Good-night.
[_He disappears. She walks unsteadily to the ottoman, and sits; and as she does so her hand falls upon the little silver mirror, which she takes up, staring at her own reflection._
THE FOURTH ACT
_The Drawing room at "Highercoombe," the same evening._
PAULA _is still seated on the ottoman, looking vacantly before her, with the little mirror in her hand._ LADY ORREYED _enters._
LADY ORREYED.
There you are! You never came into the billiard-room. Isn"t it maddening--Cayley Drummle gives me sixty out of a hundred and beats me. I must be out of form, because I know I play remarkably well for a lady. Only last month---- [PAULA _rises._] Whatever is the matter with you, old girl?
PAULA.
Why?
LADY ORREYED.
[_Staring._] It"s the light, I suppose. [PAULA _replaces the mirror on the table._] By Aubrey"s bolting from the billiard-table in that fashion I thought perhaps----
PAULA.
Yes; it"s all right.
LADY ORREYED.
You"ve patched it up? [PAULA _nods._] Oh, I am jolly glad----! I mean----
PAULA.
Yes, I know what you mean. Thanks, Mabel.
LADY ORREYED.
[_Kissing_ PAULA.] Now take my advice; for the future----
PAULA.
Mabel, if I"ve been disagreeable to you while you"ve been staying here, I--I beg your pardon.
[_Walking away and sitting down._
LADY ORREYED.
You disagreeable, my dear? I haven"t noticed it. Dodo and me both consider you make a first-cla.s.s hostess, but then you"ve had such practice, haven"t you? [_Dropping on to the ottoman and gaping._]
Oh, talk about being sleepy----!
PAULA.
Why don"t you----!
LADY ORREYED.
Why, dear, I must hang about for Dodo. You may as well know it; he"s in one of his moods.
PAULA.
[_Under her breath._] Oh----!
LADY ORREYED.
Now, it"s not his fault; it was deadly dull for him while we were playing billiards. Cayley Drummle did ask him to mark, but I stopped that; it"s so easy to make a gentleman look like a billiard-marker.
This is just how it always is; if poor old Dodo has nothing to do, he loses count, as you may say.
PAULA.
Hark!
SIR GEORGE ORREYED _enters, walking slowly and deliberately; he looks pale and watery-eyed._
SIR GEORGE.
[_With mournful indistinctness._] I"m "fraid we"ve lef" you a grea"
deal to yourself to-night, Mrs. Tanqueray. Attra"tions of billiards.
I apol"gise. I say, where"s ol" Aubrey?
PAULA.
My husband has been obliged to go out to a neighbour"s house.
SIR GEORGE.
I want his advice on a rather pressing matter connected with my family--my family. [_Sitting._] To-morrow will do just as well.
LADY ORREYED.
[_To_ PAULA.] This is the mood I hate so--drivelling about his precious family.
SIR GEORGE.
The fact is, Mrs. Tanqueray, I am not easy in my min" "bout the way I am treatin" my poor ol" mother.