Mrs. H. Ah! make sure quite of her, Dawker.  Any mistake would be fatal.

Dawker. [Nodding] That’s right, ma’am.  Lot of peopled—­always spare time to watch an auction—­ever remark that?  The Duke’s agent’s here; shouldn’t be surprised if he chipped in.

Mrs. H. Where did you leave my husband?

Dawker.  With Miss Jill, in the courtyard.  He’s coming to you.  In case I miss him; tell him when I reach his limit to blow his nose if he wants me to go on; when he blows it a second time, I’ll stop for good.  Hope we shan’t get to that.  Old Hornblower doesn’t throw his money away.

Mrs. H. What limit did you settle?

Dawker.  Six thousand!

Mrs. H. That’s a fearful price.  Well, good luck to you, Dawker!

Dawker.  Good luck, ma’am.  I’ll go and see to that little matter of
Mrs. Chloe.  Never fear, we’ll do them is somehow.

     [He winks, lays his finger on the side of his nose, and goes
     out at the door.]

[Mrs. Hillcrist mounts the two steps, sits down Right of the door, and puts up a pair of long-handled glasses.  Through the door behind her come Chloe and Rolf.  She makes a sign for him to go, and shuts the door.]

Chloe. [At the foot of the steps in the gangway—­with a slightly common accent] Mrs. Hillcrist!

Mrs. H. [Not quite starting] I beg your pardon?

Chloe. [Again] Mrs. Hillcrist——­

Mrs. H. Well?

Chloe.  I never did you any harm.

Mrs. H. Did I ever say you did?

Chloe.  No; but you act as if I had.

Mrs. H. I’m not aware that I’ve acted at all—­as yet.  You are nothing to me, except as one of your family.

Chloe.  ’Tisn’t I that wants to spoil your home.

Mrs. H. Stop them then.  I see your husband down there with his father.

Chloe.  I—­I have tried.

Mrs. H. [Looking at her] Oh!  I suppose such men don’t pay attention to what women ask them.

Chloe. [With a flash of spirit] I’m fond of my husband.  I——­

Mrs. H. [Looking at her steadily] I don’t quite know why you spoke to me.

Chloe. [With a sort of pathetic sullenness] I only thought perhaps you’d like to treat me as a human being.

Mrs. H. Really, if you don’t mind, I should like to be left alone just now.

Chloe. [Unhappily acquiescent] Certainly!  I’ll go to the other end.

     [She moves to the Left, mounts the steps and sits down.]

     [Rolf, looking in through the door, and seeing where she is,
     joins her.  Mrs. Hillcrist resettles herself a little further
     in on the Right.]