Parbury.
[Writing.] All right, dear—presently—presently, there’s a dear girl! [Mrs. Parbury has a slow silent exit, looking back at him.] [He doesn’t look up, but goes on writing. When the door closes, he puts down his pen.] Oh, the tyranny of it! The tyranny of it!
[Slow Curtain.
END OF ACT I.
ACT II
Scene.—The same as Act I. Evening after dinner the same day. The room is lighted with lamps, but as it is a still warm evening, the curtains are not drawn over the glass door which leads into the garden and is open.
[Enter Evans, L. He places cigars and cigarettes on occasional table, and lights a small spirit cigar-lamp. [Exit.] Voices of ladies and a ripple of laughter heard from the drawing-room, and for a moment the sound made by fingers running lightly and irresponsibly over the keys of the piano. Enter Colonel Armitage, followed by Gunning and Parbury. Armitage goes to mantelpiece. Gunning selects the easiest chair in the room. Parbury goes to occasional table. Armitage is a well-preserved man of sixty-five, very carefully dressed—something of an elderly dandy.
Parbury.
Cigarette or cigar, George?