She.  Poor dears!  They thought they were so safe in that nice pond!

Lady Ella.  Is he very badly torn?

She.  Rather nasty.  There ought to be a stitch or two put in his ear.

Lady Ella.  I thought so.  Tommy, do——­

The Squire.  All right.  Am I to let him go?

Lady Ella.  No.

Maud.  The fly’s outside.  Bertie, run and tell Jarvis to drive in for the Vet.

The Rector. [Gentle and embarrassed] Run?  Well, Maud—­I——­

She.  The doctor would sew it up.  My maid can go round.

     [Hannibal. appears at the open casement with the broken braces
     dangling from his collar.]

Lady Ella.  Look!  Catch him!  Rector!

Maud.  Bertie!  Catch him!

[The Rector seizes Hannibal, but is seen to be in difficulties with his garments.  Herself, who has gone out left, returns, with a leather strop in one hand and a pair of braces in the other.]

She.  Take this strop—­he can’t break that.  And would these be any good to you?

[She hands the braces to Maud and goes out on to the verandah and hastily away.  Maud, transferring the braces to the Rector, goes out, draws Hannibal from the casement window, and secures him with the strap.  The Rector sits suddenly with the braces in his hands.  There is a moment’s peace.]

Lady Ella.  Splendid, isn’t she?  I do admire her.

The Squire.  She’s all there.

The Rector. [Feelingly] Most kind.

     [He looks ruefully at the braces and at lady Ella.  A silence. 
     Maud reappears at the door and stands gazing at the braces.]

The Squire. [Suddenly] Eh?

Maud.  Yes.

The Squire. [Looking at his wife] Ah!

Lady Ella. [Absorbed in Edward] Poor darling!

The Squire. [Bluntly] Ella, the Rector wants to get up!

The Rector. [Gently] Perhaps—­just for a moment——­

Lady Ella.  Oh! [She turns to the wall.]

     [The Rector, screened by his wife, retires on to the verandah to
     adjust his garments.]

The Squire. [Meditating] So she’s married!

Lady Ella. [Absorbed in Edward] Why?

The Squire.  Braces.

Lady Ella.  Oh!  Yes.  We ought to ask them to dinner, Tommy.

The Squire.  Ah!  Yes.  Wonder who they are?

     [The Rector and Maud reappear.]