The wasp is still buzzing against the glass, Nell. It is a frantic, pointless sound. Honestly, the traffic on the M4 was utterly senseless, so do not look at me like that. I suppose you think the delay was entirely my fault. Are you going to even order something to eat?
The M4 was fine, you just missed the junction at Bristol. And it’s a hornet, not a wasp. If it's so pointless, why are you staring at it? I'll have the tomato soup. Or maybe the roast. Actually, let's just see what they have when the waiter comes.
It is a wasp, and you are being pedantic. If you wanted a hornet, you should have driven closer to the woods. The soup is far too thin to be a real meal, but if you are hungry enough to settle for it, then you should order it now. Do you always decide things at the last second?
It’s a wasp, Ben. They’re smaller, more annoying. And it’s not about being pedantic, it’s about being right. If you're so worried about my hunger, just get the bread basket first. We can't eat just because you've finished your lecture on the motorway. Let's just wait for the menu to arrive.
Being right is a tedious hobby, Nell. You always did prefer a victory over a decent meal. The bread basket is a distraction. If we wait for the menu, we might as well just go home and eat toast. Though, suppose you have a point about the size. Is the soup really worth the wait?
It's a hornet, really. The size is the giveaway. And toast is what you'll have if you keep being this difficult. If we wait ten minutes, it won't matter. Besides, the soup is supposed to be thick. Let's just let them do their job. It's not like we have anywhere to be.
We have the gallery at six, if you have forgotten. But you are right, that is the problem. We always assume the clock is waiting for us. If the soup is as thick as you claim, perhaps it will actually be edible. Should we just tell them to bring the wine now?
The gallery is at seven. You always mix up the opening times. And no, don't order the wine yet, it'll be warm by the time the soup gets here. Let's just get a crisp white, something to cut through the thickness. I don't want to be drinking heavy reds while we're walking.
Seven o'clock is when the doors actually open, so we have time. You are far too preoccupied with the temperature of the wine. A crisp white might be a bit sharp if the soup is as heavy as you imply. Do you think they have anything from the Loire? It would suit your mood.
The doors open at six-thirty, Ben. Stop moving the goalposts. And a Sauvignon is hardly a mood. If they have something from the Loire, we'll see. It's probably just cheap stuff they keep in the cellar to save money. Let's just wait for the list before you start critiquing the vintage.
Six-thirty is the preview, and you know it. You are always shifting the schedule to suit your own pace. If they serve something dreadful, we shall simply have to drink it with a grimace. But you are right. Let us wait for the list before we commit to a vintage. Do you think they will bring the bread first?
The preview is at six, so don't be late again. And of course they'll bring the bread first, that's how it works. Why would they bring it last? They aren't as thick as you think. They'll probably just leave us sitting here with nothing while the wasp finally dies.
The wasp is not going to die, Nell. It is merely waiting for its moment. And you were late to the house this morning, so do not lecture me about time. If the service is as sluggish as the M4, we will be lucky to reach the gallery by eight. Shall we call the waiter now?
It was the M4, not the house, so don't mix it up. And a hornet waits for nothing. If we call him now, we'll look desperate. Let him come to us. Besides, if the service is that slow, we'll be lucky to get anything before the preview ends. It's not like we're in a rush to leave.
We are always in a rush, even when we are sitting perfectly still. If we sit here too long, we will arrive at the preview with nothing but an appetite and a sense of regret. You should settle. If we want to be seated properly, we must actually order. Is that man coming this way?
He’s just heading to the next table, Ben. He’s not coming here. And you can't arrive with an appetite; that's just an empty stomach. If we order now, we won't be sitting here like statues. Let's just wait. He'll see the empty glasses eventually. He's not blind.