Miss T.'s V. I—I don't know, really. But, Maud, I want to speak to you about—Somebody. You can't think how he adores you, poor fellow! I have noticed it for a long time.
Pobd. (beaming). Culchard! You heard? She's putting in a word for me. What a brick that girl is!
Miss T.'s V. I guess he's pretty good at concealing his feelings, then. He's been keeping far enough away!
Miss P.'s V. That was my fault. I kept him by me. You see, I believed you had quite decided to accept Mr. Culchard.
Miss T.'s V. Well, it does strike me that, considering he was adoring me all this time, he let himself be managed tolerable easy. [Podbury shakes his head in protestation.
Miss P.'s V. Ah, but let me explain. I could only keep him quiet by threatening to go home by myself, and dear Bob is such a devoted brother that——
Pobd. Brother! I say, Culchard, she can't be meaning Bob all this time! She can't! can she now?
Culch. How on earth can I tell? If it is so, you must be a philosopher, my dear fellow, and bear it—that's all.
Miss P.'s V. That does alter the case, doesn't it? And I may tell him there's some hope for him? You mustn't judge him by what he is with his friend, Mr. Podbury. Bob has such a much stronger and finer character!
Miss T.'s V. Oh well, if he couldn't stand up more on his edge than Mr. Podbury! Not that I mind Mr. Podbury any, there's no harm in him, but he's too real frivolous to amount to much.