Transcriber's Note:
On page 31, in the list of characters, Mrs. Campbell hasbeen changed to Mrs. Canfield.
Harper'sBlack & White
Series
FIVE O'CLOCK TEA
"'WILL YOU ANSWER MY QUESTION, AMY?'"FIVE O'CLOCK TEA
Farce
BY
ILLUSTRATED
NEW YORK
HARPER AND BROTHERS
1894
Copyright, 1894, by Harper & Brothers.
Copyright, 1885, by Harper & Brothers.
Copyright, 1885, by W. D. Howells.
All rights reserved.
ILLUSTRATIONS
| "'WILL YOU ANSWER MY QUESTION, AMY?'" | Frontispiece |
| "MRS. SOMERS, POURING A CUP OF TEA: 'THATMAKES IT A LITTLE MORE DIFFICULT'" | Facing page 32 |
[7]FIVE O'CLOCK TEA
I
MRS. SOMERS; MR. WILLIS CAMPBELL
MRS. Amy Somers, in a lightly floating tea-gown of singularly becomingtexture and color, employs the last moments of expectance before thearrival of her guests in marching up and down in front of the mirrorwhich fills the space between the long windows of her drawing-room,looking over either shoulder for different effects of the drifting andeddying train, and advancing upon her image with certain little bobs andbows, and retreating from it with a variety of fan practice andelaborated courtesies, finally degenerating into burlesque, and a seriesof grimaces and "mouths" made at the responsive reflex. In thefascination of[8] this amusement she is first ignorant, and then aware, ofthe presence of Mr. Willis Campbell, who on the landing space betweenthe drawing-room and the library stands, hat in hand, in the pleasedcontemplation of Mrs. Somers's manœuvres and contortions as themirror reports them to him. Mrs. Somers does not permit herself theslightest start on seeing him in the glass, but turns deliberately away,having taken time to prepare the air of gratification and surprise withwhich she greets him at half the length of the drawing-room.
Mrs. Somers, giving her hand: "Why, Mr. Campbell! How very nice of you!How long have you been prowling about there on the