You! your pages are all milk-white. What can you detect upon one of them to induce you to turn it?
MURIEL.
[_Gazing into s.p.a.ce._] I--I"ve been scribbling there--scrawling--drawing pictures--
QUEX.
Pictures--of what?
MURIEL.
You shall know, perhaps, some day.
QUEX.
After to-morrow?
MURIEL.
Yes, Quex, but--after many to-morrows.
[TWO MEN-SERVANTS--_an old man and a young one--descend the steps and proceed to remove the tea-things._
LADY OWBRIDGE.
[_Waking._] Eh--? [_Seeing_ MURIEL _and_ QUEX.] Ah, my dears--! I am reading such an absorbing book.
MURIEL.
[_By her side, taking the book._] May I--?
LADY OWBRIDGE.
You should study the Dean of St. Olpherts" sermons--and you, Henry.
QUEX.
[_Taking the book from_ MURIEL _and turning its pages._] Yes, I must--I must--
LADY OWBRIDGE.
By the way, has anything been seen of that nice young manicure girl, Miss Sophy--something--?
MURIEL.
Sophy Fullgarney--she arrived at about half-past four, and I asked Mrs.
Gregory to show her over the house. I thought you would not object.
LADY OWBRIDGE.
Object! it pleases me.
MURIEL.
She is roving about the grounds now.
LADY OWBRIDGE.
An exceedingly prepossessing young woman, of her cla.s.s.
[_The_ SERVANTS _have gone up the steps, carrying the tea-things._
THE ELDER SERVANT.
[_Looking down the alley towards the left._] I see the young person, my lady.
LADY OWBRIDGE.
I"ll speak to her, Bristow.
[_The_ ELDER SERVANT _goes off towards the left; the younger one, bearing the tray, to the right. The_ d.u.c.h.eSS _and_ MRS. EDEN _return, above the low cypress-hedge;_ QUEX _meets them._
MURIEL.
I would not have left her, but the young man she is engaged to brought her down, and I took it upon myself to give him permission to remain.
LADY OWBRIDGE.
Oh, is Miss Fullgarney engaged?
MURIEL.
To Mr. Valma, the palmist.
MRS. EDEN.
[_Approaching._] Valma, the palmist!
LADY OWBRIDGE.
What is a palmist, pray?
MURIEL.
He reads your past and your future in the lines of your hands. It"s his profession, dear Lady Owbridge.
MRS. EDEN.