LADY OWBRIDGE.

[Waking.] Eh—? [Seeing MURIEL and QUEX.] Ah, my dears—!  I am reading such an absorbing book.

MURIEL.

[By her side, taking the book.] May I—?

LADY OWBRIDGE.

You should study the Dean of St. Olpherts’ sermons—­and you, Henry.

QUEX.

[Taking the book from MURIEL and turning its pages.] Yes, I must—­I must—­

LADY OWBRIDGE.

By the way, has anything been seen of that nice young manicure girl,
Miss Sophy—­something—?

MURIEL.

Sophy Fullgarney—­she arrived at about half-past four, and I asked Mrs.
Gregory to show her over the house.  I thought you would not object.

LADY OWBRIDGE.

Object! it pleases me.

MURIEL.

She is roving about the grounds now.

LADY OWBRIDGE.

An exceedingly prepossessing young woman, of her class.

[The SERVANTS have gone up the steps, carrying the tea-things.

THE ELDER SERVANT.

[Looking down the alley towards the left.] I see the young person, my lady.

LADY OWBRIDGE.

I’ll speak to her, Bristow.

[The ELDER SERVANT goes off towards the left; the younger one, bearing the tray, to the right.  The DUCHESS and MRS. EDEN return, above the low cypress-hedge; QUEX meets them.

MURIEL.

I would not have left her, but the young man she is engaged to brought her down, and I took it upon myself to give him permission to remain.

LADY OWBRIDGE.

Oh, is Miss Fullgarney engaged?

MURIEL.

To Mr. Valma, the palmist.

MRS. EDEN.

[Approaching.] Valma, the palmist!

LADY OWBRIDGE.

What is a palmist, pray?

MURIEL.

He reads your past and your future in the lines of your hands.  It’s his profession, dear Lady Owbridge.

MRS. EDEN.

Oh, do let us have him into the drawing-room after dinner!  I hear he is simply charming.

LADY OWBRIDGE.

Charming! [Rising.] What are our ladies coming to!  Dear, dear me! in my day such follies and superstitions were entirely restricted to the kitchen.

[MURIEL joins the DUCHESS.  QUEX is dutifully looking into the book of sermons.  The servant returns, followed by SOPHY, and then retires; SOPHY comes forward, beamingly.  She is prettily dressed, but in sober colours.

SOPHY.

[To LADY OWBRIDGE.] Here I am, my lady.  I’m having such a good time!

LADY OWBRIDGE.

That’s right.

SOPHY.

Oh, this garden! they may well call it heavenly.

LADY OWBRIDGE.

They ought not to call it that, my dear.  But it is indeed full of earthly solace.