Landed Gentry: A Comedy in Four Acts

by W. Somerset Maugham

Certainly. But it so happens that Mr. Cobbett is just going to sit in it again.

Mrs. Insoley.

[With a grim smile.] Mr. Cobbett has legs.

Cobbett.

Only two, and if a merciful Providence had intended him to stand on them it would undoubtedly have provided him with four.

Mrs. Insoley.

Mr. Cobbett seems to be better acquainted with the designs of Providence than I should have expected.... Louisa, give me the dog. He shall sit on my lap.

Cobbett.

[Chaffing her.] Ah, if you’d only told me that was the alternative, of course I wouldn’t have hesitated for a moment.

Mrs. Insoley.