HARRY.  Walter—­

WALTER.  I go, Harry.  Rose!

ROSE. [Aside, with a sudden thought.] Go!  Say nothing.

WALTER.  Come, sir. [To HARRY.

ROSE_ assumes an air of cool indifference, and flings herself carelessly in a chair._ MAJOR CLEVELAND appears astonished.  MR. ELSWORTH and the others look surprised and incredulous.

PICTURE TO CLOSE OF ACT.

ACT II.

SCENE.—­A Garden.—­House in the background, illuminated.

Enter ROSE and MAJOR CLEVELAND from house, ROSE hanging on the MAJOR’S arm.

ROSE.  It was really absurd—­was it not?—­to think me the champion of that country clown.  Poor fellow!  I couldn’t bear his discomfited looks, Major, and so, out of old companionship, what could I do less than stand up for him?  There won’t be anything positively serious, will there, eh?  I should be sorry to have it so, inasmuch as he fell into the trap under my father’s roof.  But don’t you think I made a good champion?  It was really presumptuous for the fellow to come here, though.  These rustic clowns thrust themselves everywhere.

CLEVELAND.  What, Miss Elsworth, Captain Armstrong, then, is nothing—­

ROSE.  Nothing in the world, I assure you, but a harmless country lad! 
Do tell me, Major, am I not a good actor?

CLEVELAND.  Excellent.  I really could have supposed that this American stood high in your esteem.

ROSE.  Oh, I like him well enough.  He is among the best the country affords, but that is very bad, you know.

CLEVELAND.  Then you bear me no malice?

ROSE.  Not enough to kill a gnat.

CLEVELAND.  Ah, Miss Elsworth, this assurance gives me the greatest pleasure.

ROSE.  Don’t hurt the poor fellow though, Major, I beg of you.  I should be quite sorry if anything happened to him.  He is a good-natured, useful neighbour enough—­an unpolished jewel, papa calls him.  Ah, Major, our social wants in this community are lamentable enough, when we are obliged to content ourselves with such a poor substitute as you have seen, for all the polish and manner of London circles.

CLEVELAND.  Lamentable, indeed, Miss Elsworth!

ROSE.  The war brings one boon, at least,—­the society of gentlemen.

CLEVELAND.  Very true, indeed.

ROSE. [Aside.] Hem!  Major Cleveland, I’ll so wheedle you this night you shall cry enough to a woman, even if it so happen that you have never done it to a man.  So look to it, my valiant Major!  Look to it!

CLEVELAND.  Do you know, dear Miss Elsworth, that I could wish to see you in these troubled times united to some one who could afford you the protection which only a husband can extend?

ROSE. [Behind her fan.] Oh, Major!

CLEVELAND. [Taking her hand.] I cannot be mistaken in the surmise that you love already.