PHILIP. (_shows letter_) But here the letter is.
SIR G. How alike you women write! I could almost have sworn that envelope was in my niece"s hand.
LADY C. How could that be?
SIR G. Why not?
LADY C. Rose write to Philip, whom she doesn"t know!
SIR G. Not know?
LADY C. They never saw each other till to-night.
SIR G. You said Philip had told you----
PHILIP. All but that.
SIR G. You have not told my wife it"s Rose you are engaged to?
LADY C. Rose!
SIR G. You may well look surprised. It seems they met on board the "Kangaroo."
LADY C. He is engaged to Rose?
PHILIP. Yes.
LADY C. Then the guardian is----
SIR G. I. (_touches his breast, advances one step forward, and puts out his hand_) Give me the letter. (_LADY CARLYON and PHILIP both recoil one step--pause--they stand breathless, gazing at SIR GEORGE_) You hesitate.
PHILIP. Sir George, you must make some allowances. This letter is addressed to me, and I should not be justified in letting it go out of my possession.
SIR G. How, then, do you propose to satisfy me?
LADY C. Might he not read it?
SIR G. Thank you, my dear, for the suggestion. That will meet the difficulty.
PHILIP. Then, I will read it. (_reads nervously, the letter trembling in his hands_) "I hear you are going to be married. Good-bye, Philip.
You need not fear that I shall trouble you again; I have your happiness too much at heart; but if I should, this letter puts me at your mercy. Should the necessity arise, you have my leave to give it to whoever has the right to ask for it.--Yours, for the last time----"
SIR G. Stop. Is the letter signed?
PHILIP. In full.
SIR G. Now, give it me.
PHILIP. Sir George----
SIR G. The ground is cut from under you. You are expressly authorised to give that letter to whoever has the right to ask for it. _I_ have the right----
PHILIP. But you never will exercise it!
SIR G. Now. I have a reason.
PHILIP. Lady Carlyon!
SIR G. I accept the arbiter. Lady Carlyon, am I right or wrong?
LADY C. (_in a low voice and with an effort_) Right.
SIR G. The award"s against you.
LADY C. Give him the letter.
PHILIP. But----
SIR G. Sir, I demand it! (_PHILIP gives it him_) I want it for a very special purpose. (_folding the letter up into a spill, but never letting his eyes fall upon it_) The woman who wrote this will never trouble you. If she has done wrong, she has borne her punishment.
Therefore, in pity, let us hide her shame. (_lights spill at lamp, and holds it in his hand--all three stand watching it, until the ashes drop upon the floor, then turn aside, LADY CARLYON, R., PHILIP, L., SIR GEORGE to back of scene_)
_Re-enter ROSE, R., in a dressing-gown._
ROSE. You want me, aunt?
SIR G. _I_ want you, Rose. (_leads her to PHILIP_) Philip has asked for my consent to your engagement. I give it cordially. He is the son of a good father, and I think he will make you a good husband.
ROSE. Uncle George! (_embraces him--turns to PHILIP_) You haven"t kept our secret!
PHILIP. No, I couldn"t wait.
SIR G. (_crosses to LADY CARLYON_) Won"t you congratulate them?
(_stands, R., thoughtfully_)
LADY C. Yes. (_crosses to ROSE and PHILIP_)
ROSE. (_embracing her_) Aren"t you surprised, Aunt Bell?
LADY C. I was, when first I heard. I hope you will be very happy. You, too, Philip.
(_gives him her hand, then crosses to SIR GEORGE_)
ROSE. Why don"t you kiss her, Philip?
PHILIP. I"ll kiss you instead.
(_they sit aside, L., without noticing the others_)