[A general movement sets in.
Miss Heneage. [Profoundly shocked.] "Hold the church!" William, she still means to marry Philip! and to-night, too!
Sudley. It's from Belmont Park.
Grace. [Making a great discovery.] She went to the races!
Miss Heneage. This is from Philip! [Reading the second telegram.] "I arrive at ten o'clock. Have dinner ready." [Miss Heneage motions to Thomas, who, obeying, retires. Looking at her watch.] They are both due now. [Movement.] What's to be done? [She rises and Sudley shrugs his shoulders.
Sudley. [Rising.] After a young woman has spent her wedding day at the races? Why, I consider that she has broken the engagement,—and when she comes, tell her so.
Miss Heneage. I'll telephone Matthew. The choir boys can go home—her maid can pack her belongings—and when the lady arrives—
Impudently, the very distant toot of an auto-horn breaks in upon her words, producing, in proportion to its growing nearness, an increasing pitch of excitement and indignation. Grace flies to the door and looks out. Mrs. Phillimore, helpless, does not know what to do or where to go or what to say. Sudley moves about excitedly. Miss Heneage stands ready to make herself disagreeable.
Grace. [Speaking rapidly and with excitement.] I hear a man's voice. Cates-Darby and brother Matthew.
A loud and brazenly insistent toot outrages afresh. Laughter and voices outside are heard faintly. Grace looks out of the door, and, as quickly withdraws.