PRAED
The Roman father?9
FRANK
He's rector here. I'm living with my people this autumn for the sake
of economy. Things came to a crisis in July: the Roman father had to pay
my debts. He's stony broke in consequence; and so am I. What are you up
to in these parts? Do you know the people here?
PRAED
Yes: I'm spending the day with a Miss Warren.
FRANK [Enthusiastically.] What! Do you know Vivie? Isnt she a jolly girl? I'm teaching her to shoot with this. [Putting down the rifle.] I'm so glad she knows you: youre just the sort of fellow she ought to know. [He smiles, and raises the charming voice almost to a singing tone as he exclaims] It's ever so jolly to find you here, Praed.
PRAED
I'm an old friend of her mother. Mrs Warren brought me over to make her daughter's acquaintance.
FRANK
The mother! Is s h e here?
PRAED
Yes: inside, at tea.
MRS WARREN
[Calling from within.] Prad-dee-ee-ee-eee! The tea-cake'Il be
cold. PRAED [Calling.] Yes, Mrs Warren. In a moment. Ive just met a friend here. MRS WARREN
A what? PRAED [Louder.] A friend. MRS WARREN
Bring him in.
PRAED
All right, [to FRANK] Will you accept the invitation? FRANK [Incredulous, but immensely amused.] Is that Vivie's mother? PRAED Yes.
FRANK
By jove! What a lark! Do you think she'll like me?
PRAED
Ive no doubt youll make yourself popular, as usual. Come in and try.
[Moving towards the house.]
FRANK
Stop a bit. [Seriously.] I want to take you into my confidence.
PRAED
Pray dont. It's only some fresh folly, like the barmaid at Redhill.1
FRANK
It's ever so much more serious than that. You say youve only just met
Vivie for the first time?
PRAED Yes. FRANK [Rhapsodically.] Then you can have no idea what a girl she is. Such character! Such sense! And her cleverness! Oh, my eye, Praed, but I can
tell you she is clever! And?need I add??she loves me.
9. I.e., a father with a Roman (strong) sense of Church of England, duty, not a Roman Catholic priest. We learn in the 1. A nearby town, next line that Franks father is a clergyman in the
.
MRS WARREN'S PROFESSION, ACT 1 / 1755
CROFTS [Putting his head out of the window.] I say, Praed: what are you about? D o come along. [He disappears.]
FRANK
Hallo! Sort of chap that would take a prize at a dog show, aint he?
Who's he?
PRAED
Sir George Crofts, an old friend of Mrs Warren's. I think we had better
