Lady Maisie (in a small voice). Then, you did sit down? With the servants! Oh, Mr. Blair!
Und. I thought you were already aware of it. Yes, Lady Maisie, I endured even that. But (with magnanimity) you must not distress yourself about it now. If I can forget it, surely you can do so!
Lady Maisie. Can I? That you should have consented, for any consideration whatever; how could you—how could you?
Und. (to himself). She admires me all the more for it. But I knew she would take the right view! (Aloud, with pathos.) I was only compelled by absolute starvation. I had had an unusually light lunch, and I was so hungry!
Lady Maisie (after a pause). That explains it, of course.... I hope they gave you a good supper!
Und. Excellent, thank you. Indeed, I was astonished at the variety and even luxury of the table. There was a pyramid of quails——
Lady Maisie. I am pleased to hear it. But I thought there was something you were going to explain.
Und. I have been endeavouring to explain to the best of my ability that if I have undesignedly been the cause of—er—a temporary diversion in the state of Miss Phillipson's affections, no one could regret more deeply than I that the—er—ordinary amenities of the supper-table should have been mistaken for——
Lady Maisie (horrified). Oh, stop Mr. Blair, please stop! I don't want to hear any more. I see now. It was you who——
Und. Of course it was I. Surely the girl herself has been telling you so just now!