Er, may I come in, Mrs. Marden?
OLIVIA (turning round in surprise). Mr. Pim!
PIM (anxiously). Mr. Marden is--er--not here?
OLIVIA (getting up). Do you want to see him? I will tell him.
PIM. No, no, no! Not for the world! (He comes in and looks anxiously
at the door) There is no immediate danger of his returning, Mrs.
Marden?
OLIVIA (surprised). No, I don't think so. What is it? You--
PIM. I took the liberty of returning by the window in the hope
of--er--coming upon you alone, Mrs. Marden.
OLIVIA. Yes?
PIM (still rather nervous). I--er--Mr. Marden will be very angry with
me. Quite rightly. I blame myself entirely. I do not know how I can
have been so stupid.
OLIVIA. What is it, Mr. Pim? Has my husband come to life again?
PIM. Mrs. Marden, I throw myself on your mercy entirely. The fact
is--his name was Polwittle.
OLIVIA (at a loss). Whose? My husband's?
PIM. Yes, yes. The name came back to me suddenly, just as I reached
the gate. Polwittle, poor fellow.
OLIVIA. But, Mr. Pim, my husband's name was Telworthy.
PIM. No, no, Polwittle.
OLIVIA. But, really I ought to. . . .
PIM (firmly). Polwittle. It came back to me suddenly just as I reached
the gate. For the moment, I had thoughts of conveying the news by
letter.
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