Oh, yes, there is. Speak to your sister-in-law. Ask her to have mercy on me. Perhaps she doesn"t know what she"s doing. Tell her I love him....
Take care. There"s Basil. If he knew what I"d said he"d never speak to me again.
[BASIL _comes in, dressed in a frock-coat; with a tall hat in his hand_.
BASIL.
I"m ready. We"ve just got time to catch the train.
JOHN.
All right. Good-bye, Mrs. Kent.
JENNY.
[_Keeping her eyes fixed on_ BASIL.] Good-bye.
[_The two men go out._ JENNY _runs to the door and calls out_.
JENNY.
Basil, I want you a moment, Basil!
[BASIL _appears at the door_.
JENNY.
Are you really going to Chancery Lane?
[BASIL _makes a movement of impatience and goes out again without answering_.
JENNY.
[_Alone._] Oh, well, I"m going to see that for myself. [_Calling to the_ MAID.] f.a.n.n.y!... Bring my hat and my jacket. Quick!
[_She runs to the window and looks out at_ BASIL _and_ JOHN _going away_. f.a.n.n.y _appears with the clothes_. JENNY _hurriedly puts them on_.
JENNY.
[_As_ f.a.n.n.y _is helping her_.] What time is it?
f.a.n.n.y.
[_Looking up at the clock._] Five minutes past four.
JENNY.
I think I can catch it. He said 4.15.
f.a.n.n.y.
Will you be in to tea, mum?
JENNY.
I don"t know. [_She runs to the door and rushes out._]
END OF THE SECOND ACT.
THE THIRD ACT
THE SAME AFTERNOON.
[_A luxuriously furnished drawing-room at_ MRS. MURRAY"S _house in Charles Street, Mayfair. Everything in it is beautiful, but suggests in the owner good taste rather than originality._]
[HILDA _is seated near a tea-table, elaborately gowned, and with her is_ MABEL. MR. ROBERT BRACKLEY _is sitting down, a stout, round-faced man, clean-shaven and very bald; about forty; he is attired in the height of fashion, in a frock-coat, patent-leather boots and an eye-gla.s.s. He talks very quickly, in a careless frivolous fashion, and is always much amused at what he says._]
MABEL.
What is the time, Mr. Brackley?
BRACKLEY.
I shan"t tell you again.
MABEL.
How brutal of you!
BRACKLEY.
There"s something unhealthy in your pa.s.sion for information. I"ve already told you five times.
HILDA.
It"s very unflattering to us who"ve been doing our little best to amuse you.
MABEL.
I can"t imagine what"s happened to John. He promised to fetch me here.
HILDA.
He"s sure to come if you"ll only wait patiently.