Oh, do let us have him into the drawing-room after dinner! I hear he is simply charming.

LADY OWBRIDGE.

Charming! [_Rising._] What are our ladies coming to! Dear, dear me! in my day such follies and superst.i.tions were entirely restricted to the kitchen.

[MURIEL _joins the_ d.u.c.h.eSS. QUEX _is dutifully looking into the book of sermons. The servant returns, followed by_ SOPHY, _and then retires;_ SOPHY _comes forward, beamingly. She is prettily dressed, but in sober colours._

SOPHY.

[_To_ LADY OWBRIDGE.] Here I am, my lady. I'm having such a good time!

LADY OWBRIDGE.

That's right.

SOPHY.

Oh, this garden! they may well call it heavenly.

LADY OWBRIDGE.

They ought not to call it that, my dear. But it is indeed full of earthly solace.

SOPHY.

It must be. And what a place for a bicycle!

MURIEL.

[_Reprovingly._] Bicycles are not allowed to enter these grounds, Sophy.

SOPHY.

[_Sobered._] Oh--!

LADY OWBRIDGE.

Miss Eden tells me you are accompanied by the young man to whom you are engaged to be married.

SOPHY.

I hope I haven't taken too great a liberty--

LADY OWBRIDGE.

[_Looking round._] I don't see him.

SOPHY.

He has run back to the station. I've just found out I left my bag in the fly that brought us here. So stupid of me!

LADY OWBRIDGE.

Mrs. Gregory will give you, both, dinner.

SOPHY.

Thank you, my lady.

[_The_ d.u.c.h.eSS _is now seated in the garden-chair. The younger of the two servants enters, carrying_ SOPHY'S _bag and the evening papers._

SERVANT.

[_Handing the bag to_ SOPHY.] The cabman has brought your bag back, miss.

SOPHY.

There now! Much obliged. [_To_ MRS. EDEN.] Poor Mr. Valma will have his tramp for nothing, won't he?

[SOPHY _and_ MRS. EDEN _talk together._

LADY OWBRIDGE.

The evening papers, Morgan?

SERVANT.

[_Who has laid the papers upon the table._] Yes, my lady.

[_The_ SERVANT _retires._

LADY OWBRIDGE.

So late? we must go in and dress.

d.u.c.h.eSS.

[_Who has been occupied in observing_ QUEX.] I'll follow you, dear Lady Owbridge.

[LADY OWBRIDGE _moves away and is joined by_ MRS. EDEN.

MRS. EDEN.

[_As she ascends the steps with_ LADY OWBRIDGE.] Sophy, I shall be ready for you in a quarter of an hour.

SOPHY.

All right, Mrs. Eden.