MRS. GAYl.u.s.tRE.
Of course; conceal nothing from your parent.
MACPHAIL.
And mother agrees with me----
MRS. GAYl.u.s.tRE.
Yes?
MACPHAIL.
That it would be just a risky matter to correspond with a widow lady.
MRS. GAYl.u.s.tRE.
Oh!
MACPHAIL.
[Producing MRS. GAYl.u.s.tRE"s card from his stocking.] So I"m thinking I sha"n"t require this address.
MRS. GAYl.u.s.tRE.
Ah! [She slaps his face violently and runs out.]
EVERYBODY.
Oh!
MACPHAIL.
Mother!
[LADY MACPHAIL embraces him. The music of the Strathspey is heard again.]
[EGIDIA enters.]
EGIDIA.
The Strathspey. Come into the ball-room. What has happened?
LADY TWOMBLEY.
I can"t enter the ball-room again to-night!
EARL OF DRUMDURRIS.
But you must dance the Strathspey.
LADY TWOMBLEY.
Must I? Dance then! [They take their places for the dance.] Pa!
Valentine, Imogen! Brooke, Effie! Keith, Egidia! Lady Macphail, Sir Colin! Dance! Dance with foolish, thoughtless, weak-headed Kitty Twombley for the last time, for to-morrow she becomes a sober, wise, happy, and contented woman! Dance!
[They dance the Strathspey and Reel--SIR JULIAN with LADY TWOMBLEY, DRUMDURRIS with EGIDIA, BROOKE with LADY EUPHEMIA, VALENTINE with IMOGEN, LADY MACPHAIL with MACPHAIL. The DOWAGER sits apart gloomily.]
SIR JULIAN TWOMBLEY.
[To LADY TWOMBLEY while dancing.] You"ve been indiscreet again, Kitty.
LADY TWOMBLEY.
Finally, Julian, finally!
SIR JULIAN TWOMBLEY.
No more extravagance?
LADY TWOMBLEY.
Never! Never!
SIR JULIAN TWOMBLEY.
And you resign yourself to a peaceful, rural life?
LADY TWOMBLEY.
Oh!
SIR JULIAN TWOMBLEY.
Promise me--promise me!
LADY TWOMBLEY.
Ha, ha! Dance, pa, dance!
THE END.