THE　YOUNGER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　No　dear；　Edith。
  ＇Vernon　throws　up　his　hands　in　despair。　　They　all　laugh。＇
  FANNY。　　I　think　I　shall　dress　you　differently；　put　you　in　blue　and　you　in　pink。　　＇She　laughs。＇　　Is　this　the　drawing…room？
  VERNON。　　Your　room；　dear。
  FANNY。　　I　like　a　room　where　one　can　stretch　one's　legs。　　＇She　walks　across　it。＇　　A　little　too　much　desk　＇referring　to　a　massive　brass…　bound　desk；　facing　the　three　windows＇。
  THE　ELDER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　It　belonged　to　the　elder　Pitt。
  FANNY。　　Um！　　Suppose　we　must　find　a　corner　for　it　somewhere。　　That's　a　good　picture。
  THE　YOUNGER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　It　is　by　Hoppner。
  FANNY。　　One　of　your　artist　friends？
  VERNON。　　Wellyou　see；　dear；　that's　a　portrait　of　my　great…　grandmother；　painted　from　life。
  FANNY　＇she　whistles＇。　　I　am　awfully　ignorant　on　some　topics。　　One　good　thing；　I　always　was　a　quick　study。　　Not　a　bad…looking　woman。
  THE　ELDER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　We　are　very　proud　of　her。　　She　was　the　first　…
  VERNON　＇hastily＇。　　We　will　have　her　history　some　other　time。
  THE　YOUNGER　MISS　WETHERELL　＇who　understands；　signs　to　her　sister＇。　Of　course。　　She's　tired。　　We　are　forgetting　everything。　　You　will　have　some　tea；　won't　you；　dear？
  FANNY。　　No；　thanks。　　We　had　tea　in　the　train。　　＇With　the　more　or　less　helpful　assistance　of　Vernon　she　divests　herself　of　her　outdoor　garments。＇
  THE　ELDER　MISS　WETHERELL　＇she　holds　up　her　hands　in　astonishment＇。　Tea　in　the　train！
  THE　YOUNGER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　We　were　not　expecting　you　so　soon。　　You　said　in　your　telegram　…
  VERNON。　　Oh；　it　was　raining　in　London。　　We　thought　we　would　come　straight　onleave　our　shopping　for　another　day。
  FANNY。　　I　believe　you　were　glad　it　was　raining。　　Saved　you　such　a　lot　of　money。　　Old　Stingy！
  THE　ELDER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　Then　did　you　walk　from　the　station；　dear？
  FANNY。　　Didn't　it　seem　a　long　way？　　＇She　laughs　up　into　his　face。＇　He　was　so　bored。　　＇Vernon　laughs。＇
  THE　YOUNGER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　I　had　better　tell＇She　is　going　towards　the　bell。＇
  VERNON　＇he　stops　her＇。　　Oh；　let　them　alone。　　Plenty　of　time　for　all　that　fuss。　　＇He　puts　them　both　gently　side　by　side　on　the　settee。＇　Sit　down　and　talk。　　Haven't　I　been　clever？　　＇He　puts　his　arm　round　Fanny；　laughing。＇　　You　thought　I　had　made　an　ass　of　myself；　didn't　you？　　Did　you　get　all　my　letters？
  THE　YOUNGER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　I　think　so；　dear。
  FANNY　＇she　is　sitting　in　an　easy…chair。　　Vernon　seats　himself　on　the　arm＇。　　Do　you　know　I've　never　had　a　love…letter　from　you？
  VERNON。　　You　gave　me　no　time。　　She　met　me　a　month　ago；　and　married　me　last　week。
  FANNY。　　It　was　quick　work。　　He　camehe　sawI　conquered！　　＇Laughs。＇
  THE　ELDER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　They　say　that　love　at　first　sight　is　often　the　most　lasting。
  VERNON　＇he　puts　his　arm　around　her＇。　　You　are　sure　you　will　never　regret　having　given　up　the　stage？　　The　excitement；　the　…
  FANNY。　　The　excitement！　　Do　you　know　what　an　actress's　life　always　seemed　to　me　like？　　Dancing　on　a　tight…rope　with　everybody　throwing　stones　at　you。　　One　soon　gets　tired　of　that　sort　of　excitement。　　Oh；　I　was　never　in　love　with　the　stage。　　Had　to　do　something　for　a　living。
  THE　YOUNGER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　It　must　be　a　hard　life　for　a　woman。
  THE　ELDER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　Especially　for　anyone　not　brought　up　to　it。
  FANNY。　　You　see；　I　had　a　good　voice　and　what　I　suppose　you　might　call　a　natural　talent　for　acting。　　It　seemed　the　easiest　thing。
  THE　YOUNGER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　I　suppose　your　family　were　very　much　opposed　to　it？　　＇Vernon　rises。　　He　stands　with　his　back　to　the　fire。＇
  FANNY。　　My　family？　　Hadn't　any！
  THE　ELDER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　No　family？
  Bennet　enters。　　Vernon　and　Fanny　left　the　door　open。　　He　halts；　framed　by　the　doorway。
  FANNY。　　No。　　You　see；　I　was　an　only　child。　　My　father　and　mother　both　died　before　I　was　fourteen。
  THE　YOUNGER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　But　your　uncle？
  FANNY。　　Oh；　him！　　It　was　to　get　away　from　him　and　all　that　crew　that　I　went　on　the　stage。
  THE　ELDER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　It　is　so　sad　when　relations　don't　get　on　together。
  FANNY。　　Sadder　still　when　they　think　they've　got　a　right　to　trample　on　you；　just　because　you　happen　to　be　an　orphan　andI　don't　want　to　talk　about　my　relations。　　I　want　to　forget　them。　　I　stood　them　for　nearly　six　months。　　I　don't　want　to　be　reminded　of　them。　　I　want　to　forget　that　they　ever　existed。　　I　want　to　forget　…
  Bennet　has　come　down　very　quietly。　　Fanny；　from　where　he　stands；　is　the　only　one　who　sees　him。　　He　stands　looking　at　her；　his　features；　as　ever；　immovable。　　At　sight　of　him　her　eyes　and　mouth　open　wider　and　wider。　　The　words　die　away　from　her　tongue。　　Vernon　has　turned　away　to　put　a　log　on　the　fire；　and　so　has　not　seen　her　expression　only　hears　her　sudden　silence。　　He　looks　up　and　sees　Bennet。
  VERNON。　　Ah；　Bennet！　　＇He　advances；　holding　out　his　hand。＇　　You　quite　well？
  BENNET　＇shaking　hands　with　him＇。　　Quite　well。
  VERNON。　　Good！　　And　all　the　family？
  BENNET。　　Nothing　to　complain　of。　　Charles　has　had　a　touch　of　influenza。
  VERNON。　　Ah；　sorry　to　hear　that。
  BENNET。　　And　your　lordship？
  VERNON。　　Fit　as　a　fiddleyour　new　mistress。
  Fanny　has　risen。　　Bennet　turns　to　her。　　For　a　moment　his　back　is　towards　the　other　three。　　Fanny　alone　sees　his　face。
  BENNET。　　We　shall　endeavour　to　do　our　duty　to　her　ladyship。　　＇He　turns　to　Vernon。＇　　I　had　arranged　for　a　more　fitting　reception　…
  VERNON。　　To　tell　the　honest　truth；　Bennet；　the　very　thing　we　were　afraid　ofwhy　we　walked　from　the　station；　and　slipped　in　by　the　side　door。　　＇Laughing。＇　　Has　the　luggage　come？
  BENNET。　　It　has　just　arrived。　　It　was　about　that　I　came　to　ask。　　I　could　not　understand　…
  The　Misses　Wetherell　have　also　risen。　　Fanny's　speechless　amazement　is　attributed　by　them　and　Vernon　to　natural　astonishment　at　discovery　of　his　rank。
  THE　YOUNGER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　You　will　be　wanting　a　quiet　talk　together。　　We　shall　see　you　at　dinner。
  VERNON。　　What　time　is　dinner？
  THE　YOUNGER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　Half　past　seven。
  ＇To　Fanny＇　　But　don't　you　hurry；　dear。　　I　will　tell　cook　to　delay　it　a　little。　　＇She　kisses　her。＇
  THE　ELDER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　You　will　want　some　time　to　arrange　that　pretty　hair　of　yours。　　＇She　also　kisses　the　passive；　speechless　Fanny。　　They　go　out　hand　in　hand。＇
  BENNET。　　I　will　see；　while　I　am　here；　that　your　lordship's　room　is　in　order。
  VERNON。　　Why；　where's　Robert；　then？
  BENNET。　　He　has　gone　into　town　to　do　some　shopping。　　We　did　not　expect　your　lordship　much　before　nine。　　There　may　be　one　or　two　things　to　see　to。　　＇He　goes　into　his　lordship's　apartments；　closing　the　door　behind　him。＇
  FANNY。　　Vernon；　where　am　I？
  VERNON。　　At　home；　dear。
  FANNY。　　Yes；　but　where？
  VERNON。　　At　Bantock　Hall；　Rutlandshire。　　＇Fanny　sits　down　on　the　setteedrops　down　rather。＇　　You're　not　angry　with　me？　　You　know　how　the　world　always　talks　in　these　cases。　　I　wanted　to　be　able　to　prove　to　them　all　that　you　married　me　for　myself。　　Not　because　I　was　Lord　Bantock。　　Can　you　forgive　me？
  FANNY　＇she　still　seems　in　a　dream＇。　　Yesof　course。　　You　didn'tyou　wouldn't＇She　suddenly　springs　up。＇　　Vernon；　you　do　love　me？　　＇She　flings　her　arms　round　his　neck。＇
  VERNON。　　Dear！
  FANNY。　　You　will　never　be　ashamed　of　me？
  VERNON。　　Dearest！
  FANNY。　　I　was　only　a　music…hall　singer。　　There's　no　getting　over　it；　you　know。
  VERNON。　　I　should　have　loved　you　had　you　been　a　beggar…maid。
  FANNY　＇she　still　clings　to　him＇。　　With　an　uncle　a　costermonger；　and　an　aunt　who　sold　matches。　　It　wouldn't　have　made　any　difference　to　you；　would　it？　　You　didn't　marry　me　for　my　family；　did　you？　　You　didn't；　did　you？
  VERNON。　　Darling！　　I　married　you　because　you　are　the　most　fascinating；　the　most　lovable；　the　most　wonderful　little　woman　in　the　world。　　＇Fanny　gives　a　sob。＇　　As　for　your　familyI've　got　a　confession　to　make　to　you；　dear。　　I　made　inquiries　about　your　family　before　I　proposed　to　you。　　Not　for　my　own　sakebecause　I　knew　I'd　have　to　answer　a　lot　of　stupid　questions。　　It　seemed　to　me　quite　a　good　family。
  FANNY。　　It　is！　　Oh；　it　is！　　There　never　was　such　a　respectable　family。　　That's　why　I　never　could　get　on　with　them。
  VERNON　＇laughing＇。　　Well；　you　haven't　got　toany　more。　　We　needn't　even　let　them　know　…
  Bennet　returns。
  BENNET。　　Robert　I　find　has　returned。　　It　is　ten　minutes　to　seven。
  VERNON。　　Thanks。　　Well；　I　shall　be　glad　of　a　bath。　　＇He　turns　to　Fanny。＇　　Bennet　will　send　your　maid　to　you。　　＇He　whispers　to　her。＇　You'll　soon　get　used　to　it　all。　　As　for　the　confounded　familywe　will　forget　all　about　them。　　＇Fanny　answers　with　another　little　stifled　sob。　　Bennet　is　drawing　the　curtains；　his　back　to　the　room。　Vernon；　seeing　that　Bennet　is　occupied；　kisses　the　unresponsive　Fanny　and　goes　out。＇
  At　the　sound　of　the　closing　of　the　door；　Fanny　looks　up。　　She　goes　to　the　door　through　which　Vernon　has　just　passed；　listens　a　moment；　then　returns。　　Bennet　calmly　finishes　the　drawing　of　the　curtains。　　Then　he；　too；　crosses　slowly　till　he　and　Fanny　are　facing　one　another　across　the　centre　of　the　room。
  FANNY。　　Well；　what　are　you　going　to　do？
  BENNET。　　My　duty！
  FANNY。　　What's　that？　　Something　unpleasant；　I　know。　　I　can　bet　my　bottom　dollar。
  BENNET。　　That；　my　girl；　will　depend　upon　you。
  FANNY。　　How　upon　me？
  BENNET。　　Whether　you　prove　an　easy　or　a　difficult　subject。