PAULA.

What are you staring at? Don't you admire my cloak?

AUBREY.

Yes.

PAULA.

Couldn't you wait till I'd gone before reading your letters?

AUBREY.

[_Putting the letter away._] I beg your pardon.

PAULA.

Take me downstairs to the carriage. [_Slipping her arm through his._] How I tease you! To-morrow! I'm so happy!

[_They go out._

THE SECOND ACT

_A morning-room in_ AUBREY TANQUERAY'S _house, "Highercoombe,"

near Willowmere, Surrey--a bright and prettily furnished apartment of irregular shape, with double doors opening into a small hall at the back, another door on the left, and a large recessed window through which is obtained a view of extensive grounds. Everything about the room is charming and graceful.

The fire is burning in the grate, and a small table is tastefully laid for breakfast. It is a morning in early Spring, and the sun is streaming in through the window._

AUBREY _and_ PAULA _are seated at breakfast, and_ AUBREY _is silently reading his letters. Two servants, a man and a woman, hand dishes and then retire. After a little while_ AUBREY _puts his letters aside and looks across to the window._

AUBREY.

Sunshine! Spring!

PAULA.

[_Glancing at the clock._] Exactly six minutes.

AUBREY.

Six minutes?

PAULA.

Six minutes, Aubrey dear, since you made your last remark.

AUBREY.

I beg your pardon; I was reading my letters. Have you seen Ellean this morning?

PAULA.

[_Coldly._] Your last observation but one was about Ellean.

AUBREY.

Dearest, what shall I talk about?

PAULA.

Ellean breakfasted two hours ago, Morgan tells me, and then went out walking with her dog.

AUBREY.

She wraps up warmly, I hope; this sunshine is deceptive.

PAULA.

I ran about the lawn last night, after dinner, in satin shoes. Were you anxious about me?

AUBREY.

Certainly.

PAULA.

[_Melting._] Really?

AUBREY.

You make me wretchedly anxious; you delight in doing incautious things. You are incurable.

PAULA.

Ah, what a beast I am! [_Going to him and kissing him, then glancing at the letters by his side._] A letter from Cayley?

AUBREY.

He is staying very near here, with Mrs.---- Very near here.

PAULA.

With the lady whose chimneys we have the honour of contemplating from our windows?

AUBREY.