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PDF Test Bank For Elementary Statistics 3Rd Edition William Navidi Barry Monk Online Ebook Full Chapter
PDF Test Bank For Elementary Statistics 3Rd Edition William Navidi Barry Monk Online Ebook Full Chapter
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Test Bank for Elementary Statistics, 3rd Edition, William Navidi Barry Monk
MULTIPLE CHOICE. Choose the one alternative that best completes the statement or answers the
question.
1) Determine whether the random variable described is discrete or continuous. 1) _______
The number of minutes you must wait in line at the grocery store
A) discrete B) continuous
A) Yes B) No
A) No B) Yes
8) Compute the mean of the random variable with the given discrete probability 8) _______
distribution.
9) Compute the standard deviation of the random variable with the given discrete 9) _______
probability distribution.
10) Fill in the missing value so that the following table represents a probability distribution. 10) ______
11) There are 4,000 undergraduates registered at a certain college. Of them, 364 are taking 11) ______
one course, 496 are taking two courses, 460 are taking three courses, 1,512 are taking
four courses, 1,056 are taking five courses, and 112 are taking six courses. Let X be
the number of courses taken by a student randomly sampled from this population.
Find the probability distribution of X.
A) x 1 2 3 4 5 6
P(x) 0.1120 1.0560 1.5120 0.4600 0.4960 0.3640
B) x 1 2 3 4 5 6
P(x) 0.3640 0.4960 0.4600 1.5120 1.0560 0.1120
C) x 1 2 3 4 5 6
P(x) 0.0910 0.1240 0.1150 0.3780 0.2640 0.0280
D) x 1 2 3 4 5 6
P(x) 0.0280 0.2640 0.3780 0.1150 0.1240 0.0910
12) A sample of 6,000 computer monitors are examined for stuck pixels. Of them, 4,074 12) ______
have no stuck pixels, 1,153 have one stuck pixel, 462 have two stuck pixels, 226 have
three stuck pixels, and 85 have four stuck pixels. Let X be the number of stuck pixels
of a monitor randomly sampled from this population. Find the probability distribution
of X.
A) x 0 1 2 3 4
P(x) 4.0740 1.1530 0.4620 0.2260 0.0850
B) x 0 1 2 3 4
P(x) 0.6790 0.1922 0.0770 0.0377 0.0142
C) x 0 1 2 3 4
P(x) 0.0850 0.2260 0.4620 1.1530 4.0740
D) x 0 1 2 3 4
P(x) 0.0142 0.0377 0.0770 0.1922 0.6790
13) The following table presents the probability distribution of the number of vacations X 13) ______
taken last year for a randomly chosen family. Find P(1 or more).
14) The following table presents the probability distribution of the number of vacations X 14) ______
taken last year for a randomly chosen family. Find the probability that a family took at
least 3 vacations last year.
15) The following table presents the probability distribution of the number of vacations X 15) ______
taken last year for a randomly chosen family. Compute the mean .
16) The following table presents the probability distribution of the number of vacations X
taken last year for a randomly chosen family. Compute the standard deviation .
16) ______
A) 0.59 B) 1.18 C) 1.29 D) 0.77
17) The number of customers in a line at a supermarket express checkout counter is a 17) ______
random variable with the following probability distribution.
x 0 1 2 3 4 5
P(x) 0.09 0.26 0.29 0.20 0.09 0.07
18) The number of customers in a line at a supermarket express checkout counter is a 18) ______
random variable with the following probability distribution.
x 0 1 2 3 4 5
P(x) 0.08 0.26 0.32 0.16 0.11 0.07
Find the probability that there are fewer than four people in line.
A) 0.93 B) 0.11 C) 0.82 D) 0.18
19) The number of customers in a line at a supermarket express checkout counter is a 19) ______
random variable with the following probability distribution.
x 0 1 2 3 4 5
P(x) 0.10 0.25 0.30 0.18 0.07 0.10
20) The number of customers in a line at a supermarket express checkout counter is a 20) ______
random variable with the following probability distribution.
x 0 1 2 3 4 5
P(x) 0.11 0.22 0.31 0.16 0.09 0.11
21) A survey asked 870 people how many times per week they dine out at a restaurant. The
are presented in the following table. Total
870
Consi
der
the
870
people
to be a
populatio 21) ____
n. Let X __
be the
number
of times
per week
a person
dines out
for a
person
sampled
at
random
from this
populatio
n. Find
the
probabilit
y that a
person
dines out
4 or more
times per
week.
A) 0.059 B) 0.611 C) 0.849 D) 0.151
22) A survey asked 808 people how many times per week they dine out at a restaurant. The 22) ______
are presented in the following table.
Total 808
Consider the 808 people to be a population. Let X be the number of times per week a
person dines out for a person sampled at random from this population. Find the
probability that a person does not dine out at all.
A) 0.144 B) 0.428 C) 0 D) 0.285
23) A survey asked 818 people how many times per week they dine out at a restaurant. The
are presented in the following table.
23) ____
__
T
otal
8
18
Consider
the 818
people to
be a
populatio
n. Let X
be the
number
of times
per week
a person
dines out
for a
person
sampled
at
random
from this
populatio
n.
Compute
the mean
.
A) 2.2 B) 1.5 C) 2.0 D) 2.3
24) A survey asked 805 people how many times per week they dine out at a restaurant. The
are presented in the following table.
24) ____
__
T
otal
8
05
Consider
the 805
people to
be a
populatio
n. Let X
be the
number
of times
per week
a person
dines out
for a
person
sampled
at
random
from this
populatio
n.
Compute
the
standard
deviation
.
A) 1.9 B) 1.5 C) 2.1 D) 2.2
25) An investor is considering a $25,000 investment in a start-up company. She estimates 25) ______
that she has probability 0.15 of a $20,000 loss, probability 0.1 of a $30,000 profit,
probability 0.25 of a $40,000 profit, and probability 0.5 of breaking even (a profit of
$0). What is the expected value of the profit?
A) $22,500 B) $16,000 C) $10,000 D) $16,667
26) An investor is considering a $25,000 investment in a start-up company. She estimates that she
has 26) ____
probabilit __
y 0.2 of a
$15,000
loss,
probabilit
y 0.15 of
a
$20,000
loss,
probabilit
y 0.05 of
a
$40,000
profit,
and
probabilit
y 0.6 of
breaking
even (a
profit of
$0).
What is
the
expected
value of
the
profit?
A) $1,667 B) $11,000 C) -$4,000 D) $8,000
27) In a lottery, you pay $1 and pick a number from 000 to 999. If your number comes up, 27) ______
you win $350, which is a profit of $349. If you lose, you lose $1. Your probability of
winning is 0.001. What is the expected value of your profit?
A) $2.50 B) $0.65 C) $0.349 D) -$0.65
28) In the game of craps, two dice are rolled, and people bet on the outcome. For example, 28) ______
you can bet $1 that the dice will total 11. The probability that you win is , and if
you win, your profit is $15. If you lose, you lose $1. What is the expected value of
your profit?
A) -$0.94 B) $0.83 C) -$0.11 D) $0.11
29) An insurance company sells a one-year term life insurance policy to an 80-year-old 29) ______
woman. The woman pays a premium of $1000. If she dies within one year, the
company will pay $18,500 to her beneficiary. According to the company's statistics
department, the probability that an 80-year-old woman will be alive one year later is
0.9581. Find the expected value of the insurance company's profit.
A) -$182.95 B) $182.95 C) -$224.85 D) $224.85
30) Ten students are chosen from a statistics class of 22 students. Let X be the number who got an
"A" in 30) ____
the class. __
Is this a
binomial
distributi
on, and if
so, what
is the
number
of trials?
A) Not binomial B) Binomial, n = 22
C) Binomial, n = 10 D) Binomial, n = 12
31) A coin is tossed 14 times. Let X be the number of heads obtained. 31) ______
32) A die is rolled 11 times. Let X be the sum of the numbers obtained. 32) ______
33) A coin is tossed until a head appears. Let X be the number of tosses. 33) ______
34) Determine the indicated probability for a binomial experiment with the given number of 34) ______
trials n and the given success probability p.
n = 15, p = 0.9, P(14)
A) 0.9000 B) 0.3432 C) 0.2288 D) 0.0000
35) Determine the indicated probability for a binomial experiment with the given number of 35) ______
trials n and the given success probability p.
n = 11, p = 0.7, P(Fewer than 4)
A) 0.0006 B) 0.0043 C) 0.0216 D) 0.9957
36) Determine the indicated probability for a binomial experiment with the given number of 36) ______
trials n and the given success probability p.
n = 15, p = 0.9, P(13 or more)
A) 0.5490 B) 0.8159 C) 0.1841 D) 0.9444
37) Determine the indicated probability for a binomial experiment with the given number of 37) ______
trials n and the given success probability p.
n =8, p = 0.6, P(3 or fewer)
A) 0.8263 B) 0.4059 C) 0.1737 D) 0.0498
38) A student takes a true-false test that has 14 questions and guesses randomly at each 38) ______
answer. Let X be the number of questions answered correctly. Find P(5)
A) 0.0611 B) 0.1222 C) 0.1833 D) 0.0001
39) A student takes a true-false test that has 13 questions and guesses randomly at each 39) ______
answer. Let X be the number of questions answered correctly. Find P(Fewer than 4)
A) 0.0112 B) 0.1334 C) 0.0461 D) 0.8666
40) A student takes a true-false test that has 8 questions and guesses randomly at each 40) ______
answer. Let X be the number of questions answered correctly. Find P(6 or more)
A) 0.3633 B) 0.6367 C) 0.1445 D) 0.0352
41) The Australian sheep dog is a breed renowned for its intelligence and work ethic. It is 41) ______
estimated that 40% of adult Australian sheep dogs weigh 65 pounds or more. A sample
of 12 adult dogs is studied. What is the probability that exactly 3 of them weigh 65 lb or
more?
A) 0.9875 B) 0.0125 C) 0.1419 D) 0.8581
42) The Australian sheep dog is a breed renowned for its intelligence and work ethic. It is 42) ______
estimated that 45% of adult Australian sheep dogs weigh 65 pounds or more. A sample
of 12 adult dogs is studied. What is the probability that more than 9 of them weigh 65 lb
or more?
A) 0.0011 B) 0.9644 C) 0.0079 D) 0.0356
43) The Australian sheep dog is a breed renowned for its intelligence and work ethic. It is 43) ______
estimated that 45% of adult Australian sheep dogs weigh 65 pounds or more. A sample
of 16 adult dogs is studied. What is the probability that no more than 3 of them weigh
65 lb or more?
A) 0.0066 B) 0.0281 C) 0.9934 D) 0.9719
44) The Australian sheep dog is a breed renowned for its intelligence and work ethic. It is 44) ______
estimated that 25% of adult Australian sheep dogs weigh 65 pounds or more. A sample
of 11 adult dogs is studied. What is the mean number of dogs who weigh 65 lb or more?
A) 2.0625 B) 1.4361 C) 2.75 D) 11
45) The Australian sheep dog is a breed renowned for its intelligence and work ethic. It is 45) ______
estimated that 25% of adult Australian sheep dogs weigh 65 pounds or more. A sample
of 14 adult dogs is studied. What is the standard deviation of the number of dogs who
weigh 65 lb or more?
A) 2.625 B) 3.5 C) 14 D) 1.6202
46) At an airport, 78% of recent flights have arrived on time. A sample of 11 flights is 46) ______
studied. Find the probability that exactly 7 of them were on time.
A) 0.8642 B) 0.0014 C) 0.1358 D) 0.0030
47) At an airport, 78% of recent flights have arrived on time. A sample of 14 flights is 47) ______
studied. Find the probability that more than 12 of them were on time.
A) 0.1527 B) 0.3761 C) 0.8473 D) 0.6239
48) At an airport, 77% of recent flights have arrived on time. A sample of 11 flights is 48) ______
studied. Find the probability that no more than 4 of them were on time.
A) 0.9954 B) 0.9961 C) 0.0039 D) 0.0046
49) At an airport, 77% of recent flights have arrived on time. A sample of 11 flights is 49) ______
studied. What is the mean number of flights that are on time?
A) 2.53 B) 1.95 C) 2.91 D) 8.47
50) At an airport, 83% of recent flights have arrived on time. A sample of 12 flights is 50) ______
studied. What is the standard deviation of the number of flights that are on time?
A) 0.38 B) 9.96 C) 1.69 D) 1.30
51) It is estimated that 45% of households own a riding lawn mower. A sample of 15 51) ______
households is studied. What is the probability that exactly 7 of these own a riding lawn
mower?
A) 0.8353 B) 0.2013 C) 0.7987 D) 0.1647
52) It is estimated that 40% of households own a riding lawn mower. A sample of 13 52) ______
households is studied. What is the probability that more than 10 of these own a riding
lawn mower?
A) 0.0001 B) 0.9922 C) 0.0013 D) 0.0078
53) It is estimated that 30% of households own a riding lawn mower. A sample of 18 53) ______
households is studied. What is the probability that no more than 3 of these own a riding
lawn mower?
A) 0.1646 B) 0.0600 C) 0.94 D) 0.8354
54) It is estimated that 40% of households own a riding lawn mower. A sample of 13 54) ______
households is studied. What is the mean number of households who own a riding
mower?
A) 5.2 B) 13 C) 1.7664 D) 3.12
55) It is estimated that 35% of households own a riding lawn mower. A sample of 10 55) ______
households is studied. What is the standard deviation of the number of households who
own a riding lawn mower?
A) 10 B) 1.5083 C) 3.5 D) 2.275
56) In a poll conducted by a survey firm, 84% of respondents said that their jobs were 56) ______
sometimes or always stressful. Ten workers are chosen at random. What is the
probability that exactly 6 of them find their jobs stressful?
A) 0.0018 B) 0.9517 C) 0.0483 D) 0.0012
57) In a poll conducted by a survey firm, 82% of respondents said that their jobs were 57) ______
sometimes or always stressful. Eleven workers are chosen at random. What is the
probability that more than 9 of them find their jobs stressful?
A) 0.6151 B) 0.3164 C) 0.6836 D) 0.3849
58) In a poll conducted by a survey firm, 75% of respondents said that their jobs were 58) ______
sometimes or always stressful. Nine workers are chosen at random. What is the
probability that less than 4 of them find their jobs stressful?
A) 0.0489 B) 0.9900 C) 0.0389 D) 0.0100
59) In a poll conducted by a survey firm, 73% of respondents said that their jobs were 59) ______
sometimes or always stressful. Eight workers are chosen at random. What is the
mean number of workers who find their job stressful?
A) 1.58 B) 2.16 C) 5.84 D) 1.26
60) In a poll conducted by a survey firm, 76% of respondents said that their jobs were 60) ______
sometimes or always stressful. Eight workers are chosen at random. What is the
standard deviation of the number of workers who find their jobs stressful?
A) 1.21 B) 1.46 C) 0.43 D) 2.47
61) Determine the indicated probability for a Poisson random variable with the given values 61) ______
of λ and t.
λ = 0.8, t = 3, P(2)
A) 0.2613 B) 0.9569 C) 0.0431 D) 0.3840
62) Determine the indicated probability for a Poisson random variable with the given values 62) ______
of λ and t.
λ = 0.8, t = 4, P(At least 2)
A) 0.8288 B) 0.6201 C) 0.0408 D) 0.9592
63) Determine the indicated probability for a Poisson random variable with the given values 63) ______
of λ and t.
λ = 0.6, t = 7, P(No more than 3)
A) 0.3804 B) 0.2102 C) 0.3954 D) 0.6196
64) Determine the indicated probability for a Poisson random variable with the given values 64) ______
of λ and t.
λ = 0.8, t = 5, P(More than 3)
A) 0.2381 B) 0.4335 C) 0.4152 D) 0.5665
65) Determine the indicated probability for a Poisson random variable with the given values 65) ______
of λ and t.
λ = 0.9, t = 3, P(Less than 3)
A) 0.7141 B) 0.6469 C) 0.5064 D) 0.4936
66) The number of typographical errors in a document follows a Poisson distribution with a 66) ______
mean of 2 errors per page. Let X represent the number of errors on 4 pages. Find P(5).
A) 0.9639 B) 0.0361 C) 0.0916 D) 0.1221
67) The number of typographical errors in a document follows a Poisson distribution with a 67) ______
mean of 2 errors per page. Let X represent the number of errors on 3 pages. Find
P(Less than 3).
A) 0.6767 B) 0.0174 C) 0.0620 D) 0.0595
68) The number of typographical errors in a document follows a Poisson distribution with a 68) ______
mean of 2 errors per page. Let X represent the number of errors on 4 pages. Find
P(Greater than 1).
A) 0.5940 B) 0.9970 C) 0.9997 D) 0.9862
69) The number of typographical errors in a document follows a Poisson distribution with a 69) ______
mean of 4 errors per page. Let X represent the number of errors on 2 pages. Find .
A) 8 B) 2.8 C) 4 D) 9
70) The number of typographical errors in a document follows a Poisson distribution with a mea n of 4
errors per 70) ____
page. Let __
X
represent
the
number
of errors
on 2
pages.
Find .
A) 4 B) 3.8 C) 8 D) 2.8
71) An environmental scientist obtains a sample of water from an irrigation canal that 71) ______
contains a certain type of bacteria at a concentration of 4 per milliliter. What is the
probability that there will be exactly 8 bacteria in a 4-milliliter sample?
A) 0.9940 B) 0.0120 C) 0.0060 D) 0.0298
72) An environmental scientist obtains a sample of water from an irrigation canal that 72) ______
contains a certain type of bacteria at a concentration of 6 per milliliter. Find the mean
number of bacteria in a 8-milliliter sample.
A) 2.4 B) 6 C) 48 D) 6.9
73) An environmental scientist obtains a sample of water from an irrigation canal that 73) ______
contains a certain type of bacteria at a concentration of 2 per milliliter. Find the
standard deviation of the number of bacteria in a 4-milliliter sample.
A) 2 B) 8 C) 2.8 D) 1.4
74) Last year, a manufacturer produced 1,950,000 DVD players. Of these, approximately 74) ______
5% were defective. Assume that a simple random sample of n = 230 players is drawn.
Use the Poisson approximation to the binomial distribution to compute the probability
that exactly nineteen of the 230 DVD players were defective.
A) 0.0068 B) 0.0826 C) 0.0196 D) 0.0119
75) Last year, a manufacturer produced 1,950,000 DVD players. Of these, approximately 75) ______
4% were defective. Assume that a simple random sample of n = 180 players is drawn.
Use the Poisson approximation to the binomial distribution to compute the probability
that fewer than four of the 180 DVD players were defective.
A) 0.0719 B) 0.0464 C) 0.0255 D) 0.0712
76) Last year, a manufacturer produced 200,000 DVD players. Of these, approximately 2% 76) ______
were defective. Assume that a simple random sample of n = 130 players is drawn. Use
the Poisson approximation to the binomial distribution to compute the mean number of
DVD players that were defective.
A) 2 B) 2.6 C) 25.1 D) 1.6
77) Last year, a manufacturer produced 350,000 DVD players. Of these, approximately 1% 77) ______
were defective. Assume that a simple random sample of n = 140 players is drawn. Use
the Poisson approximation to the binomial distribution to compute the standard
deviation of the number of DVD players that were defective.
A) 48.3 B) 1.2 C) 1 D) 1.4
1) B
2) B
3) B
4) A
5) A
6) A
7) B
8) A
9) D
10) B
11) C
12) B
13) C
14) C
15) D
16) D
17) C
18) C
19) D
20) B
21) D
22) A
23) C
24) B
25) C
26) C
27) D
28) C
29) D
30) A
31) C
32) C
33) C
34) B
35) B
36) B
37) C
38) B
39) C
40) C
41) C
42) C
43) B
44) C
45) D
46) C
47) A
48) D
49) D
50) D
Test Bank for Elementary Statistics, 3rd Edition, William Navidi Barry Monk
51) B
52) C
53) A
54) A
55) B
56) C
57) D
58) D
59) C
60) A
61) A
62) A
63) C
64) D
65) D
66) C
67) C
68) B
69) A
70) D
71) B
72) C
73) C
74) D
75) A
76) B
77) B
Stuart (laughing). I thought that would get rid of them. Well, have
you shown Miss Wortley that you can still be occasionally jolly?
Fred (gloomily). I haven’t had the chance. She must be in her
room, for I’ve looked everywhere else for her. Not that it’s much loss.
I know I should not have been in the mood to please her.
Stuart. That’s because you don’t try hard enough.
Fred (bitterly). Hear the bachelor talk of making love!
Stuart. You think me ignorant?
Fred. Rather,—judging from the results.
Stuart (resting hand on Fred’s shoulder). Fred, I’m not the kind of
a man who lets the world know what he’s thinking about. With all
due respect to a young fellow who is not far distant, it doesn’t pay to
show one’s feelings too much. But I’m going to tell you my bit of
romance as an object-lesson. Two months ago I met the most
charming woman in the world, and could no more help falling in love
—
Fred (looking up in surprise). What! The ideal bachelor in love?
Stuart. I don’t see why two and forty should be debarred from that
universal sensation, any more than four and twenty.
Fred. Oh, of course not,—only, to make an Irish bull, we had all
grown to think you as wedded to celibacy.
Stuart. There are divorces and desertions in celibacy as well as in
matrimony. Well, I love this woman; I don’t think she loves me,—
though you never can tell with a clever one, and sometimes I think
she is beginning to like me, because she—because she tries to make
me believe she is worse than she is. She delights in making me think
she’s a devil, which shows that she is a bit afraid of me. I’ve never
said a word of my love to her, but she knows it as well as I do. But
nobody else dreams of it. I don’t make my attentions so obvious that
every one sees them, and so cause her embarrassment whenever I
even come into the room. I don’t cut up rough if she talks or dances
with other fellows. I simply try to be pleasant and useful enough to
make her prefer my society to that of any other man.
Fred (sighing). Well, of course you are right, but—tell me what you
think I ought to do.
Stuart (walking to desk and holding bell). What do you suppose
would happen if I rang this?
[Rings.
Fred. That doesn’t answer my question.
Stuart. I want to see if the bell won’t save me the trouble.
Enter Polly, l. d.
Polly. Did you ring, sir?
Stuart. Yes, I want to find out if you told the truth about Miss
Wortley’s domino?
Polly (embarrassed). Well, sir, Miss Wortley has two dominos,
and I don’t know which she intends to wear first.
Stuart. What is the other domino like?
Polly. It’s blue with silver lace.
Stuart. What will you charge me to wear the white and cardinal
one this evening, leaving Miss Wortley only the blue and silver one?
Polly (eagerly). Oh, Mr. Stuart, that’s just what I’ve wanted to do,
but haven’t dared! Please don’t tempt me.
Stuart. Fudge! If you’ll do as I’ll tell you, you shall have a year’s
wages to-morrow.
Polly. Gracious!!
Stuart. Is it a bargain?
Polly (eagerly). Yes, sir. What am I to do?
Stuart. H’m. Can you write a good hand?
Polly. Ask Mr. Stevens?
Stuart (reproachfully). Oh, Fred!!
Fred. I don’t know what she means.
Polly. I wrote that note to-day thanking you for the flowers: I write
nearly all Miss Wortley’s notes.
Fred. Bosh!
[During letter-writing he
surreptitiously dives
into inside pocket and
produces glove,
handkerchief, faded
flowers, and letters tied
with ribbon. Examines
letters, and then crosses
to mantel, tears them
up, and throws them
into fire.
[Sits at desk—business of
letter-writing.
Stuart. “My own: Driven to the verge of desperation by the
parasites who cluster about my wealth, I long for nothing but a
refuge. This you can give me, and if you cherish one emotion of
tenderness for me, you will be in the little morning room at twelve.
A.” Address that to Newbank. Now take another sheet. “Reginald: If
you have one spark of affection for me, keep me no longer in
suspense! I shall be in the little morning room over the supper-room
at ten minutes after twelve. Fly then to your loving but unhappy A.”
Address that to Van Tromp. Now, Polly, you must deliver those notes
in person, get into Miss Wortley’s domino, and be here at that time.
Newbank will propose to you, and you must accept him and get rid of
him. Then you must do the same to Van Tromp. Understand?
Polly. Yes, Mr. Stuart.
Stuart. And you mustn’t let them find out their mistake till to-
morrow.
[Exits Polly b. d.
[Looks about.
Fred. But that doesn’t tell me why you asked me to bring you here.
Mrs. V. T. Perhaps to cheat you out of your dance with our host’s
pretty daughter.
Fred. I might answer you in kind. But it’s fairer to tell you that
your mask is no disguise.
Mrs. V. T. You know me?
Fred. Yes. You are “our host’s pretty daughter.”
Mrs. V. T. I am but a poor actress if I have played my part so badly.
Fred. Indeed, no. Even now I find it hard to believe, your acting is
so perfect. If I had not known your domino, I should never have
recognised you.
Mrs. V. T. My domino?
Fred. I overheard it mentioned. I was sorry to learn your secret,
but really I couldn’t help it.
Mrs. V. T. It really does not matter. But I am glad you told me.
Most men would have kept mum and let me talk on about “our host’s
pretty daughter,” and then have never let me hear the last of it.
Fred. I’m afraid I’m no better than the rest of my sex, Miss
Wortley. With most women I should have done that.
Mrs. V. T. And why am I an exception?
Fred. I didn’t want to deceive you.
Mrs. V. T. Why not?
Fred. Because I wanted you to think well of me.
Mrs. V. T. Why, I do that already. If you only knew how I respected
and admired the men who have been real friends, and not seekers of
my money!
Fred. Miss Wortley, I thank you for your kind thoughts of me, but
you mustn’t think them any longer.
Mrs. V. T. Why not?
Fred. Because I don’t deserve them. Do you remember our first
meeting?
Mrs. V. T. (aside). Gracious! I hope I’m not to be cross-examined.
(Aloud, hesitatingly.) It was on a yacht, wasn’t it?
Fred. After that cruise I came back to my desk and bachelor
quarters, but neither they nor I have been the same since. It’s always
seemed to me as if a bit of heaven had come into my life in those
days. Every hour since has been consecrated to an ideal. I have
worked as I was never able to work before. And why? Because I was
straining every fibre to win money and position enough to be able to
come to you and say: “Miss Wortley, I love you as a man must love
one so sweet and beautiful. I’m not rich, but if you can care for me
enough to make a few sacrifices I will try and keep you from
regretting them, by love and tenderness.”
Mrs. V. T. But, Mr. Stevens, you seem to forget that the man I
marry will be made rich at once. (Aside.) Ugh, I feel like a brute.
Fred. I’ve tried to forget it, but I couldn’t. It has come between us
in the past; is it to do so in the future?
Mrs. V. T. Mr. Stevens, I can’t tell you my grief in finding you like
the rest of my disinterested masculine friends.
Fred (hotly). You think I care for your money?
Mrs. V. T. What else can I think? (Aside.) You cat!
Agnes (starting to pull aside curtain, sotto voce to Stuart). Oh! I
mustn’t—
Stuart (checking her). No, don’t interfere, Mrs. Van Tromp. Let
the poor fellow take the whole dose while he’s about it.
Fred (who has gone up back and now comes down). Miss
Wortley, do you realize what you are saying? In the last minute you
have three times deliberately insulted me. Say you don’t love me, if
that is so, but don’t impute shameful motives to my love. It is of
value to me if worthless to you.
Mrs. V. T. Mr. Stevens, frankness under such circumstances is best
for all. Put yourself in my place. I am an heiress, with expectations
from my father. You acknowledge yourself that you are poor. Don’t
blame me if I draw my own conclusions.
Fred. But I will blame you, and it is the last time I shall ever
trouble you. You ask me to put myself in your place: let us try the
reverse. I offer you a love as true and unmercenary as was ever
offered a woman. What do I deserve at your hands? Mercy, at least.
But instead, you—you have not been content to reject it—you have
poisoned it forever.
[Comes out c.
Stuart. Here is the minx who can make all clear. Polly, did Mr.
Newbank propose to you?
Polly. Yes, sir.
Reg. Oh, deah, how funny! Haw, haw, haw! But then, people in his
station always do take maids. Pwoposing to a servant!
Polly. But you proposed to me too, Mr. Van Tromp.
Charlie (laughing very hard). Holy Motheth, but I thall thertainly
die of laughing!
Polly. Please, Miss Wortley, forgive me?
Stuart. Yes. Remember what she has done for (points to Fred and
Agnes) you two.
Fred. And for (pointing at Stuart and Mrs. V. T.) those two.
Agnes. But she must have a lesson.
Stuart. Why, we’ve all had a lesson—on the mysterious means
Cupid employs to accomplish his purposes.
Mrs. V. T. Verily ’tis so:
“Love goes by haps,
Some Cupid kills with arrows, some with traps.”
Curtain
TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES
1. Silently corrected obvious typographical errors and
variations in spelling.
2. Retained archaic, non-standard, and uncertain spellings
as printed.
*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TATTLE-TALES
OF CUPID ***