LADY K.—A creature—an angel!
TOUCHIT.—Mercy upon us! how she and my lady used to quarrel! [aside.] What a temper!
LADY K.—Hm—oh, yes—what a temper [rather doubtfully at first].
TOUCHIT.—What a loss to Milliken and the darling children!
MISS PRIOR.—Luckily they have YOU with them madam.
LADY K.—And I will stay with them, Miss Prior; I will stay with them! I will never part from Horace, I am determined.
MISS P.—Ah! I am very glad you stay, for if I had not YOU for a protector, I think you know I must go, Lady Kicklebury. I think you know there are those who would forget my attachment to these darling children, my services to—to her—and dismiss the poor governess. But while you stay I can stay, dear Lady Kicklebury! With you to defend me from jealousy I need not QUITE be afraid.
LADY K.—Of Mrs. Bonnington? Of Mr. Milliken's mother; of the parson's wife who writes out his stupid sermons, and has half a dozen children of her own? I should think NOT indeed! I am the natural protector of these children. I am their mother. I have no husband! You STAY in this house, Miss Prior. You are a faithful, attached creature—though you were sent in by somebody I don't like very much [pointing to TOUCHIT, who went off laughing when JULIA began her speech, and is now looking at prints, &c., in next room].
MISS P.—Captain Touchit may not be in all things what one could wish. But his kindness has formed the happiness of my life in making me acquainted with YOU, ma'am: and I am sure you would not have me be ungrateful to him.
LADY K.—A most highly principled young woman. [Goes out in garden and walks up and down with Captain TOUCHIT.]