Hotchkiss.  I’m to come on liking for the month?

Mrs George.  On condition that you drop Mrs Reginald.

Hotchkiss.  But she wont drop me.  Do you suppose I ever wanted to marry her?  I was a homeless bachelor; and I felt quite happy at their house as their friend.  Leo was an amusing little devil; but I liked Reginald much more than I liked her.  She didnt understand.  One day she came to me and told me that the inevitable bad happened.  I had tact enough not to ask her what the inevitable was; and I gathered presently that she had told Reginald that their marriage was a mistake and that she loved me and could no longer see me breaking my heart for her in suffering silence.  What could I say?  What could I do?  What can I say now?  What can I do now?

Mrs George.  Tell her that the habit of falling in love with other men’s wives is growing on you; and that I’m your latest.

Hotchkiss.  What!  Throw her over when she has thrown Reginald over for me!

Mrs George [rising] You wont then?  Very well.  Sorry we shant meet again:  I should have liked to see more of you for George’s sake.  Good-bye [she moves away from him towards the hearth].

Hotchkiss [appealing] Zenobia—­

Mrs. George.  I thought I lead made a difficult conquest.  Now I see you are only one of those poor petticoat-hunting creatures that any woman can pick up.  Not for me, thank you. [Inexorable, she turns towards the tower to go].

Hotchkiss [following] Dont be an ass, Polly.

Mrs George [stopping] Thats better.

Hotchkiss.  Cant you see that I maynt throw Leo over just because
I should be only too glad to.  It would be dishonorable.

Mrs George.  Will you be happy if you marry her?

Hotchkiss.  No, great heaven, no!

Mrs George.  Will she be happy when she finds you out?

Hotchkiss.  She’s incapable of happiness.  But she’s not incapable of the pleasure of holding a man against his will.

Mrs George.  Right, young man.  You will tell her, please, that you love me:  before everybody, mind, the very next time you see her.

Hotchkiss.  But—­

Mrs George.  Those are my orders, Sinjon.  I cant have you marry another woman until George is tired of you.

Hotchkiss.  Oh, if I only didnt selfishly want to obey you!

The General comes in from the garden.  Mrs George goes half way to the garden door to speak to him.  Hotchkiss posts himself on the hearth.

Mrs George.  Where have you been all this time?

The general.  I’m afraid my nerves were a little upset by our conversation.  I just went into the garden and had a smoke.  I’m all right now [he strolls down to the study door and presently takes a chair at that end of the big table].