Barberine and Other Comedies Author:Alfred de Musset Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: A CAPRICE Scene I Mathilde. [Alone, sewing]. One more stitch and I shall be through. [She rings; a servant enters.] Has anyone come from Janisset's? ... more »Servant. No, madam, not yet. Math. This is provoking; make haste, tell them to come at once. [The servant goes out.' I shall have to take the first thing I can get; it is eight o'clock; he is now dressing for the evening; I am sure he will come before it is ready. That will put it off another day. [She rises.] Making purses on the sly for one's husband would be very well for romantic young people. After a year of married life! What would Madame de Lery say if she knew it? And what will he think of it? Very likely he will laugh at the mystery in which I have shrouded the affair, but he will not laugh at the gift. But why all thismystery? I am sure I do not know; it seems to me I would not have worked with such good will in his presence; it would look as though I were saying, "See how much I think of you!" There would have been something bordering on a reproach in that, while in showing him my little piece of handiwork all finished, it will be he who will say that I have thought of him. Servant. [Returning with a package]. This has just come from the jeweler. Math. At last! [She sits down again. ] Let me know when M. de Chavigny arrives. [Exit servant.] Now, my dear little purse, we are ready to make your last toilet. Let us see if you will not be something of a coquette, arrayed in all this finery. Not so bad. Now I think you ought to be cordially welcomed. You will speak of all the pleasure I have taken in making you, all the care bestowed on your little person. You are not expected, mademoiselle. You were not fit to be seen until you had donned your best. Will you have a kiss for your pains? ...« less