. Who wants 'em? Even when they're free, people won't go into them unless it's a wet day. I've never been in a free picture gallery yet that wasn't as empty as a church. Stands to reason! It isn't even a cinematograph. When I see rows of people in Trafalgar Square waiting to get into the
[95]National Gallery, then I shall begin to think it's about time we had some more galleries. If I'd been Ilam Carve——
Carve. Well, what should you have done, witch?
Janet. I should have left a bit more to you, for one thing.