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Question 1

You are my little cousin Cecily, I’m sure.

Answer 1

You are under some strange mistake. I am not little. In fact, i believe i am more than usually tall for my age. But i am your cousin cecily. You, i see from your card, are uncle jack’s brother, my cousin Ernest, my wicked cousin Ernest.

Question 2

…you mustn’t think that i am wicked

Answer 2

If you are not, then you have certainly been deceiving us all in a very inexcusable manner. I hope you have not been leading a double life, pretending to be wicked and being really good all the time. That would be hypocrisy.

Question 3

..i have been rather reckless

Answer 3

I am glad to hear it

Question 4

..very bad in my own small way

Answer 4

I don’t think you should be so proud of that, though i am sure it must have been very pleasant.

Question 5

It is much pleasanter being here with you

Answer 5

I can’t understand how you are here at all. Uncle Jack won’t be back til Monday afternoon.

Question 6

..i have a business appointment that I am anxious to miss

Answer 6

Couldn’t you miss it anywhere but in London?

Question 7

No, the appointment is in London

Answer 7

Well, I know, of course, how important it is not to keep a business engagement, if one wants to retain any sense of the beauty of life, but still i think you had better wait til uncle Jack arrives. I know he wants to speak to you about your emigrating

Question 8

About my what?

Answer 8

Your emigrating. He has gone up to buy your outfit

Question 9

..no taste in neckties at all

Answer 9

I don’t think you will require neckties. Uncle Jack is sending you to Australia.

Question 10

I’d sooner die

Answer 10

Well, he said at dinner on Wednesday night, that you would have to choose between this world, the next world, and Australia.

Question 11

..this world is good enough for me, cousin cecily

Answer 11

Yes, but are you good enough for it?

Question 12

..your mission if you don’t mind, cousin cecily

Answer 12

I’m afraid I’ve no time this afternoon

Question 13

..my reforming myself this afternoon?

Answer 13

It is rather quixotic of you. But I think you should try

Question 14

I feel better already

Answer 14

You are looking a little worse

Question 15

..because i am hungry

Answer 15

How thoughtless of me. I should have remembered that when one is going to lead an entirely new life, one requires regular and wholesome meals. Won’t you come in?

Question 16

..unless i have a buttonhole first

Answer 16

A marechal niel?

Question 17

..I’d sooner have a pink rose

Answer 17

Why?

Question 18

..you are like a pink rose cousin cecily

Answer 18

I don’t think it can be right for you to talk to me like that. Ms. Prism never says such things to me.

Question 19

..you are the prettiest girl i ever saw

Answer 19

Ms. Prism says that all good looks are a snare

Question 20

..that every sensible man would like to be caught in

Answer 20

Oh, i don’t think i would care to catch a sensible man. I shouldn’t know what to talk to him about.

Question 21

..a blessing of an extremely obvious kind

Answer 21

Uncle jack! Oh, i am pleased to see you back. But what horrid clothes you have got on! Do go and change them

Question 22

My child, my child,

Answer 22

What is the matter, uncle Jack? Do look happy? You look as if you had toothache, and i have got such a surprise for you. Who do you think is in the dining room? Your brother!

Question 23

Who?

Answer 23

Your brother Ernest. He arrived about half an hour ago

Question 24

..I haven’t got a brother

Answer 24

Oh, don’t say that. Howver badly he may have behaved to you in the past he is still your brother. You couldn’t be so heartless as to disown him. I’ll tell him to come out. And you will shake hands with him, won’t you, uncle jack?

Question 25

..i intend to lead a better life in the future

Answer 25

Uncle Jack, you are not going to refuse your own brother’s hand?

Question 26

..he knows perfectly well why

Answer 26

Uncle Jack, do be nice. There is some good in everyone. Ernest has just been telling me about his poor invalid friend mr Bunbury whom he goes to visit so often. And surely there must be much good in one who is kind to an invalid, and leaves the pleasures of London to sit by a bed of pain

Question 27

..talking about Bunbury, has he?

Answer 27

Yes, he has told me all about poor mr. Bunbury and his terrible state of health

Question 28

..it is the first time i have come here

Answer 28

Uncle Jack, if you don’t shake hands with Ernest i will never forgive you

Question 29

Never forgive me?

Answer 29

Never never never!

Question 30

Cecily you will come with us

Answer 30

Certainly ms. Prism. My little task of reconciliation is over

Question 31

..premature in our judgements

Answer 31

I feel very happy