[_Gets away from her, and busies himself with his cigar, lights it._

_Renie._ Good-night, Dolly!

_Dolly._ I'll come up with you, and stay till you're quite comfortable.

_Renie._ Shall I ever be comfortable again? Will things ever be the same? I wonder!

[_Goes off mournfully and tragically at back with a prolonged sigh._ MATT _has seated himself on sofa and taken up paper._

_Dolly._ [_Calls his attention to_ RENIE'S _exit and makes a furious gesture after her._] I know she'll be here next Christmas! [_Marches down enraged to_ MATT _and repeats in an angry, aggrieved way, emphasizing each word._] I know that woman will be here next Christmas!

_Matt._ [_Seated comfortably with his cigar and paper_] I daresay she will----

[DOLLY _marches indignantly and decisively to door and exit._

CURTAIN.

(_Half an hour pa.s.ses between Acts II and III._)

ACT III.

SCENE: _The same. Discover_ MATT _in the same seat and att.i.tude, with paper and cigar._ DOLLY _enters._

_Matt._ Well??

_Dolly._ I've had an awful time with her----

_Matt._ How?

_Dolly._ [_Seated._] First she had another fit of hysterics--then she longed to go out into the night air to cool her fevered brow--then she moaned out something about her n.o.ble Lucas----

_Matt._ And now?

_Dolly._ I've persuaded her to let Peters undress her. I've got her off my hands at last.

_Matt._ That's a comfort.

_Dolly._ Dad!

_Matt._ Yes.

_Dolly._ I won't have her here next Christmas.

_Matt._ No, I wouldn't.

_Dolly._ [_Repeats in a slow, aggrieved, enraged way, emphasizing each syllable._] Whatever happens, I will not have that woman in my house next Christmas. You hear that?

_Matt._ Yes. You won't have her here next Christmas!

_Dolly._ I mean it, this time. And I won't have Lucas here again for a very long time.

_Matt._ I wouldn't.

_Dolly._ [_Seated beside him._] Dad, please put away that paper. You're going over to Aldershot to-morrow to try to get Lucas exchanged?

_Matt._ I'll try.

_Dolly._ Where can you get him sent?

_Matt._ Gibraltar--India--South Africa--according as an appointment happens to be vacant.

_Dolly._ The further the better, and the longer.

PETERS _appears at door._

_Dolly._ Well, Peters, have you made Mrs. Sturgess comfortable?

_Peters._ I'm trying to, ma'am.

_Dolly._ Is she in bed yet?

_Peters._ No, ma'am.

_Dolly._ Not in bed!

_Peters._ No, ma'am, but she seems rather quieter.

_Dolly._ She let you undress her, I suppose?

_Peters._ I'm just going to, ma'am. She says her brain is still throbbing.

_Dolly._ Throbbing!

_Peters._ And could you lend her your hop-pillow?

_Dolly._ You'll find it in my wardrobe.

_Peters._ Yes, ma'am.

_Dolly._ Peters, pat up the hop-pillow for her, and insist on undressing her----

_Peters._ Yes, ma'am. [_Going._