Lady Ella. I must get the Vet. to Edward. [To the Squire] Tommy, do exert yourself!
[Maud re-enters.]
The Squire. All right! [Exerting himself] Here’s a bell!
Her voice. [Through the door] The bleeding’s stopped. Shall I send him in to you?
Lady Ella. Oh, please! Poor darling!
[They listen.]
[Lady Ella, prepares to receive Edward. The Squire and Rector stand transfixed. The door opens, and a bare arm gently pushes Edward forth. He is bandaged with a smooth towel. There is a snuffle—Hannibal has broken the scarf, outside.]
Lady Ella. [Aghast] Look! Hannibal’s loose! Maud—Tommy. [To the Rector] You!
[The three rush to prevent Hannibal from re-entering.]
Lady Ella. [To Edward] Yes, I know—you’d like to! You shall bite him when it’s safe. Oh! my darling, you do——[She sniffs].
[Maud and the Squire re-enter.]
Have you tied him properly this time?
Maud. With Bertie’s braces.
Lady Ella. Oh! but——
Maud. It’s all right; they’re almost leather.
[The Rector re-enters, with a slight look of insecurity.]
Lady Ella. Rector, are you sure it’s safe?
The Rector. [Hitching at his trousers] No, indeed, lady Ella—I——
Lady Ella. Tommy, do lend a hand!
The Squire. All right, Ella; all right! He doesn’t mean what you mean!
Lady Ella. [Transferring Edward to
the Squire] Hold him, Tommy.
He’s sure to smell out Hannibal!
The Squire. [Taking Edward by the collar, and holding his own nose] Jove! Clever if he can smell anything but himself. Phew! She ought to have the Victoria Cross for goin’ in that pond.
[The door opens, and
herself appears; a fine, frank, handsome
woman, in a man’s
orange-coloured motor-coat, hastily thrown on
over the substrata of
costume.]
She. So very sorry—had to have a bath, and change, of course!
Lady Ella. We’re so awfully grateful to you. It was splendid.
Maud. Quite.
The Rector. [Rather holding himself together] Heroic! I was just myself about to——
The Squire. [Restraining Edward] Little beast will fight—must apologise—you were too quick for me——
[He looks up at her.
She is smiling, and regarding the wounded
dog, her head benevolently
on one side.]