Jem: Nothing of the sort.
Kitty (repeats): I only know that papa, mamma, and grandmamma always said——
Jem: Oh, Heavens! (He escapes.)
Kitty: Was ever anyone so wretched as I? Only three months married, and to find my husband an obstinate, vindictive, strait-laced country bumpkin! Well, not a bumpkin perhaps, after all, but almost as bad as that! Why, oh! why did I leave my happy home, where I could do what I liked from morning till night, and no one was ever disagreeable to me? And yet during my engagement what a lovely time I had! Jem seemed so kind and gentle, and promised me he would never say a cross word to me! He declared our married life should be one long sunshiny summer day; whilst I promised to be his little ministering angel! I reminded him of that yesterday. And what did he say? That he had never thought a little ministering angel could be such a little brute! I can hardly believe he is the same man I used to love so dearly! (Exit in tears.)
(After a moment, Porter, the lady's-maid, enters, ushering in Lady Florence Beauchamp.)
Lady Flo: Your mistress is not here, after all, Porter?
Porter: No, milady! Yet I heard her voice only a few moments ago.
Lady Flo: Well then, Porter, you must go and tell her a lady wishes to speak with her in the boudoir, and be sure not to say who the "lady" is, however much she may ask. I wish this visit to be a little surprise to her. Nor must you mention that Sir William is here.
(Enter Kitty, with traces of tears on her face.)
Lady Flo: Kitty, darling, Kitty!