What's that about a German pilot? -Nothing at all. -What do you mean, "nothing at all"? Well, I just had a German pilot in for ham and eggs this morning, that's all. -Wait! What's going on here? -Now, Clem, don't get excited. -I'm going to draw your bath. -I've had a bath. I'm not excited! -A cigarette? -No, I don't want one. Was it the fellow we were looking for? -Yes. -But what did you do? Woman, you're driving me crazy. Didn't he have a gun? Well, yeah, he had a gun. Well? I took it from him and called the police. Oh, you just took it to the police.... Just like that. And then I suppose you gave him tea. Milk. -Milk. -Clem! -Come in. -What is it, Ada? It's the old lady, ma'am. And me with the eggs on the stove. -It's Lady Beldon. -Beldon, here? No, ma'am. Downstairs. All right. Tell her I'll be down in a minute. Very well, ma'am. Lady Beldon. If I hadn't known you'd taken that pilot single-handed, I'd say you were scared. I am scared, just as I was when I took that German pilot single-handed. -Know why she's come in such hot haste? -To object to the marriage, I suppose. It's really insufferable snobbery. A boy like Vin, she ought to be proud and happy. -And honored. -I wish I had a better dress on. Oh, well. Clement Miniver, don't you dare smile. Why, Lady Beldon, this is nice. Won't you sit down here? I think I can guess why you came. -Vin's told you his news, hasn't he? -Yes, Mrs. Miniver. -I do hope you're as pleased as we are. -I'm afraid not. Why, they're infants. -Carol's 18 and that boy's not 20. -Yes, they are young. I think I should tell you frankly: I hope to persuade Carol to wait. -You think she may change her mind? -Frankly, yes. -Perhaps make a better match. -There's always that possibility. Of course, it may be just maternal vanity... ...but I don't think Carol will find anyone nicer than Vin. -I don't believe she'll change her mind. -It's a matter of opinion. -Her age is a matter of fact. -Isn't that Beldon tradition... ...to marry young? -I don't know what you mean. -My daughter Judy-- You've not met Judy. She had to write a composition on the Crusades. She brought a small book home from the library... ...called A Friend of King Richard the Lion-Hearted. -It was a life of an ancestor of yours. -Really, I fail to see-- It was a fascinating book. I got quite interested in it myself. It was full of stories of the Beldon family. I trust you satisfied yourself we were worthy of the alliance. Well, there were one or two things that rather surprised me. Did you know that the 12th Lord Beldon was hanged? He was beheaded. Such things happen in the best families. -Usually in the best families. -Matter of fact, what interested me most... ...was the extreme youth of the Beldon brides. This Gilbert Beldon... ...who went on the Crusades, married an Isabelle Du Something-or-other, age 12. I did not come here to chatter pedigrees. I'm old-fashioned. I believe in breeding. -That's neither here nor there. -Your point is, they're too young. I've said so, haven't I? We're at war, Lady Beldon. And Vin's a flyer. It's no excuse for rushing into an ill-considered marriage. But in war, time is so precious to the young people. -How old were you when you married? -I? It's no use telling fibs... -...because I looked you up. -Oh, well, if you've looked me up... ...I suppose you know that I was 16. -Sixteen. And did your parents approve? -That's beside the point. Oh, forgive me. Is it? You married very young, without your parents' consent... ...and yet when Carol.... -Oh, but perhaps you regretted it. -I did nothing of the kind. -Then why--? -My marriage lasted a few weeks. My husband was in the army. He was killed in action. Oh, I'm so sorry. Forgive me. I didn't know. I never regretted it. Not for one moment. We married because we knew that might happen. But I don't want Carol to suffer ------------------------------ Читайте также: - текст Чародеи на английском - текст Потерянный уикэнд на английском - текст Возможности карьеры на английском - текст Этой ночи жена на английском - текст Просто кровь на английском |