Miss P. (emphatically). Certainly not, my dear! All gunpowder, conspiracies and plots! Do come away, Cecil, do!
Cecil. There, you have moved and no catastrophe occurs. (Miss P. starts and returns to original position.) So sit down. Well, if you are so in love with that spot, move just an inch or two. I will put three or four of these charming cushions together. You will be so comfortable! (Miss P. sits reluctantly.) Do be a darling and like explorations as much as excavations. If it is the Princess, think what news for Arthur!
Miss P. If the gossip Fuyijama tells us correctly, the Princess is a dangerous young woman.
Cecil (sitting). I shall sit real Japanese fashion. Fancy, an enlightened, highly educated English lady listening to such superstitious tales!
Miss P. It is all very well, but once you land yourself in prison nothing can be done to save you. I believe you would quite enjoy steeping Europe in bloodshed.
Cecil (laughing). Europe? Oh, G., when I think of the geography you made me learn! There, I won’t tease any more. I want to see this poor little Princess. She is not a bit real Japanesy, you know she isn’t; and I will tell you a secret, and that is Arthur admires her very much.
Miss P. (lifting hands in horror). Poor, innocent, misguided boy!
Cecil. He is not going to ask a Japanese to marry him, but he gave me to understand he wished she had been English.
Miss P. Beg him instantly to leave the country—tell him you are ill—the climate is affecting your reason, and we will start to-night!