ERNEST. Here, steady!
BENNET. On the occasions when your cousin forgets her position, you
will remember it and remind her of it. Get out! [Ernest, clumsily
as ever, "gets out."] A sort of person has called who, according to
his own account, "happened to be passing this way," and would like to
see you.
FANNY [who has been trying to hide the Bradshaw--with affected
surprise.] To see me!
BENNET [drily]. Yes. I thought you would be surprised. He claims
to be an old friend of yours--Mr. George Newte.
FANNY [still keeping it up]. George Newte! Of course--ah, yes. Do
you mind showing him up?
BENNET. I thought I would let you know he had arrived, in case you
might be getting anxious about him. I propose giving him a glass of
beer and sending him away again.
FANNY [flares up]. Look here, uncle, you and I have got to
understand one another. I may put up with being bullied myself--if I
can't see any help for it--but I'm not going to stand my friends
being insulted. You show Mr. Newte up here.
A silence.
BENNET. I shall deem it my duty to inform his lordship of Mr.
Newte's visit.
FANNY. There will be no need to. Mr. Newte, if his arrangements
permit, will be staying to dinner.
BENNET. That, we shall see about. [He goes out.]
FANNY [following him to door]. And tell them I shall want the best
bedroom got ready in case Mr. Newte is able to stay the night. I've
done it. [She goes to piano, dashes into the "Merry Widow Waltz," or
some other equally inappropriate but well-known melody, and then
there enters Newte, shown in by Bennet.
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