MR. JOSEPH LEBANON.
[Outside.] Hi! Hi!
VALENTINE WHITE.
That fellow was born to hail an omnibus.
[IMOGEN appears.]
IMOGEN.
[Not seeing VALENTINE.] Will he be long? [She encounters him.] Oh! You are not neglecting your duties, I hope, Valentine?
VALENTINE WHITE.
I shall follow the others in the cart. Your note was marked "urgent."
IMOGEN.
Was it?
VALENTINE WHITE.
[Showing her letter.] "Urgent."
IMOGEN.
What a thoughtless habit it is to mark all one"s letters "urgent." All I wanted to say to you is this--but it isn"t urgent.
VALENTINE WHITE.
No, no--I understand that.
IMOGEN.
I merely had a foolish desire to be the first to acquaint you of my--undeserved happiness.
VALENTINE WHITE.
What happiness don"t you deserve?
IMOGEN.
The happiness of becoming Lady Colin Macphail, Valentine.
VALENTINE WHITE.
Oh. Is that--all?
IMOGEN.
That"s all--just at present.
VALENTINE WHITE.
Hah! You"ll be a fine lady now, past recovery.
IMOGEN.
I shall endeavour to adequately fill the station of life to which fate has called me.
VALENTINE WHITE.
All that sweet simplicity of yours in London was purely an a.s.sumption, I suppose?
IMOGEN.
Things are--what they appear.
VALENTINE WHITE.
But you have your heart"s desire at last, I presume?
IMOGEN.
I--I presume I have.
VALENTINE WHITE.
[Burying his head in his hands.] Oh!
IMOGEN.
What are you going to do next?
VALENTINE WHITE.
j.a.pan.
IMOGEN.
Nice part of j.a.pan?
VALENTINE WHITE.
The murderous districts.
IMOGEN.