MURIEL.
[_Producing, from her pocket, a jeweller"s case and showing it to_ SOPHY.] Do you like this? I"ve just bought it, over the way, at Gressier"s.
SOPHY.
For Captain Bastling?
MURIEL.
[_With a nod, opening the box._] A solitaire shirt-stud.
[_She retains a neatly-folded piece of paper which is enclosed in the box and hands the box to_ SOPHY.
SOPHY.
Beautiful. [_Glancing at the piece of paper in_ MURIEL"S _hand._] What"s that?
MURIEL.
[_Unfolding the paper carefully._] This goes with it.
[_She holds the paper before_ SOPHY.
SOPHY.
[_Reading._] "To Napier--"
MURIEL.
[_Withdrawing the paper._] Ah, no.
SOPHY.
Mayn"t I?
MURIEL.
[_Yielding the paper impulsively._] Yes, _you_ may.
[MURIEL _turns away and stands leaning upon the back of the screen-chair on the left, with her face in her hands._ SOPHY _places the jeweller"s case upon the circular table._
SOPHY.
[_Reading with difficulty._] "To Napier from Muriel. I only--" what? You _have_ blotted it.
MURIEL.
[_With a sob._] Have I?
SOPHY.
You"ve been crying over it.
MURIEL.
Yes.
SOPHY.
"I only--" I can"t read it.
MURIEL.
[_Through her tears._]
"I only know--we loved in vain: I only feel--Farewell!--Farewell!"
SOPHY.
[_In a low voice._] Very nice, darling. [_She lays the paper tenderly upon the box and goes to_ MURIEL. _Eyeing her keenly._] You really _are_ determined, then, to wish him good-bye?
MURIEL.
[_Turning to her and weeping upon her shoulder._] Oh, Sophy! Sophy!
SOPHY.
There, there! it"ll soon be over.
MURIEL.
[_Raising her head._] Over! yes, yes! over!
SOPHY.
And--p"r"aps it"s all for the best, you know.
MURIEL.
For the best!
SOPHY.
What I mean is, that very likely we"ve both of us been a little cruel to poor Lord Quex--hard on him--
MURIEL.
[_Indignantly._] _You_ say this to me! [_Distractedly._] _You_ say this, after having poisoned my mind and given me an awful night of sleeplessness and doubt. Yesterday I was as firm as a rock; to-day I"m as weak as water again. [_Facing_ SOPHY _with flashing eyes._] Ah, I tell you honestly you"d better not let me meet Captain Bastling this morning! you"d better not let me see him!