[She sits down on his knees.

Elizabeth. Am I boney?

C.-C. On the contrary. . . . I’m listening.

Elizabeth. Lady Catherine’s coming here.

C.-C. Who’s Lady Catherine?

Elizabeth. Your—Arnold’s mother.

C.-C. Is she?

[He withdraws himself a little and Elizabeth gets up.

Elizabeth. You mustn’t blame Arnold. It’s my fault. I insisted. He was against it. I nagged him till he gave way. And then I wrote and asked her to come.

C.-C. I didn’t know you knew her.