ACT I
DOWN BY THE WILLOWS
Scene. The River Bank. A warm morning in spring. Nurse was knitting a sock, but seems to have fallen asleep over it. This leaves Marigold (who is twelve) to amuse herself. She is lying on her front, and talking down the telephone. At least she has the trumpet of one daffodil to her ear, and of another to her mouth, and has apparently just got on to the Exchange.
Marigold
Hallo, is that the Exchange? I want River Bank 1001. . . . Hallo, is that the Water Rat's house? . . . Oh, I beg your pardon. They've given me the wrong number. . . . Oh, Exchange, you've given me the wrong number. I wanted Mr. Rat's house and you've given me Mr. Badger's. (To herself) Sorry you've been tr-r-roubled. . . . Hallo, is that the Water Rat's house? Is that Mr. Rat speaking? Good morning, Mr. Rat, this is Marigold speaking. . . . Yes, isn't it a delightful day? . . . Yes. Well, almost alone. Nurse is here, but she's asleep. How's Mr. Mole? . . . Oh, haven't you seen him? I expect he's very busy spring cleaning. You see, when your house is all basement, there's such a lot of spring cleaning to be done. . . . Yes, I prefer a riverside
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