Happy Thought Hall Part 25
Well, that depends. Are _you_?
c.o.x.
Well--(_shrugging his shoulders and stretching out his hands_).
BOX.
Ah! (_imitates action_) Thats exactly my case.
c.o.x.
Its time for me to go out and take the waters. Youve taken mine for me.
BOX.
If you dont feel any better after it than I do--Whats the effect of the waters?
c.o.x (_aside_).
Ill frighten him. (_Aloud_) If youre unaccustomed to them--poisonous.
BOX.
Good gracious! The first draught then is--
c.o.x.
Fatal. Deadly.
BOX.
Then you dont have much chance of getting accustomed to it. You look very well.
c.o.x.
Yes. I could have taken that gla.s.s with impunity. It was my eighteenth tumbler.
BOX.
Then Im safe. I began with the eighteenth. Aha! I shall smoke a cigar and read the paper.
c.o.x (_aside_).
The paper!
BOX.
Dont stop for me. (_Aside_) I wonder if hes seen the news.
c.o.x (_aside_).
He mustnt know shes here. Hes got it. (_Seeing BOX reading the paper._) Would you allow me to look at the paper?
BOX.
Theres nothing in it.
c.o.x (_coming up to table and putting his hand suddenly down on it_).
Sir!
BOX (_taking no notice_).
Come in.
c.o.x.
No, sir, I shall not come in. Im going to come out, sir, and come out pretty strongly too. (_Suddenly pathetic_) Box, my boy--
BOX (_the same_).
c.o.x, my boy. (_Turns and allows the smoke of his pipe to come under c.o.xS nose just as c.o.x is attempting to take the paper._)
c.o.x (_sneezing_).
Excuse my emotion (_sneezes_).
BOX.
It does honour to your head and heart--specially to your head. (_Offers his pocket-handkerchief._)
c.o.x.
Thank you. I cant forget that we were once brothers.
BOX.
We were.
c.o.x.
We had no secrets from each other. At least you had none from me, had you?
BOX.
No, not unless you had any from me.
c.o.x.