MRS WARREN.  Oh, you never can see why not:  youre too innocent.  Mr Frank:  did she say anything to you?

FRANK [folding his note] She must see you, if [very expressively] you wait til she comes in.

MRS WARREN [frightened] Why shouldn’t I wait?

[Frank looks quizzically at her; puts his note carefully on the ink-bottle, so that Vivie cannot fail to find it when next she dips her pen; then rises and devotes his attention entirely to her.]

FRANK.  My dear Mrs Warren:  suppose you were a sparrow—­ever so tiny and pretty a sparrow hopping in the roadway—­and you saw a steam roller coming in your direction, would you wait for it?

MRS WARREN.  Oh, don’t bother me with your sparrows.  What did she run away from Haslemere like that for?

FRANK.  I’m afraid she’ll tell you if you rashly await her return.

MRS WARREN.  Do you want me to go away?

FRANK.  No:  I always want you to stay.  But I advise you to go away.

MRS WARREN.  What!  And never see her again!

FRANK.  Precisely.

MRS WARREN [crying again] Praddy:  don’t let him be cruel to me. [She hastily checks her tears and wipes her eyes].  She’ll be so angry if she sees I’ve been crying.

FRANK [with a touch of real compassion in his airy tenderness] You know that Praddy is the soul of kindness, Mrs Warren.  Praddy:  what do you say?  Go or stay?

PRAED [to Mrs Warren] I really should be very sorry to cause you unnecessary pain; but I think perhaps you had better not wait.  The fact is—­[Vivie is heard at the inner door].

FRANK.  Sh!  Too late.  She’s coming.

MRS WARREN.  Don’t tell her I was crying. [Vivie comes in.  She stops gravely on seeing Mrs Warren, who greets her with hysterical cheerfulness].  Well, dearie.  So here you are at last.

VIVIE.  I am glad you have come:  I want to speak to you.  You said you were going, Frank, I think.

FRANK.  Yes.  Will you come with me, Mrs Warren?  What do you say to a trip to Richmond, and the theatre in the evening?  There is safety in Richmond.  No steam roller there.

VIVIE.  Nonsense, Frank.  My mother will stay here.

MRS WARREN [scared] I don’t know:  perhaps I’d better go.  We’re disturbing you at your work.

VIVIE [with quiet decision] Mr Praed:  please take Frank away.  Sit down, mother. [Mrs Warren obeys helplessly].

PRAED. Come, Frank.  Goodbye, Miss Vivie.

VIVIE [shaking hands] Goodbye.  A pleasant trip.

PRAED. Thank you:  thank you.  I hope so.

FRANK [to Mrs Warren] Goodbye:  youd ever so much better have taken my advice. [He shakes hands with her.  Then airily to Vivie] Byebye, Viv.

VIVIE.  Goodbye. [He goes out gaily without shaking hands with her].

PRAED [sadly] Goodbye, Kitty.

MRS WARREN [snivelling]—­oobye!

[Praed goes.  Vivie, composed and extremely grave, sits down in Honoria’s chair, and waits for her mother to speak.  Mrs Warren, dreading a pause, loses no time in beginning.]