Plun. Poor Lionel! He seems quite lost to me! He avoids me, seeks solitude, or if he does approach his fellow men he utterly ignores their presence, as now.
Nancy. Does he seem to have no moments when he knows you?
Plun. Not so far. Ever since the Queen recognized the ring I gave her and restored him to his rightful place and name as Earl of Derby he seems to think he is no more himself. All the past is wiped away from his thought and he wanders about in a daze or dream.
Lady H. And I am the one who is to blame!
Plun. Yes—and no. Nancy here did by me much what you did by Lionel, but it did not drive me crazy. So after all it is partly Lionel's strange nature that is to blame. He was always a queer lad, sensitive to a fault.
Nan. Did you really think I meant the girls to stick their spears into you? I was furious with them!
Lady H. It was my hope that if Lionel found himself again in the midst of this familiar scene where first we met he might recognize me and come to himself again.
Nancy. But not when you are in those clothes. This is the costume you wore when you were so cruel to him.
Lady H. That is true. I had forgotten, in my zeal to get all the rest of them ready. But here he comes. O, Lionel, don't you know me? (He repulses her.)