SMITH. Oh, it's dreadful--dreadful! I suppose your sister was very devoted to him?

PHYLLIS. She _adored_ him!!

SMITH. Yes. That's the part I understand best.

PHYLLIS. But Celia's engagement meant more to her than it would to most women.

SMITH. (_Recoils slightly_) Why?

PHYLLIS. It had somehow got into everybody's head that Celia didn't--(_Looks around room_)--attract people. Poor old Celia. (SMITH _turns uneasily in chair_.) Of course, her engagement altered the whole position.

SMITH. Oh, I begin to see.

PHYLLIS. It was the night that _I_ had just announced my engagement to Mr. Tarver.--Bobby was so witty about poor old Celia having to wear _another_ pair of Green Stockings at _my_ wedding----

SMITH. Ah--h-- Then there are other sisters?

PHYLLIS. Yes, there's Madge. She is between Celia and myself.

SMITH. Engaged?

PHYLLIS. _More_ than engaged--_married_. And then comes Evelyn.

SMITH. Married?

PHYLLIS. Much _more_ than married. (SMITH _stares_.) A widow.

SMITH. And Miss Celia is the eldest of you all?

PHYLLIS. Oh, yes. Well, the moment after Celia was told of _my_ engagement, she announced _hers_.

SMITH. To Colonel Smith. (_Turns away from her with sudden understanding_.) I see.

PHYLLIS. (_More melodramatically_) You know she had met him at Southampton. (SMITH _looks at her_.) For a week they had been together. (SMITH _turns in his chair_.) Only that morning he had told her of his love. An hour later he was steaming down Southampton Water to leave his neglected bones on the arid wastes of a----

SMITH. (_Interrupting her_) Ahem! You'll excuse me----

PHYLLIS. I beg pardon. He was on his way to Somaliland. She wrote to him that night.

SMITH. (_Slowly_) Yes, the letter reached him. (_Tapping his pocket_) I have it here.

PHYLLIS. (_Sentimentally_) He kept it?

SMITH. Yes, he kept it. He used to sit and study it by the hour.

PHYLLIS. How truly beautiful. Oh, you must tell Celia that. You mustn't rob her of any of her grief.

SMITH. No, that would be too bad. So there was no opportunity for Smith to come and make your acquaintance?

PHYLLIS. No, but I have heard so much of him from Celia that I could almost believe I see him. (_Stares dreamily at_ SMITH. SMITH _rises slowly, a little disconcerted_. PHYLLIS _rising and moving_ R.) I'll go and send Celia to you.

(MARTIN _enters through morning room_.)

SMITH. Thanks. Now I know where I am.

MARTIN. (_Stands up_ R.) Miss Faraday is coming down, Miss. (_Crosses and exits_ L., _lighting chandelier in card room_.)

PHYLLIS. Very well, Martin. Then I'll leave you to deliver your message alone. (_Crosses to door_ R. _and opens it, then turns_) You have brought, I hope, one or two mementoes from him----

SMITH. (_Puzzled for a moment_) I beg your pardon?

PHYLLIS. Little things that Celia can treasure.

SMITH. Oh, yes, yes. A few small things--trifles which Smith habitually wore.

PHYLLIS. (_Sentimentally_) Just what she will value most. (_Exits_ R.IE.)

(SMITH _chuckles. He looks at his ring, but can't get it off, then at his knife. That won't do. Then at his cigarette case. That will not do. Also at his bunch of keys. That won't do. He reluctantly takes watch and chain from his waistcoat and looks about for something to wrap it up in. He sees the tissue paper which Celia has left on book slide, gets it and wraps watch and chain up in it, putting it in his pocket. He takes out his scarf pin, looks at it, starts to replace it in tie. He reconsiders and wraps that up too, putting it in his pocket. He hums a s.n.a.t.c.h of song for_ CELIA'S _entrance_. CELIA _enters in evening dress_ R. _Comes_ R.C. SMITH _does not look up_.)

[Ill.u.s.tration: "Green Stockings" _Page_ 81]

CELIA. Colonel Vavasour. (_She speaks briskly, having no suspicion of his business_. SMITH _bows almost reverentially, sighs deeply. Looks as if about to speak, is silent. His head is bowed. Impatiently_) I am told that you wish to see me on important business.

(SMITH _nods head sadly. He looks up and, on seeing_ CELIA, _starts with pleasurable surprise for a moment_.)

SMITH. Upon important and lugubrious business.

CELIA. Oh--? Don't tell me there's some new difficulty about Mr.

Tarver's election?

SMITH. I have come to speak to you about one who is dearer to you than all the world. (CELIA _is perplexed_.) As soon as I read the announcement in the "Times" this morning--I felt that I must come to you at once.

CELIA. (_Pause_) The announcement!--in the "Times"! (_She is startled.

Stares at_ SMITH.)

SMITH. Of the death of Colonel Smith.

(CELIA _is amazed; turns away quickly_.)

CELIA. You will forgive me, I am sure, Colonel Vavasour, but the news of my loss is so recent that you will understand my reluctance to discuss it with a stranger. (_She moves up toward morning room as though to exit_.)