_Renie._ I'd better go. I shall get a little lecture all to myself if I don't. [_Going off, to_ DOLLY.] Thank you, dear, so much for your kind invitation to stay on!

_Dolly._ Don't mention it!

_Renie._ I shall try to manage it. [_Exit._

_Dolly._ Yes, I'm sure you will.

_Matt._ Mrs. Sturgess going to stay on?

_Dolly._ She wants me to invite her. But I won't if I can help it.

[_Goes to him suddenly._] Dad!

_Matt._ Well?

_Dolly._ That wretched Lucas!

_Matt._ What about him?

_Dolly._ No, I've promised her not to breathe a word. So you must guess.

[_Pause._] Have you guessed?

_Matt._ [_After a pause._] Yes. Well, I--[_Begins to chuckle._] So Lucas is up to his old games!

_Dolly._ My own guest! Under my own roof! It's too horrid of him.

_Matt._ [_Chuckling._] It is! It's too bad! The rascal.

_Dolly._ Oh, it's more than half her fault! It's just like her!

[MATT _suddenly bursts from a chuckle into a roar._

_Dolly._ What are you laughing at?

_Matt._ I've just left---- [_Chuckling._] I've just left the Professor down at the fish-pond explaining to Lucas all about his gray matter, and---- [_Roars._

_Dolly._ I don't see anything to laugh at.

_Matt._ Twelve miles in the snow----I say, Doll, we're making a splendid start for the New Year!

[_Laughing._

_Dolly._ Dad! Will you please leave off? [_Shaking his shoulder._] Will you be serious?

_Matt._ Yes, my dear!! [_Pulling himself together and straightening his features._] Yes, I will. After all, it's a serious matter.

_Dolly._ It's very serious for me, in a neighbourhood like this!

_Matt._ It's serious for me, as I was Lucas's guardian. And it's serious for him. If he goes and plays the fool, it may spoil his career--the young a.s.s!

_Dolly._ Very well, then, will you please treat it seriously and set to work and help me?

_Matt._ How far have matters gone?

_Dolly._ Oh, there's no real harm done at present.

_Matt._ How do you know?

_Dolly._ Oh, Lucas is writing her silly letters and she's talking about his pure and exalted devotion, and making it a lever to raise all her ideals and aspirations.

_Matt._ [_Shakes his head._] That looks bad! That looks very dangerous for her.

_Dolly._ Oh, no; she knows how to take care of herself. But it's dangerous for me!

_Matt._ How, dangerous for you?!

_Dolly._ If there's the least bit of scandal she'll contrive to drag me into it! I know her so well.

_Matt._ [_Walking about, cogitating._] Yes, and we mustn't let Lucas make a mess of it.

_Dolly._ What can we do?

_Matt._ When I was over at Aldershot last week Sir John said something about giving Lucas an A. D. C. in India. I'll drive over to-morrow and ask Sir John to pack Lucas out of the country for a year or two!

_Dolly._ That's a good idea. But it may take some time?

_Matt._ A week or so, perhaps more.

_Dolly._ But if they find out they're going to be parted, it is just this next week when there will be all the danger.

_Matt._ That's true.

_Dolly._ They ought to be parted to-night.

_Matt._ They ought! They ought! Not a doubt about it! Not a shadow of doubt! They ought to be parted to-night!

_Dolly._ Dad! I believe I can frighten Renie out of it.

_Matt._ Frighten her?

_Dolly._ I'll try! And you must take Lucas in hand----

_Matt._ H'm! Isn't Harry the right person----?

_Dolly._ No, I sha'n't tell Harry. Harry would only get into a temper and muddle it. No, you must get Lucas to take himself off.

_Matt._ Take himself off!

_Dolly._ I won't have him here. You can tell him so. Be very severe with him.