SCENE VII
ASTRAEA, ARDEN, HOMEWARE
HOMEWARE:
Astraea, child! You, Arden, stand aside.
Ay, if she were a maid you might speak first,
But being a widow she must find her tongue.
Astraea, they await you. State the fact
As soon as you are questioned, fearlessly.
Open the battle with artillery.
ASTRAEA:
What is the matter, uncle Homeware?
HOMEWARE (playing fox):
What?
Why, we have watched your nice preliminaries
From the windows half the evening. Now run in.
Their patience has run out, and, as I said,
Unlimber and deliver fire at once.
Your aunts Virginia and Winifred,
With Lady Oldlace, are the senators,
The Dame for Dogs. They wear terrific brows,
But be not you affrighted, my sweet chick,
And tell them uncle Homeware backs your choice,
By lawyer and by priests! by altar, fount,
And testament!
ASTRAEA:
My choice! what have I chosen?
HOMEWARE:
She asks? You hear her, Arden?—what and whom!
ARDEN:
Surely, sir! . . . heavens! have you . . .
HOMEWARE:
Surely the old fox,
In all I have read, is wiser than the young:
And if there is a game for fox to play,
Old fox plays cunningest.
ASTRAEA:
Why fox? Oh! uncle,
You make my heart beat with your mystery;
I never did love riddles. Why sit they
Awaiting me, and looking terrible?