经典话剧剧本10分钟英语(经典话剧剧本10分钟英语版)

中国机械与配件网4350

求英语三人话剧剧本,10分钟左右的,每个角色台词量不要差太多

三个懒汉TheThreeLazyOnes

经典话剧剧本10分钟英语(经典话剧剧本10分钟英语版)

Akinghadthreesonswhomhelovedequallywell,andhedidnotknowwhichofthemtoappointaskingfollowinghisowndeath.

Whenthetimecameforhimtodiehecalledthemtohisbedandsaid,“Dearchildren,IhavethoughtofsomethingthatIwillrevealtoyou.Theoneofyouisthelaziestshallbecomekingafterme.”

Theoldestonesaid,“Father,thenthekingdombelongstome,forIamsolazythatwheneverIliedowntosleep,andadropfallsintomyeyes,IwillnotevenclosethemsothatIcanfallasleep.”

Thesecondonesaid,“Father,thekingdombelongstome,forIamsolazythatwhenIamsittingbythefirewarmingmyself,Iwouldratherletmyheelsburnupthantopullmylegsback.”

Thethirdonesaid,“Father,thekingdomismine,forIamsolazythatifIweregoingtobehangedandalreadyhadtheropearoundmyneck,andsomeoneputintomyhandasharpknifewithwhichtocuttherope,Iwouldletmyselfbehangedratherthantoliftmyhanduptotherope.”

Whenthefatherheardthishesaid,“Youhavetakenitthefarthestandshallbeking.”

在一个遥远的地方,有一个国王,他有三个儿子,对每一个儿子他都非常喜爱,他不知道自己死后应该把王位传给他们三个中的哪一个。所以,当他快要死的时候,就把他们叫到身边说:“亲爱的孩子们,在我死后,你们三个中谁最懒,谁就继承我的王位。”老大说:“既然这样,这王位就是我的,因为我是最懒的儿子,当我躺下睡觉时,有任何东西落到我的眼睛里,我也懒得去擦掉,即使不能把眼睛闭上,我仍然会继续睡觉。”二儿子说:“爸爸,王位应该传给我,因为我是最懒的儿子。当我坐在火边取暖的时候,就是火燃到我的脚趾,我也懒得把腿收回来。”第三个儿子说:“爸爸,这王位是我的,因为我是你最懒的儿子,如果我就要被吊起来,绳子已经套在了脖子上,有人把一把锋利的小刀塞在我手里,要我切断绳子,我宁愿被吊起来也懒得抬起手把绳子割断。”父亲听到这里说道:“你是最合适的人选,你应该继承王位。”

求10分钟英语话剧

帮您找了两部~~

第一部:

6人英语爱情话剧剧本-WhereIsMyMr.Right?

关于爱情的剧本,剧情简单,讲oneday谈过几次恋爱,最终找到了自己的真爱~~

Cast

Femaleleadingcharacter:Oneday

Oneday’sfirstfriend:Wayne

Oneday’ssecondboyfriend:Tom

Oneday’sthirdboyfriend&Beryl’sboyfriend:Jack

Oneday’sfourthboyfriend:Martin

Oneday’sfriend:Beryl

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Scene1ABigShock

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Beryl:Oneday,howaboutgoingtoseestarstogetherthisevening?

Oneday:O.K.!Iwanttoaskmyboyfriendtojoinus.

Beryl:Um!Sure,butIdon'twanttogetcaughtbetweenyouandyourboyfriend.

SoIthinkI'dbetteraskmyboyfriendtogowithme,too.

Oneday:O.K.!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Oneday:Honey,look.Therearesomanystarsinthesky.

It'sreallyabreath-takingpicture,isn'tit?

Wayne:Um!

Oneday:Whydoyoulooksounhappythisevening?IseverythingO.K.?

Wayne:Oneday,Iamsorry.There'ssomethingIwanttotellyou.

Oneday:What?Whatisit?

Wayne:Ifeelsosorrytoyou.

Oneday:Why?Whydidyousaythat?Istheresomethingwrong?

Wayne:I'mverysorry.ThethingisI'minlovewithsomeoneelse.

Oneday:What?Someoneelse?Whataboutme?

Wayne:Iamverysorry.It'smyfault.Pleaseforgiveme.

Ihopeyoucanfindamanwhoreallylovesyou.

Oneday:Wayne...NO!!

Wayne:Goodluck!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Beryl:What'swrong?Youlookawful.Whathappenedtoyou?

Oneday:Waynejustbrokeupwithme.

Beryl:I'msosorrytohearthat.But,why?

Oneday:Don'taskmewhy.Let'sjustgetoutofhere.

Beryl:Sure.Let'sgo.

Scene2AChanceEncounter

Beryl:Oneday,thereisamanwhohasbeenpeepingatyouforawhile.

Oneday:Really?Whereishe?

Beryl:Don’tlooknow.Heisjustbehindyouontheside,andhewearsawhiteshirt.Ican’tbelieveit;heisstilllookingatyou.

Oneday:Howinteresting!Imusttakeapeekathim.

Beryl:O.K.Butdon’tmakeittooobvious.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tom:ShouldIgotellOnedaythatIloveher?

Martin:Whynot?Ithinkyoutwomakeagreatcouple.Youshouldgiveitatry.

Tom:O.K.Wishmeluck!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Beryl:Oneday,youwon’tbelievethis.Thatmaniscomingrightupthisway.

Oneday:Really?Iwonderwhatheisupto.

Tom:Hi,Oneday.Itisnicetoseeyouhere.

Oneday:Hi,Tom.

Beryl:Youtwoknoweachother?

Oneday:Yeah.Berly,thisisTom.

Beryl:Hi.

Oneday:Tom,thisisBeryl.

Tom:Hi.

Tom:Oneday,IwouldliketoletyouknowthatIlikeyou.Letmetakecareofyou.IamnotlikeWayne.Iwon’ttreatyouthewayhetreatedyou.Youcanputyourselfatease.

Oneday:Thisishappeningtoofast.Ihavetothinkaboutit.

Beryl:Heseemstobeaniceguy.Justgivehimachance.

Oneday:Areyousure?(inlowvoice)

Beryl:(Nodding.)

Oneday:O.K.,Tom.Let’sgiveitatry.Ihopethatyouwillrememberwhatyoujustsaidandyouwillkeepyourpromise.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(Onemonthlater.)

Tom:Oneday,IhavetotellyouthatIwillhavetoleaveTaichungbecauseIamgoingtoschoolinTaipei.Iamafraidwewon’tbeabletobetogetheranymore.Sorry!

Oneday:EvenifyouhavetoleaveTaichung,wecanstillbetogether,can’twe?

Tom:No,Idon’tthinkso.Distancewillchangeourrelationshipsoonerorlater.So,itwouldbebetterwejustcallitquits.Iamverysorry.

Oneday:Icannotbelievethisishappeningtomeagain.

Scene3AnotherRomance

Jack:Oneday,Iknowyouhadtwounpleasantrelationshipsbefore,andthosetwomenhurtyouverymuch.Butpleasebelieveme.Iamdifferentfromthem.Iwilltakegoodcareofyouwithallmyheart.

Oneday:(talkingtoherself)MaybeJackisreallyseriousaboutme.MaybeIshouldgivehimachanceandaccepthislove.(talkingtoJack)O.K.,Jack.Iwillacceptyourlove.

Jack:Thankyousomuch.Youwon’tregretit.

Oneday:Isurelyhopenot.

(Oneyearlater.)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Beryl:Oneday,I’msohappyforyou.ItseemsyoureallyfoundyourMr.Rightthistime.Jackhasbeensonicetoyouallthistime.

Oneday:Yes,Ifeelsomuchinlove.Wehaveknowneachotherforoneyear,andwearegoingtocelebratethisspecialdaytonight.Solet’schatsomeotherday.Bye!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jack:Todayisourfirstanniversary.I’vegotsomegoodnewsandbadnewstosharewithyou.

Oneday:Goodnewsandbadnews?Well,goodnewsfirst,then

Jack:Ipassedthegraduateschoolentranceexam,andwillsoongotograduateschool.

Oneday:That’sgreat.Congratulations!Goingtograduateschoolhasalwaysbeenyourdream.I’msogladthatyouhavemadeyourdreamcometrue.

Jack:But……

Oneday:Butwhat?Thisisgreatnews.Youshouldbehappy.

Jack:But,there’ssomebadnews.

Oneday:Badnews?O.K.,Iamreadyforit.

Jack:Let’sbreakup!

Oneday:What?Breakup?Why?

Jack:YouknowIhavetoconcentrateonmyschoolworkandstudyveryhardafterIgotograduateschool.Therefore,Ichoosetogiveupourrelationship,andIhopeyoucanunderstandmydecision.I’mreallysorry.

Oneday:That’senough.Nomoresorry!Youjustgo.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(Onthephone.)

Oneday:Beryl,ithappenedagain.Jackbrokeupwithme(crying).

Beryl:Oh,poorgirl.Stopcrying.Whatyouneedrightnowisagoodbreakandsleep.Youcantellmethewholethingwhenweseeeachothertomorrow.

Oneday:O.K.!I’lltrytogetsomesleep.Goodnight.

Beryl:Goodnight.

Scene4AHappyEnding

Oneday:WhatkindofgirldoyouthinkIam?

Martin:Whatkindofgirlareyou?Um…,youarealivelyandkindgirl.

Oneday:I’mgladtohearthat.Actually,Iquitelikeyou.

Martin:Really?

Oneday:Ifeelwecantalktoeachother.WhenIamsad,youcomfortmeandtrytomakemehappy.Ifeelsoluckytohaveyouasmyfriend.

Martin:Ofcourse,wearegoodfriends!

Oneday:But,whatifIwantforyouissomethingmorethanJUSTagoodfriend?

Martin:Morethanjustagoodfriend?Whatdoyoumean?

Oneday:ImeanIlikeyou.I…Iwanttobeyourgirlfriend.

Martin:Girlfriend?Oh,no.Imustbefrankwithyoubecauseyouareaverygoodperson.Idon’twanttohurtyou.So,let’sjustbefriends.

Oneday:Can’twegiveitatry?I’llbeaverysweetgirlfriend.

Martin:ForPete’ssake.Letmebehonestwithyou.I’minlovewithaman.

He…heisWayne!

Oneday:Oh,mygod!!!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wayne:I’msoluckytohaveyou.Iloveyou.

Martin:Iloveyou,too,Wayne.(Holdingeachother’shands.)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Oneday:That’snotfair!They’vegoteachotherandloveeachothersomuch.

But,lookatme.WhereismyMr.Right?!

第二部:

6人话剧剧本Don'tTouchMe!别摸我(有搞笑的成分~~)

剧本短,适合短小品~~

Vicky和Lisa是某餐馆的服务员,一天,一个顾客对Vicky....

Cast

1.Vicky∶awaitressatMonday’srestaurant.Sheisahardworkinggirl.

2.Lisa∶anotherwaitressatMonday’srestaurant.Sheisakindandnaivegirl.

3.Fenix∶oneofcustomers.He’saveryill-naturedcustomer.

4.AllenandTim∶customersatMonday’srestaurant.They’regoodanddecentmen.

5.Kuki∶thebossoftherestaurant.

SceneI

(Oneafternoon,therearemanycustomersattheMonday’srestaurant.)

VickyandLisatalkandgotothekitchen,andthentheboss,kuki,comesin,too.

Kuki:Hey,therearemanycustomerstoday.Girls,workhard.Remember,God

givesallthingstoindustry.

Lisa:Yeah.Iknow.

Vicky:Wewilldoourbest.

Thedooropensnow.Twomencomein.

Kukimovestothedoor.

Kuki:MayIhelpyou,sir?Twopeople?Comewithme,Iwilltakeyoutothe

table.

Allen:Yes,pleases.

Tim:I’mstarving.IhopeIcaneatthebestfoodinthisrestaurantrightnow.

Kuki:(laughing)Justamoment.

Twomenwalkintherestaurant.Lisawalkstowardthem.

Vicky:Thisisthemenu,sirs.

Allen&Tim:Thankyou.

Afterafewminutes.LisaandVickywalktothekitchen.

Lisa:Hey,Vicky.Idon’tlikethatcustomer.See,thatmansitsnearthe

door.

Vicky:Why?Doeshemakeanytroublesforyou?

Lisa:Idon’tknow.Ifeel…….Oh,Ijustdon’tlikethewayhelooksatme.

SceneII

VickydeliversadishtothetablewhereAllenandTimsit.

Vicky:(talkstoherself)Lisaisright.Thewaythatmanlooksatmemakesme

uncomfortable.

VickydeliversadishagaintoFenix’stable.

Vicky:Hereisyourmeal,sir.Enjoyit,please.

Vickyturnstothekitchen.Atthismoment,Fenixtouchesherback!

Vicky:Wow~~~~(shescreams.)

Kuki:(runstoVicky)whathappened?

Vicky:He,he……Hetouchedme!

Fenix:No!!Ididn’t.

Lisa:Youlie!!Iseeyoudidthat.WhatIsayisanabsolutetruth.

Othercustomersgatheraroundthemtoseewhatishappening.

Kuki:Well,seeingisbelieving,sir……

Fenix:Ifeelhumiliated.So,boss.Youmustsolvethisproblem.Lookatyour

Waitress.Theyaresuchtrickywomen.

Kuki:But,theysayyoudidit……….Sir,Ithink…….

Fenix:What?YoumeanIamapervert?Oh………Isthisthewayyouserveyourcustomers?Youmustgivemeanexplanationtoday!Maybegivingmesomemoneywillmakemeforgetit.

Lisa:Youareashamelesscheater,liar.

Theargumentcontinues.

SceneIII

AllenandTimareangryforwhattheysaw.

Allen:Iwon’ttolerateyourbehavioranymore.

Tim:That’sright.Comeon,sir.It’syourfault.Weallknowthat.

Fenix:Hmn?Youthinkso?ButIdon’tthinkso.Imean,ifthebossandthe

waitressesmakeanapologytome,Imightleaveearly.OrIwillstayand

makesurethatnoothercustomerswalkinsidetherestaurant.

Kuki:Oh……Don’tdothat,please.Sir,youhavetoknowitwon’tdoyou

anygood.

Fenix:Yeah……itwon’tdomeanygoodunlessyoupaymesomemoneyforthehumiliationyouhavecausedme.Youhavedisgracedme.

Tim:Suchaliar,Ican’tbelieveit!!

Fenix:Mindyourownbusiness.

Allen:(Takesouthisbadge.)See.

Fenix:Uh……

Allen:I’mapoliceofficer.MaybeyouknowwhatI’lldowithyou.

Fenixturnstothedoorquickly.

EverybodyintherestaurantallclapsandcheersforAllen.

Lisa:Thereisveryfewgoodpeopleinoursociety.Manybadpeoplebully

theweakandfearthestrong.

Tim:Yeah…….buttrustme,justicewillwin.

Kuki:Wearesoluckyyouarehere.Thankyouverymuch.

Allen:Youarewelcome.It’sjustmyduty.

希望能对您有帮助!~~O(∩_∩)O~~

急求4人英语话剧剧本 10分钟左右

《项链》就不错

Necklace

Thegirlwasoneofthoseprettyandcharmingyoungcreatureswhosometimesareborn,asifbyaslipoffate,intoafamilyofclerks.Shehadnodowry,noexpectations,nowayofbeingknown,understood,loved,marriedbyanyrichanddistinguishedman;sosheletherselfbemarriedtoalittleclerkoftheMinistryofPublicInstruction.

Shedressedplainlybecauseshecouldnotdresswell,butshewasunhappyasifshehadreallyfallenfromahigherstation;sincewithwomenthereisneithercastenorrank,forbeauty,graceandcharmtaketheplaceoffamilyandbirth.Naturalingenuity,instinctforwhatiselegant,asupplemindaretheirsolehierarchy,andoftenmakeofwomenofthepeopletheequalsoftheverygreatestladies.

Mathildesufferedceaselessly,feelingherselfborntoenjoyalldelicaciesandallluxuries.Shewasdistressedatthepovertyofherdwelling,atthebarenessofthewalls,attheshabbychairs,theuglinessofthecurtains.Allthosethings,ofwhichanotherwomanofherrankwouldneverevenhavebeenconscious,torturedherandmadeherangry.ThesightofthelittleBretonpeasantwhodidherhumblehouseworkarousedinherdespairingregretsandbewilderingdreams.ShethoughtofsilentantechambershungwithOrientaltapestry,illuminedbytallbronzecandelabra,andoftwogreatfootmeninkneebreecheswhosleepinthebigarmchairs,madedrowsybytheoppressiveheatofthestove.Shethoughtoflongreceptionhallshungwithancientsilk,ofthedaintycabinetscontainingpricelesscuriositiesandofthelittlecoquettishperfumedreceptionroomsmadeforchattingatfiveo'clockwithintimatefriends,withmenfamousandsoughtafter,whomallwomenenvyandwhoseattentiontheyalldesire.

Whenshesatdowntodinner,beforetheroundtablecoveredwithatableclothinusethreedays,oppositeherhusband,whouncoveredthesouptureenanddeclaredwithadelightedair,"Ah,thegoodsoup!Idon'tknowanythingbetterthanthat,"shethoughtofdaintydinners,ofshiningsilverware,oftapestrythatpeopledthewallswithancientpersonagesandwithstrangebirdsflyinginthemidstofafairyforest;andshethoughtofdeliciousdishesservedonmarvellousplatesandofthewhisperedgallantriestowhichyoulistenwithasphinxlikesmilewhileyouareeatingthepinkmeatofatroutorthewingsofaquail.

Shehadnogowns,nojewels,nothing.Andshelovednothingbutthat.Shefeltmadeforthat.Shewouldhavelikedsomuchtoplease,tobeenvied,tobecharming,tobesoughtafter.

Shehadafriend,aformerschoolmateattheconvent,whowasrich,andwhomshedidnotliketogotoseeanymorebecauseshefeltsosadwhenshecamehome.

Butoneeveningherhusbandreachedhomewithatriumphantairandholdingalargeenvelopeinhishand.

"There,"saidhe,"thereissomethingforyou."

Shetorethepaperquicklyanddrewoutaprintedcardwhichborethesewords:

TheMinisterofPublicInstructionandMadameGeorgesRamponneau

requestthehonorofM.andMadameLoisel'scompanyatthepalaceof

theMinistryonMondayevening,January18th.

Insteadofbeingdelighted,asherhusbandhadhoped,shethrewtheinvitationonthetablecrossly,muttering:

"Whatdoyouwishmetodowiththat?"

"Why,mydear,Ithoughtyouwouldbeglad.Younevergoout,andthisissuchafineopportunity.Ihadgreattroubletogetit.Everyonewantstogo;itisveryselect,andtheyarenotgivingmanyinvitationstoclerks.Thewholeofficialworldwillbethere."

Shelookedathimwithanirritatedglanceandsaidimpatiently:

"Andwhatdoyouwishmetoputonmyback?"

Hehadnotthoughtofthat.Hestammered:

"Why,thegownyougotothetheatrein.Itlooksverywelltome."

Hestopped,distracted,seeingthathiswifewasweeping.Twogreattearsranslowlyfromthecornersofhereyestowardthecornersofhermouth.

"What'sthematter?What'sthematter?"heanswered.

Byaviolenteffortsheconqueredhergriefandrepliedinacalmvoice,whileshewipedherwetcheeks:

"Nothing.OnlyIhavenogown,and,therefore,Ican'tgotothisball.GiveyourcardtosomecolleaguewhosewifeisbetterequippedthanIam."

Hewasindespair.Heresumed:

"Come,letussee,Mathilde.Howmuchwoulditcost,asuitablegown,whichyoucoulduseonotheroccasions--somethingverysimple?"

Shereflectedseveralseconds,makinghercalculationsandwonderingalsowhatsumshecouldaskwithoutdrawingonherselfanimmediaterefusalandafrightenedexclamationfromtheeconomicalclerk.

Finallysherepliedhesitating:

"Idon'tknowexactly,butIthinkIcouldmanageitwithfourhundredfrancs."

Hegrewalittlepale,becausehewaslayingasidejustthatamounttobuyagunandtreathimselftoalittleshootingnextsummerontheplainofNanterre,withseveralfriendswhowenttoshootlarksthereofaSunday.

Buthesaid:

"Verywell.Iwillgiveyoufourhundredfrancs.Andtrytohaveaprettygown."

ThedayoftheballdrewnearandMadameLoiselseemedsad,uneasy,anxious.Herfrockwasready,however.Herhusbandsaidtoheroneevening:

"Whatisthematter?Come,youhaveseemedveryqueertheselastthreedays."

Andsheanswered:

"Itannoysmenottohaveasinglepieceofjewelry,notasingleornament,nothingtoputon.Ishalllookpoverty-stricken.Iwouldalmostrathernotgoatall."

"Youmightwearnaturalflowers,"saidherhusband."They'reverystylishatthistimeofyear.Fortenfrancsyoucangettwoorthreemagnificentroses."

Shewasnotconvinced.

"No;there'snothingmorehumiliatingthantolookpooramongotherwomenwhoarerich."

"Howstupidyouare!"herhusbandcried."Golookupyourfriend,MadameForestier,andaskhertolendyousomejewels.You'reintimateenoughwithhertodothat."

Sheutteredacryofjoy:

"True!Ineverthoughtofit."

Thenextdayshewenttoherfriendandtoldherofherdistress.

MadameForestierwenttoawardrobewithamirror,tookoutalargejewelbox,broughtitback,openeditandsaidtoMadameLoisel:

"Choose,mydear."

Shesawfirstsomebracelets,thenapearlnecklace,thenaVenetiangoldcrosssetwithpreciousstones,ofadmirableworkmanship.Shetriedontheornamentsbeforethemirror,hesitatedandcouldnotmakeuphermindtopartwiththem,togivethemback.Shekeptasking:

"Haven'tyouanymore?"

"Why,yes.Lookfurther;Idon'tknowwhatyoulike."

Suddenlyshediscovered,inablacksatinbox,asuperbdiamondnecklace,andherheartthrobbedwithanimmoderatedesire.Herhandstrembledasshetookit.Shefasteneditroundherthroat,outsideherhigh-neckedwaist,andwaslostinecstasyatherreflectioninthemirror.

Thensheasked,hesitating,filledwithanxiousdoubt:

"Willyoulendmethis,onlythis?"

"Why,yes,certainly."

Shethrewherarmsroundherfriend'sneck,kissedherpassionately,thenfledwithhertreasure.

Thenightoftheballarrived.MadameLoiselwasagreatsuccess.Shewasprettierthananyotherwomanpresent,elegant,graceful,smilingandwildwithjoy.Allthemenlookedather,askedhername,soughttobeintroduced.AlltheattachesoftheCabinetwishedtowaltzwithher.Shewasremarkedbytheministerhimself.

Shedancedwithrapture,withpassion,intoxicatedbypleasure,forgettingallinthetriumphofherbeauty,inthegloryofhersuccess,inasortofcloudofhappinesscomprisedofallthishomage,admiration,theseawakeneddesiresandofthatsenseoftriumphwhichissosweettowoman'sheart.

Shelefttheballaboutfouro'clockinthemorning.Herhusbandhadbeensleepingsincemidnightinalittledesertedanteroomwiththreeothergentlemenwhosewiveswereenjoyingtheball.

Hethrewoverhershouldersthewrapshehadbrought,themodestwrapsofcommonlife,thepovertyofwhichcontrastedwiththeeleganceoftheballdress.Shefeltthisandwishedtoescapesoasnottoberemarkedbytheotherwomen,whowereenvelopingthemselvesincostlyfurs.

Loiselheldherback,saying:"Waitabit.Youwillcatchcoldoutside.Iwillcallacab."

Butshedidnotlistentohimandrapidlydescendedthestairs.Whentheyreachedthestreettheycouldnotfindacarriageandbegantolookforone,shoutingafterthecabmenpassingatadistance.

TheywenttowardtheSeineindespair,shiveringwithcold.Atlasttheyfoundonthequayoneofthoseancientnightcabswhich,asthoughtheywereashamedtoshowtheirshabbinessduringtheday,areneverseenroundParisuntilafterdark.

IttookthemtotheirdwellingintheRuedesMartyrs,andsadlytheymountedthestairstotheirflat.Allwasendedforher.Astohim,hereflectedthathemustbeattheministryatteno'clockthatmorning.

Sheremovedherwrapsbeforetheglasssoastoseeherselfoncemoreinallherglory.Butsuddenlysheutteredacry.Shenolongerhadthenecklacearoundherneck!

"Whatisthematterwithyou?"demandedherhusband,alreadyhalfundressed.

Sheturneddistractedlytowardhim.

"Ihave--Ihave--I'velostMadameForestier'snecklace,"shecried.

Hestoodup,bewildered.

"What!--how?Impossible!"

Theylookedamongthefoldsofherskirt,ofhercloak,inherpockets,everywhere,butdidnotfindit.

"You'resureyouhaditonwhenyoulefttheball?"heasked.

"Yes,Ifeltitinthevestibuleoftheminister'shouse."

"Butifyouhadlostitinthestreetweshouldhavehearditfall.Itmustbeinthecab."

"Yes,probably.Didyoutakehisnumber?"

"No.Andyou--didn'tyounoticeit?"

"No."

Theylooked,thunderstruck,ateachother.AtlastLoiselputonhisclothes.

"Ishallgobackonfoot,"saidhe,"overthewholeroute,toseewhetherIcanfindit."

Hewentout.Shesatwaitingonachairinherballdress,withoutstrengthtogotobed,overwhelmed,withoutanyfire,withoutathought.

Herhusbandreturnedaboutseveno'clock.Hehadfoundnothing.

Hewenttopoliceheadquarters,tothenewspaperofficestoofferareward;hewenttothecabcompanies--everywhere,infact,whitherhewasurgedbytheleastsparkofhope.

Shewaitedallday,inthesameconditionofmadfearbeforethisterriblecalamity.

Loiselreturnedatnightwithahollow,paleface.Hehaddiscoverednothing.

"Youmustwritetoyourfriend,"saidhe,"thatyouhavebrokentheclaspofhernecklaceandthatyouarehavingitmended.Thatwillgiveustimetoturnround."

Shewroteathisdictation.

Attheendofaweektheyhadlostallhope.Loisel,whohadagedfiveyears,declared:

"Wemustconsiderhowtoreplacethatornament."

Thenextdaytheytooktheboxthathadcontaineditandwenttothejewelerwhosenamewasfoundwithin.Heconsultedhisbooks.

"ItwasnotI,madame,whosoldthatnecklace;Imustsimplyhavefurnishedthecase."

Thentheywentfromjewelertojeweler,searchingforanecklaceliketheother,tryingtorecallit,bothsickwithchagrinandgrief.

Theyfound,inashopatthePalaisRoyal,astringofdiamondsthatseemedtothemexactlyliketheonetheyhadlost.Itwasworthfortythousandfrancs.Theycouldhaveitforthirty-six.

Sotheybeggedthejewelernottosellitforthreedaysyet.Andtheymadeabargainthatheshouldbuyitbackforthirty-fourthousandfrancs,incasetheyshouldfindthelostnecklacebeforetheendofFebruary.

Loiselpossessedeighteenthousandfrancswhichhisfatherhadlefthim.Hewouldborrowtherest.

Hedidborrow,askingathousandfrancsofone,fivehundredofanother,fivelouishere,threelouisthere.Hegavenotes,tookupruinousobligations,dealtwithusurersandalltheraceoflenders.Hecompromisedalltherestofhislife,riskedsigninganotewithoutevenknowingwhetherhecouldmeetit;and,frightenedbythetroubleyettocome,bytheblackmiserythatwasabouttofalluponhim,bytheprospectofallthephysicalprivationsandmoraltorturesthathewastosuffer,hewenttogetthenewnecklace,layinguponthejeweler'scounterthirty-sixthousandfrancs.

WhenMadameLoiseltookbackthenecklaceMadameForestiersaidtoherwithachillymanner:

"Youshouldhavereturneditsooner;Imighthaveneededit."

Shedidnotopenthecase,asherfriendhadsomuchfeared.Ifshehaddetectedthesubstitution,whatwouldshehavethought,whatwouldshehavesaid?WouldshenothavetakenMadameLoiselforathief?

ThereafterMadameLoiselknewthehorribleexistenceoftheneedy.Sheboreherpart,however,withsuddenheroism.Thatdreadfuldebtmustbepaid.Shewouldpayit.Theydismissedtheirservant;theychangedtheirlodgings;theyrentedagarretundertheroof.

Shecametoknowwhatheavyhouseworkmeantandtheodiouscaresofthekitchen.Shewashedthedishes,usingherdaintyfingersandrosynailsongreasypotsandpans.Shewashedthesoiledlinen,theshirtsandthedishcloths,whichshedrieduponaline;shecarriedtheslopsdowntothestreeteverymorningandcarriedupthewater,stoppingforbreathateverylanding.Anddressedlikeawomanofthepeople,shewenttothefruiterer,thegrocer,thebutcher,abasketonherarm,bargaining,meetingwithimpertinence,defendinghermiserablemoney,soubysou.

Everymonththeyhadtomeetsomenotes,renewothers,obtainmoretime.

Herhusbandworkedevenings,makingupatradesman'saccounts,andlateatnightheoftencopiedmanuscriptforfivesousapage.

Thislifelastedtenyears.

Attheendoftenyearstheyhadpaideverything,everything,withtheratesofusuryandtheaccumulationsofthecompoundinterest.

MadameLoisellookedoldnow.Shehadbecomethewomanofimpoverishedhouseholds--strongandhardandrough.Withfrowsyhair,skirtsaskewandredhands,shetalkedloudwhilewashingthefloorwithgreatswishesofwater.Butsometimes,whenherhusbandwasattheoffice,shesatdownnearthewindowandshethoughtofthatgayeveningoflongago,ofthatballwhereshehadbeensobeautifulandsoadmired.

Whatwouldhavehappenedifshehadnotlostthatnecklace?Whoknows?whoknows?Howstrangeandchangefulislife!Howsmallathingisneededtomakeorruinus!

ButoneSunday,havinggonetotakeawalkintheChampsElyseestorefreshherselfafterthelaborsoftheweek,shesuddenlyperceivedawomanwhowasleadingachild.ItwasMadameForestier,stillyoung,stillbeautiful,stillcharming.

MadameLoiselfeltmoved.Shouldshespeaktoher?Yes,certainly.Andnowthatshehadpaid,shewouldtellherallaboutit.Whynot?

Shewentup.

"Good-day,Jeanne."

Theother,astonishedtobefamiliarlyaddressedbythisplaingood-wife,didnotrecognizeheratallandstammered:

"But--madame!--Idonotknow--Youmusthavemistaken."

"No.IamMathildeLoisel."

Herfriendutteredacry.

"Oh,mypoorMathilde!Howyouarechanged!"

"Yes,Ihavehadaprettyhardlife,sinceIlastsawyou,andgreatpoverty--andthatbecauseofyou!"

"Ofme!Howso?"

"Doyourememberthatdiamondnecklaceyoulentmetowearattheministerialball?"

"Yes.Well?"

"Well,Ilostit."

"Whatdoyoumean?Youbroughtitback."

"Ibroughtyoubackanotherexactlylikeit.Andithastakenustenyearstopayforit.Youcanunderstandthatitwasnoteasyforus,foruswhohadnothing.Atlastitisended,andIamveryglad."

MadameForestierhadstopped.

"Yousaythatyouboughtanecklaceofdiamondstoreplacemine?"

"Yes.Younevernoticedit,then!Theywereverysimilar."

Andshesmiledwithajoythatwasatonceproudandingenuous.

MadameForestier,deeplymoved,tookherhands.

"Oh,mypoorMathilde!Why,mynecklacewaspaste!Itwasworthatmostonlyfivehundredfrancs!"