--George.-- I wish I could think so. (_Sighs._) But I have yet to approach her, and she may be another"s. (_Fiercely._) Heavens, Henry, if she should be another"s!
_Enter_ Isobel.
--Isobel-- (_brightly_). So I"ve run you to earth at last. Now what have you got to say for yourselves?
--Henry-- (_like a man_). By Jove! (_Looking at his watch._) I had no idea--is it really--poor old Joe--waiting----
(_Dashes out tactfully in a state of incoherence._)
--George-- (_rising and leading_ Isobel _to the front of the stage_).
Miss Barley, now that we are alone I have something I want to say to you.
--Isobel-- (_looking at her watch_). Well, you must be quick. Because I"m engaged.
(_George drops her hand and staggers away from her._)
--Isobel.-- Why, what"s the matter?
--George-- (_to the audience, in a voice expressing the very deeps of emotion_). Engaged! She is engaged! I am too late!
(_He sinks into a chair, and covers his face with his hands._)
--Isobel-- (_surprised_). Mr. Turnbull! What has happened?
--George-- (_waving her away with one hand_). Go! Leave me! I can bear this best alone. (_Exit Isobel._) Merciful heavens, she is plighted to another.
_Enter_ Henry.
--Henry-- (_eagerly_). Well, old man?
--George-- (_raising a face white with misery--that is to say, if he has remembered to put the French chalk in the palms of his hands_).
Henry, I am too late! She is another"s!
--Henry-- (_in surprise_). Whose?
--George-- (_with dignity_). I did not ask her. It is nothing to me.
Good-bye, Henry. Be kind to her.
--Henry.-- Why, where are you going?
--George-- (_firmly_). To the Rocky Mountains. I shall shoot some bears.
Grizzly ones. It may be that thus I shall forget my grief.
--Henry-- (_after a pause_). Perhaps you are right, George. What shall I tell--her?
--George.-- Tell her--nothing. But should anything (_feeling casually in his pockets_) happen to me--if (_going over them again quickly_) I do not come back, then (_searching them all, including the waist coat ones, in desperate haste_) give her, give her, give her (_triumphantly bringing his handkerchief out of the last pocket_) this, and say that my last thought was of her.
Good-bye, my old friend. Good-bye.
(_Exit to Rocky Mountains._)
_Enter_ Isobel.
--Isobel.-- Why, where"s Mr. Turnbull?
--Henry-- (_sadly_). He"s gone.
--Isobel.-- Gone? Where?
--Henry.-- To the Rocky Mountains. To shoot bears. (_Feeling that some further explanation is needed._) Grizzly ones.
--Isobel.-- But he was _here_ a moment ago.
--Henry.-- Yes, he"s only _just_ gone.
--Isobel.-- Why didn"t he say good-bye? (_Eagerly._) But perhaps he left a message for me? (_Henry shakes his head._) Nothing? (_Henry bows silently and leaves the room._) Oh! (_She gives a cry and throws herself on the sofa._) And I loved him! George, George, why didn"t you speak?
_Enter_ George _hurriedly. He is fully dressed for a shooting expedition in the Rocky Mountains, and carries a rifle under his arm._
--George-- (_to the audience_). I have just come back for my pocket-handkerchief. I must have dropped it in here somewhere.
(_He begins to search for it, and in the ordinary course of things comes upon_ Isobel _on the sofa. He puts his rifle down carefully on a table, with the muzzle pointing at the prompter rather than at the audience, and staggers back._) Merciful heavens! Isobel! Dead! (_He falls on his knees beside the sofa._) My love, speak to me!
--Isobel-- (_softly_). George!
--George.-- She is alive! Isobel!
--Isobel.-- Don"t go, George!
--George.-- My dear, I love you! But when I heard that you were another"s, honour compelled me----
--Isobel-- (_sitting up quickly_). What do you mean by another"s?
--George.-- You said you were engaged!
--Isobel-- (_suddenly realising how the dreadful misunderstanding arose which nearly wrecked two lives_). But I only meant I was engaged to play tennis with Lady Carbrook!
--George.-- What a fool I have been! (_He hurries on before the audience can a.s.sent._) Then, Isobel, you _will_ be mine?
--Isobel.-- Yes, George. And you won"t go and shoot nasty bears, will you, dear? Not even grizzly ones?
--George-- (_taking her in his arms_). Never, darling. That was only (_turning to the audience with the air of one who is making his best point_) --A slight misunderstanding.--
CURTAIN.
XLII. "MISS PRENDERGAST"