Arabella If you are able to get money out of aunt Bramble, don't mock her. We must pity the afflicted.
Countess When her husband's death was announced to her, I perceived that only her facial expression showed any signs of affliction.
Desmond Maybe so, but I beg you to spare her. For if her affection was false, that of my uncle was true enough. And my uncle had the honor to be your steward.
Countess Oh, Bramble's enriched himself at my expense—and now I will laugh at the expense of his widow. After all, it's an outrage. She wants to disinherit her niece—who's my godchild—in a word, she hates what you love. Why manipulate, if it weren't for love of you?
Desmond
If she's done it from love of me, it's an inexcusable folly.
Countess A less excusable folly is the speed with which she took to mourning yesterday. (to Maid) Miss, tell me how she has been able to find so much crepe in the country?
Maid I heard this morning from Lucy, that she's always kept a mourning outfit hidden in her trunk, so as always to be well prepared for the unexpected death of her husband. She says every well-ordered wife ought to do the same, so she can celebrate her misfortune from the very first moment of widowhood.
Countess
And you don't want me to ridicule such an affectation? There, Desmond!
Go, put on mourning, too—to prove that your uncle is dead.
Arabella
I am also going to put on black, to make it all more touching.
(Exit Arabella and Desmond.)