MURIEL.
I do--I mean, I"m getting to. [_Defiantly._] At any rate, I am proud of him.
SOPHY.
Proud!
MURIEL.
Certainly--proud that he has mended his ways for my sake.
SOPHY.
[_Between tears and anger._] Mended his ways! with those eyes of his!
MURIEL.
[_Looking down upon_ SOPHY, _wonderingly._] His eyes? why, they are considered his best feature.
SOPHY.
_I_ never saw wickeder eyes. All my girls say the same.
MURIEL.
[_With rising indignation._] I am sure you have never detected Lord Quex looking at anybody in a way he should not.
SOPHY.
Oh, I admit he has always behaved in a gentlemanly manner towards me and my girls.
MURIEL.
[_Haughtily._ Towards you and your--! Sophy, pray remember Lord Quex"s rank.
SOPHY.
[_In hot scorn._] His rank! ha! do you think his lordship has ever let _that_ interfere--?
[_She checks herself, finding_ MURIEL _staring at her._
MURIEL.
[_In horror._] Sophy!
SOPHY.
[_Discomposed--rising._] Er--if I"m to do anything to your nails--
[_As_ SOPHY _is moving towards the manicure-table,_ MURIEL _intercepts her._
MURIEL.
You are surely not suggesting that Lord Quex has ever descended--?
SOPHY.
[_Hastily._] No, no, no. [_Brushing past_ MURIEL _and seating herself before the screen-chair_.] Come; they"ll all be here directly.
MURIEL.
[_Sitting in the screen-chair._] Sophy, you have heard some story--
SOPHY.
[_Examining_ MURIEL"S _hands._] A little varnishing is all you need to-day.
MURIEL.
You shall tell me!
SOPHY.
[_Proceeding with her work methodically._] It"s nothing much; I"m sorry I--
MURIEL.
[_Imperatively._] Sophy!
SOPHY.
[_Reluctantly._] Oh, well--well, when I was at Mrs. Beaupoint"s in Grosvenor Street--
MURIEL.
Yes?
SOPHY.
A Lady Pumphrey came to stay there with a goodish-looking maid--Edith Smith her name was--
MURIEL.
Never mind her name!
SOPHY.
And they"d lately met Lord Quex in a country house in Worcestershire.
Well, he had kissed _her_--Smith admitted it.