SOPHY.

[Producing them.] I found them after you’d gone.

[MURIEL takes the piece of paper and tears it into small pieces. SOPHY offers her the jeweller’s case.

MURIEL.

[Haughtily.] Take that back to Gressier’s this afternoon, please, and tell them I’ve changed my mind.  Say I’ll have a little silver collar for my dog, in its place.

[She sinks into the screen-chair, with her eyes closed.  Slipping the case into her pocket, SOPHY tip-toes up to the door in the partition; she opens it and beckons to QUEX, who appears with FRAYNE.

SOPHY.

[To QUEX, in a whisper.] Phsst!  It’s all nicely settled.  She’s said good-bye to him for good.  What a fuss you made about nothing!

[She points to the screen-chair; he approaches MURIEL.  SOPHY and FRAYNE talk together.

QUEX.

[Softly.] Muriel—­

MURIEL.

[Opening her eyes, startled.] Quex!

QUEX.

[Brightly.] I came up to town this morning with Sir Chichester.  We’ve just met aunt Julia, and the rest of ’em, in Sackville Street.  Mrs. Jack clamours for lunch at Prince’s.  What do you say?

MURIEL.

[Passing her hand across her eyes.] Thanks.  It’ll be jolly.

QUEX.

[Gaily.] Ah!

MURIEL.

[Laying her hand upon his sleeve.] Quex—­

QUEX.

Eh?

MURIEL.

[Rising, and speaking in a low, appealing voice.] Give me your word you have been loyal to me, down to your very thought, since our engagement.

QUEX.

[Earnestly.] Muriel, I—­

MURIEL.

Hush! [Giving him her hand.] I believe you. [The door-gong sounds.] And, look here!  I haven’t been quite fair, or generous, to you, I am afraid.  But I am going to be different—­

QUEX.

After to-day!

MURIEL.

From this moment.  Harry—­

QUEX.

Hey?

MURIEL.

I won’t keep you till the end of the year.  Marry me, and have done with it, directly the Season is over, and take me away.

QUEX.

[Bending over her hand.] Good heavens—! [MISS LIMBIRD holds the portiere aside and admits LADY OWBRIDGE, the DUCHESS OF STROOD, and MRS. EDEN.  MISS LIMBIRD then returns to her desk. QUEX goes to LADY OWBRIDGE, takes her arm, and leads her forward.] Aunt Julia! aunt! my dear aunt Julia!

[The DUCHESS joins FRAYNE.  MRS. EDEN comes to MURIEL and receives the news of the hastened marriage. SOPHY moves away to the window.

QUEX.

[Excitedly, to LADY OWBRIDGE.] Oh, my dear aunt!

LADY OWBRIDGE.