Lady Cant. Captain Thicknesse come back! (To Undershell.) I wish to speak to my daughter. May I ask you to leave us?
Und. With pleasure, Lady Cantire. (To himself, as he retires.) What a consummate actress that girl is! And what a coquette!
Lady Cant. (after a silence). Maisie, what does all this mean? No nonsense now! What brought Gerald Thicknesse back?
Lady Maisie. I suppose the dog-cart, Mamma. He missed his train, you know. I don't think he minds—much.
Lady Cant. Let me tell you this, my dear. It is a great deal more than you deserve after—— How long has he come back for?
Lady Maisie. Only a few hours; but—but from things he said, I fancy he would stay on longer—if Aunt Albinia asked him.
Lady Cant. Then we may consider that settled; he stays. (Lady Culverin appears.) Here is your Aunt. You had better leave us, my dear.
Somewhat Later; the Party have Assembled for Lunch.
Sir Rup. (to his wife). Well, my dear, I've seen that young Spurrell (smart fellow he is too, thoroughly up in his business), and you'll be glad to hear he can't find anything seriously wrong with Deerfoot.
Und. (in the background, to himself). No more could I, for that matter!