Unit4Pygmalion(2)ACTIINextdayat11a.m.Higgins'slaboratoryinWimpoleStreet.Itisaroomonthefirstfloor,lookingonthestreet,andwasmeantforthedrawing-room.Thedoubledoorsareinthemiddleofthebackwall;andpersonsenteringfindinthecornertotheirrighttwotallfilecabinetsatrightanglestooneanotheragainstthewalls.Inthiscornerstandsaflatwriting-table,onwhichareaphonograph,alaryngoscope,arowoftinyorganpipeswithabellows,asetoflampchimneysforsingingflameswithburnersattachedtoagaspluginthewallbyanindiarubbertube,severaltuning-forksofdifferentsizes,alife-sizeimageofhalfahumanhead,showinginsectionthevocalorgans,andaboxcontainingasupplyofwaxcylindersforthephonograph.Furtherdowntheroom,onthesameside,isafireplace,withacomfortableleather-coveredeasy-chairatthesideofthehearthnearestthedoor,andacoal-scuttle.Thereisaclockonthemantelpiece.Betweenthefireplaceandthephonographtableisastandfornewspapers.Ontheothersideofthecentraldoor,totheleftofthevisitor,isacabinetofshallowdrawers.Onitisatelephoneandthetelephonedirectory.Thecornerbeyond,andmostofthesidewall,isoccupiedbyagrandpiano,withthekeyboardattheendfurthestfromthedoor,andabenchfortheplayerextendingthefulllengthofthekeyboard.Onthepianoisadessertdishheapedwithfruitandsweets,mostlychocolates.Themiddleoftheroomisclear.Besidestheeasy-chair,thepianobench,andtwochairsatthephonographtable,thereisonestraychair.Itstandsnearthefireplace.Onthewalls,engravings;mostlyPiranesisandmezzotintportraits.Nopaintings.Pickeringisseatedatthetable,puttingdownsomecardsandatuning-forkwhichhehasbeenusing.Higginsisstandingupnearhim,closingtwoorthreefiledrawerswhicharehangingout.Heappearsinthemorninglightasarobust,vital,appetizingsortofmanoffortyorthereabouts,dressedinaprofessional-lookingblackfrock-coatwithawhitelinencollarandblacksilktie.Heisoftheenergetic,scientifictype,heartily,evenviolentlyinterestedineverythingthatcanbestudiedasascientificsubject,andcarelessabouthimselfandotherpeople,includingtheirfeelings.Heis,infact,butforhisyearsandsize,ratherlikeaveryimpetuousbaby"takingnotice"eagerlyandloudly,andrequiringalmostasmuchwatchingtokeephimoutofunintendedmischief.Hismannervariesfromgenialbullyingwhenheisinagoodhumortostormypetulancewhenanythinggoeswrong;butheissoentirelyfrankandvoidofmalicethatheremainslikeableeveninhisleastreasonablemoments.HIGGINS[asheshutsthelastdrawer]Well,Ithinkthatsthewholeshow.PICKERING.It'sreallyamazing.Ihavnttakenhalfofitin,youknow.HIGGINS.Wouldyouliketogooveranyofitagain?用心爱心专心116号编辑PICKERING[risingandcomingtothefireplace,whereheplantshimselfwithhisbacktothefire]No,thankyou;notnow.I'mquitedoneupforthismorning.HIGGINS[followinghim,andstandingbesidehimonhisleft]Tiredoflisteningtosounds?PICKERING.Yes.It'safearfulstrain.IratherfanciedmyselfbecauseIcanpronouncetwenty-fourdistinctvowelsounds;butyourhundredandthirtybeatme.Icanthearabitofdifferencebetweenmostofthem.HIGGINS[chuckling,andgoingovertothepianotoeatsweets]Oh,thatcomeswithpractice.Youhearnodifferenceatfirst;butyoukeeponlistening,andpresentlyyoufindtheyreallasdifferentasAfromB.[Mrs.Pearcelooksin:sheisHiggins'shousekeeper]Whatsthematter?MRS.PEARCE[hesitating,evidentlyperplexed]Ayoungwomanwantstoseeyou,sir.HIGGINS.Ayoungwoman!Whatdoesshewant?MRS.PEARCE.Well,sir,shesaysyoullbegladtoseeherwhenyouknowwhatshescomeabout.Shesquiteacommongirl,sir.Verycommonindeed.Ishouldhavesentheraway,onlyIthoughtperh...
