FANNY。　　How　upon　me？
  BENNET。　　Whether　you　prove　an　easy　or　a　difficult　subject。　　To　fit　you　for　your　position；　a　certain　amount　of　training　will；　I　fancy；　be　necessary。
  FANNY。　　Training！　　I'm　to　be＇She　draws　herself　up。＇　　Are　you　aware　who　I　am？
  BENNET。　　Oh　yes。　　AND　who　you　were。　　His　lordship；　I　take　it；　would　hardly　relish　the　discovery　that　he　had　married　his　butler's　niece。　He　might　consider　the　situation　awkward。
  FANNY。　　And　who's　going　to　train　me？
  BENNET。　　I　am。　　With　the　assistance　of　your　aunt　and　such　other　members　of　your　family　as　I　consider　can　be　trusted。
  FANNY　＇for　a　moment　she　is　speechless；　then　she　bursts　out＇。　　That　ends　it！　　I　shall　tell　him！　　I　shall　tell　him　this　very　moment。　　＇She　sweeps　towards　the　door。＇
  BENNET。　　At　this　moment　you　will　most　likely　find　his　lordship　in　his　bath。
  FANNY。　　I　don't　care！　　Do　you　thinkdo　you　think　for　a　moment　that　I'm　going　to　allow　myselfI；　Lady　Bantock；　to　be＇Her　hand　upon　the　door。＇　　I　shall　tell　him；　and　you'll　only　have　yourself　to　blame。　　He　loves　me。　　He　loves　me　for　myself。　　I　shall　tell　him　the　whole　truth；　and　ask　him　to　give　you　all　the　sack。
  BENNET。　　You're　not　forgetting　that　you've　already　told　him　ONCE　who　you　were？
  ＇It　stops　her。　　What　she　really　did　was　to　leave　the　marriage　arrangements　in　the　hands　of　her　business　manager；　George　P。　Newte。　As　agent　for　a　music…hall　star；　he　is　ideal；　but　it　is　possible　that　in　answering　Lord　Bantock's　inquiries　concerning　Fanny's　antecedents　he　may　not　have　kept　strictly　to　the　truth。＇
  FANNY。　　I　never　did。　　I've　never　told　him　anything　about　my　family。
  BENNET。　　Curious。　　I　was　given　to　understand　it　was　rather　a　classy　affair。
  FANNY。　　I　can't　help　what　other　people　may　have　done。　　Because　some　silly　idiot　of　a　man　may　possibly＇She　will　try　a　new　tack。　　She　leaves　the　door　and　comes　to　him。＇　　Uncle；　dear；　wouldn't　it　be　simpler　for　you　all　to　go　away？　　He's　awfully　fond　of　me。　　He'll　do　anything　I　ask　him。　　I　could　merely　say　that　I　didn't　like　you　and　get　him　to　pension　you　off。　　You　and　aunt　could　have　a　little　roadside　inn　somewherewith　ivy。
  BENNET。　　Seeing　that　together　with　the　stables　and　the　garden　there　are　twenty…three　of　us　…
  FANNY。　　No；　of　course；　he　couldn't　pension　you　all。　　You　couldn't　expect　…
  BENNET。　　I　think　his　lordship　might　prefer　to　leave　things　as　they　are。　　Good　servants　nowadays　are　not　so　easily　replaced。　　And　neither　your　aunt　nor　I　are　at　an　age　when　change　appeals　to　one。
  FANNY。　　You　see；　it's　almost　bound　to　creep　out　sooner　or　later；　and　then　…
  BENNET。　　We　will　make　it　as　late　as　possible　＇He　crosses　and　rings　the　bell＇；　giving　you　time　to　prove　to　his　lordship　that　you　are　not　incapable　of　learning。
  FANNY　＇she　drops　back　on　the　settee。　　She　is　half…crying。＇　　Some　people　would　be　pleased　that　their　niece　had　married　well。
  BENNET。　　I　am　old…fashioned　enough　to　think　also　of　my　duty　to　those　I　serve。　　If　his　lordship　has　done　me　the　honour　to　marry　my　niece；　the　least　I　can　is　to　see　to　it　that　she　brings　no　discredit　to　his　name。　　＇Mrs。　Bennet；　followed　by　Jane　Bennet；　a　severe…looking　woman　of　middle　age；　has　entered　upon　the　words　〃the　least　I　can　do。〃　Bennet　stays　them　a　moment　with　his　hand　while　he　finishes。　　Then　he　turns　to　his　wife。＇　　You　will　be　interested　to　find；　Susannah；　that　the　new　Lady　Bantock　is　not　a　stranger。
  MRS。　BENNET。　　Not　a　stranger！　　＇She　has　reached　a　position　from　where　she　sees　the　girl。＇　　Fanny！　　You　wicked　girl！　　Where　have　you　been　all　these　years？
  BENNET　＇interposing＇。　　There　will　be　other　opportunities　for　the　discussion　of　family　differences。　　Just　now；　her　ladyship　is　waiting　to　dress　for　dinner。
  MRS。　BENNET　＇sneering＇。　　Her　ladyship！
  JANE　＇also　sneering＇。　　I　think　she　might　have　forewarned　us　of　the　honour　in　store　for　us。
  MRS。　BENNET。　　Yes；　why　didn't　she　write？
  FANNY。　　Because　I　didn't　know。　　Do　you　think＇she　rises＇that　if　I　had　I　would　ever　have　married　himto　be　brought　back　here　and　put　in　this　ridiculous　position？　　Do　you　think　that　I　am　so　fond　of　you　all　that　I　couldn't　keep　away　from　you；　at　any　price？
  MRS。　BENNET。　　But　you　must　have　known　that　Lord　Bantock　…
  FANNY。　　I　didn't　know　he　was　Lord　Bantock。　　I　only　knew　him　as　Mr。　Wetherell；　an　artist。　　He　wanted　to　feel　sure　that　I　was　marrying　him　for　himself　alone。　　He　never　told　me＇Ernest　Bennet；　a　very　young　footman；　has　entered　in　answer　to　Bennet's　ring　of　a　minute　ago。　　He　has　come　forward　step　by　step；　staring　all　the　while　open…mouthed　at　Fanny。　　Turning；　she　sees　him　beside　her。＇　　Hulloa；　Ernie。　　How　are　the　rabbits？　　＇She　kisses　him。＇
  BENNET。　　Don't　stand　there　gaping。　　I　rang　for　some　wood。　　Tell　your　brother　dinner　will　be　at　a　quarter　to　eight。
  Ernest；　never　speaking；　still　staring　at　Fanny；　gets　clumsily　out　again。
  FANNY。　　Well；　I　suppose　I'd　better　see　about　dressing？　　Do　I　dine　with　his　lordship　or　in　the　servants'　hall？
  MRS。　BENNET　＇turns　to　her　husband＇。　　You　see！　　Still　the　old　impertinence。
  FANNY。　　Only　wanted　to　know。　　My　only　desire　is　to　give　satisfaction。
  BENNET　＇he　moves　towards　the　door＇。　　You　will　do　it　by　treating　the　matter　more　seriously。　　At　dinner；　by　keeping　your　eye　upon　me；　you　will　be　able　to　tell　whether　you　are　behaving　yourself　or　not。
  MRS。　BENNET。　　And　mind　you　are　punctual。　　I　have　appointed　Jane　to　be　your　maid。
  FANNY。　　Jane！
  MRS。　BENNET　＇in　arms＇。　　Have　you　any　objections？
  FANNY。　　No；　oh　no；　so　long　as　you're　all　satisfied。
  MRS。　BENNET。　　Remember；　you　are　no　longer　on　the　music…hall　stage。　In　dressing　for　Bantock　Hall　you　will　do　well　to　follow　her　advice。
  Bennet；　who　has　been　waiting　with　the　door　in　his　hand；　goes　out；　Mrs。　Bennet　follows。
  JANE　＇in　the　tones　of　a　patient　executioner＇。　　Are　you　ready？
  FANNY。　　Quite　ready；　dear。　　Of　courseI　don't　know　what　you　will　think　of　thembut　I've　only　brought　modern　costumes　with　me。
  JANE　＇not　a　lady　who　understands　satire＇。　　We　must　do　the　best　we　can。　　＇She　marches　outinto　the　dressing…room。＇
  Fanny；　after　following　a　few　steps；　stops　and　thinks。　　Ernest　has　entered　with　the　wood。　　He　is　piling　it　in　the　basket　by　the　fire。　His　entrance　decides　her。　　She　glances　through　the　open　door　of　the　dressing…room；　then　flies　across　to　the　desk；　seats　herself；　and　begins　feverishly　to　write　a　telegram。
  FANNY。　　Ernie！　　＇He　comes　across　to　her。＇　　Have　you　still　got　your　bicycle？
  ERNEST。　　Yes。
  FANNY。　　Could　you　get　this　telegram　off　for　me　before　eight　o'clock？　I　don't　want　it　sent　from　the　village；　I　want　you　to　take　it　YOURSELFinto　the　town。　　There's　a　sovereign　for　you　if　you　do　it　all　right。
  ERNEST。　　I'll　do　it。　　Can　only　get　into　a　row。
  FANNY。　　Pretty　used　to　them；　ain't　you？　　＇She　has　risen。　　She　gives　him　the　telegram。　　She　has　stamped　it。＇　　Can　you　read　it？
  ERNEST。　　〃George　P。　Newte。〃
  FANNY。　　Hush！
  They　both　glance　at　the　open　door。
  ERNEST　＇he　continues　in　a　lower　voice＇。　　〃72A；　Waterloo　Bridge　Road；　London。　　Must　see　you　at　once。　　Am　at　the　new　shop。〃　　＇He　looks　up。＇
  FANNY。　　That's　all　right。
  ERNEST。　　〃Come　down。　　Q。T。　　Fanny。〃
  FANNY　＇nods＇。　　Get　off　quietly。　　I'll　see　you　again　…
  THE　VOICE　OF　JANE　＇from　the　dressing…room＇。　　Are　you　going　to　keep　me　waiting　all　night？
  ＇They　start。　　Ernest　hastily　thrusts　the　telegram　into　his　breast…　pocket。＇
  FANNY。　　Coming；　dear；　coming。　　＇To　Ernest＇　　Not　a　word　to　anyone！　＇She　hurries　him　out　and　closes　door　behind　him。＇　　Merely　been　putting　the　room　a　bit　tidy。　　＇She　is　flying　round　collecting　her　outdoor　garments。＇　　Thought　it　would　please　you。　　So　sorry　if　I've　kept　you　waiting。　　＇Jane　has　appeared　at　door。＇　　After　you；　dear。
  Jane　goes　out　again。　　Fanny；　with　her　pile　of　luggage；　follows。
  ＇CURTAIN＇
  ACT　II
  SCENE
  The　same。
  Time。The　next　morning。
  The　door　opens。　　Dr。　Freemantle　enters；　shown　in　by　Bennet；　who　follows　him。
  DR。　FREEMANTLE　＇talking　as　he　enters＇。　　Wonderful！　　Wonderful！　　I　don't　really　think　I　ever　remember　so　fine　a　spring。
  BENNET　＇he　is　making　up　the　fire＇。　　I'm　afraid　we　shall　have　to　pay　for　it　later　on。
  DR。　FREEMANTLE。　　I　expect　so。　　Law　of　the　universe；　you　know；　Bennet…　…law　of　the　universe。　　Everything　in　this　world　has　got　to　be　paid　for。
  BENNET。　　Except　trouble。　　＇The　doctor　laughs。＇　　The　Times？　　＇He　hands　it　to　him。＇
  DR。　FREEMANTLE。　　Thanks。　　Thanks。　　＇Seats　himself。＇　　Won't　be　long　his　lordship；　will　he？
  BENNET。　　I　don't　think　so。　　I　told　him　you　would　be　here　about　eleven。
  DR。　FREEMANTLE。　　Umwhat　do　you　think　of　her？
  BENNET。　　Ofof　her　ladyship？
  DR。　FREEMANTLE。　　What's　she　like？
  BENNET。　　＇They　have　sunk　their　voices。＇　　Well；　it　might　have　been　worse。
  DR。　FREEMANTLE。　　Ah！　　There's　always　that　consolation；　isn't　there？
  BENNET。　　I　think　her　ladyshipwith　MANAGEMENTmay　turn　out　very　satisfactory。
  DR。　FREEMANTLE。　　You　like　her？
  BENNET。　　At　present；　I　must　say　for　her；　she　appears　willing　to　be　taught。
  DR。　FREEMANTLE。　　And　you　think　it　will　last？
  BENNET。　　I　think　her　ladyship　appreciates　the　peculiarity　of　her　position。　　I　will　tell　the　Miss　Wetherells　you　are　here。
  DR。　FREEMANTLE。　　Ah；　thanks！
  BENNET。　　I　fancy　her　ladyship　will　not　herself　be　visible　much　before　lunch　time。　　I　understand　she　woke　this　morning　with　a　headac