Mrs. Bradley. Of course he doesn’t, Mr. Perkins. It’s impossible to see it from the hall. Now, I think the rug ought to come up.
Mrs. Perkins. Dear me! what for?
Yardsley. Oh, it wouldn’t do at all to have that rug in the conservatory, Mrs. Perkins. Besides, I should be afraid it would be spoiled.
Perkins. Spoiled? What would spoil it? Are you going to wear spiked shoes?
Barlow. Spiked shoes? Thaddeus, really you ought to have your mind examined. This scene is supposed to be just off the ballroom, and it is here that Gwendoline comes during the lanciers and encounters Hartley, the villain. Do you suppose that even a villain in an amateur show would go to a ball with spiked shoes on?
Perkins (wearily). But I still fail to see what is to spoil the rug. Does the villain set fire to the conservatory in this play, or does he assassinate the virtuous hero here and spill his gore on the floor?
Bradley. What a blood-and-thunder idea of the drama you have! Of course he doesn’t. There isn’t a death in the whole play, and it’s two hours long. One or two people in the audience may die while the play is going on, but people who haven’t strong constitutions shouldn’t attend amateur shows.
Mrs. Perkins. That’s true, I fancy.
Mrs. Bradley. Very. It would be very rude for one of your invited guests to cast a gloom over your evening by dying.
Yardsley. It is seldom done among people who know what is what. But to explain the point you want explained, Thaddeus: the rug might be spoiled by a leak in the fountain.