Form square! Prepare to receive cavalry!
[_Retires up._
_Re-enter LADY WARGRAVE, L._
LADY WARGRAVE.
Where are you? Why have you deserted me? To leave me at the mercy of that crew! My poor, dear, Gerald! however did you get into this set?
GERALD.
It was my poem did it.
LADY WARGRAVE.
I thought, that crime would bring its punishment. Now, they"re upon the marriage service! As though _that_ concerned them! Gerald, if you marry any of that tribe, you"ll really break my heart!
[_COLONEL comes down R. of GERALD._
GERALD.
I hope I shall never do that!
LADY WARGRAVE.
Marry a _woman,_ whatever else she is.
COLONEL [_aside to GERALD_].
Courage!
GERALD.
Or isn"t, aunt!
[_Effusively._
COLONEL [_aside to GERALD_].
Caution!
[_Retires up._
LADY WARGRAVE.
Or isn"t!
_The door L. is thrown open, and re-enter DR. MARY, ENID, and VICTORIA, all talking, followed by MARGERY, who takes up her original position at the back._
DOCTOR.
"Obey," forsooth!
VICTORIA.
To promise to love is ridiculous, for how can one control the mysterious expansions of the heart?
DOCTOR.
It is the brain that loves. A still more complicated mechanism.
ENID.
It is impossible to honour a man who has invariably lived a revolting, ante-nuptial life----
VICTORIA.
But to "obey!"
[_COLONEL works down stage, interested._
DOCTOR.
Lady Wargrave, even _you_ surely wouldn"t promise to "obey" a man?
LADY WARGRAVE.
Not till he asked me, certainly.
COLONEL.
Ha! ha!
[_The trio turn on him; he retires up._
LADY WARGRAVE.
Gerald, I must be going.
DOCTOR.
So must I.
ENID.
And I.
DOCTOR.