Читать книгу Three Plays онлайн

60 страница из 62

NANCY. Darling, do you mind very much?

BROXOPP. I wonder if Jack’s painting is ever going to come to anything.

NANCY. He must find that out for himself, mustn’t he? We can’t help him.

BROXOPP. Iris is a fine girl; I like a girl who tells the truth.

NANCY (smiling to herself). I don’t think you’d have liked her to write your advertisements.

BROXOPP (chuckling). Well done, Nancy. You’ve got me there.

NANCY. Say you liked me doing them.

BROXOPP (gravely). I liked you doing them. I’ve liked everything you’ve ever done for me.... All the same, Nancy, we were truthful. Artistically truthful. An artist is a man who knows what to leave out. Did I say that in Broxoppiana? (Remembering suddenly that there will never be another edition) Oh, well, it doesn’t matter now.

NANCY. You won’t mind very much? We’ve had our time. It’s Jack’s time now.

BROXOPP. Yes, we’ve had our time. Twenty-five years. After all, we’ve had the best of the fun, Nancy. Sir Roger is quite right about the name. It has been a handicap to Jack—I can see it now. It mustn’t be a handicap to Jack’s son.