day and a half's ride.

tatton goes quickly up the other steps and away. It is now quite light. george stands by the steps, lord john is on one of the seats, carnaby strolls round, now and then touching the rose trees, sarah and ann are on the other seat.

george.   Morning! These candles still smell.

sarah.   How lively one feels and isn't.

carnaby.   The flowers are opening.

ann.   [In a whisper.]   Couldn't we go in?

sarah.   Never run away.

ann.   Everything looks so odd.

sarah.   What's o'clock . . . my lord?

lord john.   Half after four.

ann.   [To sarah.]   My eyes are hot behind.

george.   What ghosts we seem!

sarah.   What has made us spend such a night?

carnaby.   Ann incited me to it.   [He takes snuff.]

sarah.   In a spirit of rebellion against good country habits. . .

ann.   [To her sister again.]   Don't talk about me.

sarah.   They can see that you're whispering.

carnaby. . . . Informing me now she was a woman and wanted excitement.

george.   There's a curse.

carnaby.   How else d'ye conceive life for women?

sarah.   George is naturally cruel. Excitement's our education. Please vary it, though.

carnaby.   I have always held that to colour in the world-picture is the greatest privilege of the husband. Sarah.

sarah.   [Not leaving ann's side.]   Yes, Papa.

carnaby.   Sarah, when Sir Charles leaves Brighton. . .

sarah rises but will not move further.

carnaby.   [Sweetly threatening.]   Shall I come to you?

But she goes to him now.

carnaby.   By a gossip letter from town . . .

sarah.   [Tensely.]   What is it?

carnaby.   You mentioned to me something of his visiting Naples.

sarah.   Very well. I detest Italy.

carnaby.   Let's have George's opinion.

He leads her towards george.

george.   Yes?

carnaby.   Upon Naples.

george.   I remember Naples.

carnaby.   Sarah, admire those roses.

sarah.   [Cynically echoing her father.]   Let's have George's opinion.

Now carnaby has drawn them both away, upon the terrace, and, the coast being clear, lord john walks towards ann, who looks at him very scaredly.

carnaby.   Emblem of secrecy among the ancients.

sarah.   Look at this heavy head, won't it snap off?

The three move out of sight.

lord john.   I'm sober now.

ann.   I'm not.

lord john.   Uncompromising young lady.

ann.   And, excuse me, I don't want to . . . play.

lord john.   Don't you wish me to apologise quietly, to you?

ann.   Good manners are all mockery, I'm sure.

lord john.   I'm very much afraid you're a cynic.

ann.   I'm not trying to be clever.

lord john.   Do I tease you?

ann.   Do I amuse you?

lord john.   How dare I say so!

ann.   [After a moment.]   I was not frightened.

lord john.   You kissed me back.

ann.   Not on purpose. What do two people mean by behaving so . . . in the dark?

lord john.   I am exceedingly sorry that I hurt your feelings.

ann.   Thank you, I like to feel.

lord john.   And you must forgive me.

ann.   Tell me, why did you do it?

lord john.   Honestly I don't know. I should do it again.

ann.   That's not quite true, is it?

lord john.   I think so.

ann.   What does it matter at all!

lord john.   Nothing.

george, sarah and then carnaby move into sight and along the terrace, lord john turns to them.

lord john.   Has this place been long in your family, Mr. Leete?

carnaby.   Markswayde my wife brought us, through the Peters's . . . old Chiltern people . . . connections of yours, of course. There is no entail.

lord john walks back to ann.

sarah.   George, you assume this republicanism as you would—no, would not—a coat of latest cut.

carnaby.   Never argue with him . . . persist.

sarah.   So does he.

The three pass along the terrace.

ann.   [To lord john.]   Will you sit down?

lord john.   It's not worth while. Do you know I must be quite twice your age?

ann.   A doubled responsibility, my lord.

lord john.   I suppose it is.

ann.   I don't say so. That's a phrase from a book . . . sounded well.

lord john.   My dear Miss Ann. . .   [He stops.]

ann.   Go on being polite.

lord john.   If you'll keep your head turned away.

ann.   Why must I?

lord john.   There's lightning in the glances of your eye.

ann.   Do use vulgar words to me.

lord