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Mrs. Pringle is an elegant but hysterical woman who is hosting a dinner party in the midst of a blizzard. Just before the party was set to begin, some of her guests suddenly started calling to cancel. Mrs. Pringle insists on having exactly fourteen guests and has become increasingly frazzled as she attempts to find replacements. Each time she secures a guest, a new problem arises that throws her arrangements off. On top of things, Mrs. Pringle is eager to set up her daughter, Elaine, with the
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DUNHAM: A note from Mr. Farnsworth, madam--
MRS. PRINGLE: A note from Mr. Farnsworth! (She takes it and opens it)
DUNHAM: Yes, madam, there are two strange gentlemen in the lower hall. They presented this letter. He said he was the secretary. All the other guests are upstairs in the drawing-room, madam, I counted twelve in all, including you and Mr. Pringle and Miss Elaine. But the two gentlemen downstairs, madam, are waiting for your answer -- the one gentlemen's face looked very familiar, madam, but I just can't place him -- although I'm sure I've seen his face somewhere--
MRS. PRINGLE: (She has been reading the note and is almost fainting with surprise and joy) Seen his face -- somewhere -- Oh, my goodness! Elaine -- It's the Prince of Wales!
DUNHAM: The secretary said you cut off the telephone or central disconnected you. He was about to tell you that Mr. Farnsworth knew that the blizzard had prevented His Highness from keeping an engagement way up town--
MRS. PRINGLE: The Prince of Wales sitting in my lower hall -- waiting for me to ask him to dinner--
ELAINE: Then we'll be thirteen again--
DUNHAM: There's the secretary, Miss, he is his bodyguard--
MRS. PRINGLE: Certainly, the secretary, Elaine. We shall be fourteen at dinner -- Serve the cocktails, Dunham -- the guests may sit anywhere they choose. I shall bring the Prince in with me!
ELAINE: But mother, wasn't it nice of Oliver Farnsworth to send a Prince in his place?
MRS. PRINGLE: Didn't I always say that Oliver Farnsworth was the most considerate of men?
ELAINE: I think I shall like Mr. Farnsworth.
MRS. PRINGLE: Silly child! It is too late now to like Mr. Farnsworth. It's time now to like the Prince. I always manage somehow to be the most successful of hostesses! Thank God for the blizzard!
Alice Gerstenberg, Fourteen, Public domain, 1919. Full Text
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