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The Débutante
MONSIGNORDARCYwouldhavebeenquiteupatreewhethertocallherapersonalityorapersonage.Shewasperhapsthedelicious,inexpressible,once-in-a-centuryblend.
Onthenightofherdebutsheis,forallherstrange,straywisdom,quitelikeahappylittlegirl.Hermother’smaidhasjustdoneherhair,butshehasdecidedimpatientlythatshecandoabetterjobherself.Sheistoonervousjustnowtostayinoneplace.Tothatweoweherpresenceinthislitteredroom.Sheisgoingtospeak.ISABELLE’Saltotoneshadbeenlikeaviolin,butifyoucouldhearROSALIND,youwouldsayhervoicewasmusicalasawaterfall.)
ROSALIND:Honestly,thereareonlytwocostumesintheworldthatIreallyenjoybeingin—(Combingherhairatthedressing-table.)One’sahoopskirtwithpantaloons;theother’saone-piecebathing-suit.I’mquitecharminginbothofthem.
CECELIA:Gladyou’recomingout?
ROSALIND:Yes;aren’tyou?
CECELIA:(Cynically)You’regladsoyoucangetmarriedandliveonLongIslandwiththefastyoungermarriedset.Youwantlifetobeachainofflirtationwithamanforeverylink.
ROSALIND:Wantittobeone!YoumeanI’vefounditone.
CECELIA:Ha!
ROSALIND:Cecelia,darling,youdon’tknowwhatatrialitistobe—likeme.I’vegottokeepmyfacelikesteelinthestreettokeepmenfromwinkingatme.IfIlaughhardfromafrontrowinthetheatre,thecomedianplaystomefortherestoftheevening.IfIdropmyvoice,myeyes,myhandkerchiefatadance,mypartnercallsmeuponthe’phoneeverydayforaweek.
