Unit4Pygmalion(4)ACTIVTheWimpoleStreetlaboratory,Midnight.Nobodyintheroom.Theclockonthemantelpiecestrikestwelve.Thefireisnotalight:itisasummernight.PresentlyHigginsandPickeringareheardonthestars.HIGGINS[callingdowntoPickering]Isay,Pick:lockup,willyou.Ishantbegoingoutagain.PICKERING.Right.CanMrs.Pearcegotobed?Wedontwantanythingmore,dowe?HIGGINS.Lord,no!Elizaopensthedoorandisseenonthelightedlandinginoperacloak,brillianteveningdress,anddiamonds,withfan,flowers,andallaccessories.Shecomestothehearth,andswitchesontheelectriclightsthere.Sheistired:herpallorcontrastsstronglywithherdarkeyesandhair;andherexpressionisalmosttragic.Shetakesoffhercloak;putsherfanandflowersonthepiano;andsitsdownonthebench,broodingandsilent.Higgins,ineveningdress,withovercoatandhat,comesin,carryingasmokingjacketwhichhehaspickedupdownstairs.Hetakesoffthehatandovercoat;throwsthemcarelesslyonthenewspaperstand;disposesofhiscoatinthesameway;putsonthesmokingjacket;andthrowshimselfwearilyintotheeasy-chairatthehearth.Pickering,similarlyattired,comesin.Healsotakesoffhishatandovercoat,andisabouttothrowthemonHiggins'swhenhehesitates.PICKERING.Isay:Mrs.Pearcewillrowifweleavethesethingslyingaboutinthedrawing-room.HIGGINS.Oh,chuckthemoverthebannistersintothehall.She'llfindthemthereinthemorningandputthemawayallright.She'llthinkweweredrunk.PICKERING.Weare,slightly.Arethereanyletters?HIGGINS.Ididntlook.[Pickeringtakestheovercoatsandhatsandgoesdownstairs.HigginsbeginshalfsinginghalfyawninganairfromLaFanciulladelGoldenWest.Suddenlyhestopsandexclaims]Iwonderwherethedevilmyslippersare!Elizalooksathimdarkly;thenrisessuddenlyandleavestheroom.Higginsyawnsagain,andresumeshissong.Pickeringreturns,withthecontentsoftheletter-boxinhishand.PICKERING.Onlycirculars,andthiscoronetedbillet-douxforyou.[Hethrowsthecircularsintothefender,andpostshimselfonthehearthrug,withhisbacktothegrate].用心爱心专心116号编辑HIGGINS[glancingatthebillet-doux]Money-lender.[Hethrowstheletterafterthecirculars].Elizareturnswithapairoflargedown-at-heelslippers.SheplacesthemonthecarpetbeforeHiggins,andsitsasbeforewithoutaword.HIGGINS[yawningagain]OhLord!Whatanevening!Whatacrew!Whatasillytomfoollery![Heraiseshisshoetounlaceit,andcatchessightoftheslippers.Hestopsunlacingandlooksatthemasiftheyhadappearedthereoftheirownaccord].Oh!theyrethere,arethey?PICKERING[stretchinghimself]Well,Ifeelabittired.It'sbeenalongday.Thegardenparty,adinnerparty,andtheopera!Rathertoomuchofagoodthing.Butyouvewonyourbet,Higgins.Elizadidthetrick,andsomethingtospare,eh?HIGGINS[fervently]ThankGodit'sover!Elizaflinchesviolently;buttheytakenonoticeofher;andsherecoversherselfandsitsstonilyasbefore.PICKERING.Wereyounervousatthegardenparty?Iwas.Elizadidntseemabitnervous.HIGGINS.Oh,shewasntnervous.Iknewshe'dbeallright.No:it'sthestrainofputtingthejobthroughallthesemonthsthathastoldonme.Itwasinterestingenoughatfirst,whilewewereatthephonetics;butafterthatIgotdeadlysickofit.IfIhadntbackedmyselftodoitIshouldhavechuckedthewholethinguptwomonthsago.Itwasasillynotion:thewholethinghasbeenabore.PICKERING.Ohcome!thegardenpartywasfrightfullyexciting.Myheartbeganbeatinglikeanything.HIGGINS.Yes,forthefirstthreeminutes.ButwhenIsawweweregoingtowinhandsdown,Ifeltlikeabearinacage,hangingaboutdoingnothing.Thedinnerwasworse:sittinggorgingthereforoveranhour,withnobodybutadamnedfoolofafashionablewomantotalkto!Itellyou,...
