Waiter. Right, sir. (To Crampton.) Irish for you, sir, I think sir? (Crampton assents with a grunt. The waiter looks enquiringly at Valentine.)
Valentine. I like the cucumber.
Waiter. Right, sir. (Summing up.) Claret cup, syphon, one Scotch, and one Irish?
Mrs. Clandon. I think that’s right.
Waiter. (Perfectly happy.) Right ma’am. Directly, ma’am. Thank you.
(He ambles off through the window, having sounded the whole gamut of human happiness, from the bottom to the top in a little over two minutes.)[53]
THE CRADLE (LE BERCEAU)
ACT I. SCENE 9
[Laurence and Raymond, her first husband, meet by chance by the sick bed of their little boy, M. de Girieu, the second husband, who is madly jealous of Raymond, and of Laurence’s love for her boy, has just refused Raymond’s request to be allowed to watch by the child till he is out of danger. Resting confidently on the control over Laurence and the boy which the laws give him, M. de Girieu is sure he can keep his wife and her former husband apart.]
Long silent scene. The door of little Julien’s room opens softly. Laurence appears with a paper in her hand. The two men separate, watching her intently. She looks out for a long time, then shuts the door, taking every precaution not to make a noise. After a gesture of profound grief, she comes forward, deeply moved, but tearless. She makes no more gestures. Her face is grave. Very simply she goes straight to Raymond.