Phillimore. [Showing a faint sense of justice.] I am bound to say she has behaved discreetly ever since she arrived in this house.

Miss Heneage. Yes, Mary—but I sometimes suspect that she exercises a degree of self-control—

Sudley. [Glad to have something against some one.] She claps on the lid, eh? And you think that perhaps some day she'll boil over? Well, of course fifteen or twenty millions—but who's Karslake?

Grace. [Very superciliously.] He owns Cynthia K. She's the famous mare.

Miss Heneage. He's Henry Karslake's son.

Sudley. [Beginning to make the best of fifteen millions-in-law.] Oh!—Henry!—Very respectable family. Although I remember his father served a term in the Senate. And so the wedding is to be to-morrow?

Mrs. Phillimore. [Assenting.] To-morrow.

Sudley. [Rising, his respectability to the front when he thinks of the ceremony. Grace rises.] To-morrow. Well, my dear Sarah, a respectable family with some means. We must accept her. But on the whole, I think it will be best for me not to see the young woman. My disapprobation would make itself apparent.

Grace. [Whispering to Sudley.] Cynthia's coming.

[He doesn't hear.

Sudley. [Sententious and determinately epigrammatic.] The uncouth modern young woman, eight feet high, with a skin like a rhinoceros and manners like a cave-dweller—an habitué of the race-track and the divorce court—

Grace. [Aside to Sudley.] Cousin William!

Sudley. Eh, oh!

Cynthia. [Reading her newspaper, advances into the room, immersed, excited, trembling. She lowers paper to catch the light.] "Belmont favourite—six to one—Rockaway—Rosebud, and Flying Cloud. Slow track—raw wind—h'm, h'm, h'm—At the half, Rockaway forged ahead, when Rosebud under the lash made a bold bid for victory—neck by neck—for a quarter—when Flying Cloud slipped by the pair and won on the post by a nose in one forty nine!" [Speaking with the enthusiasm of a sport.] Oh, I wish I'd seen the dear thing do it. Oh, it's Mr. Sudley! You must think me very rude. How do you do, Mr. Sudley?

[Going over to Sudley.

Sudley. [Bowing without cordiality.] Mrs. Karslake.

[Cynthia pauses, feeling he should say something. As he says nothing, she speaks again.

Cynthia. I hope Cairo was delightful? Did you have a smooth voyage?

Sudley. [Pompously.] You must permit me, Mrs. Karslake—

Cynthia. [With good temper, somewhat embarrassed, and talking herself into ease.] Oh, please don't welcome me to the family. All that formal part is over, if you don't mind. I'm one of the tribe now! You're coming to our wedding to-morrow?

Sudley. My dear Mrs. Karslake, I think it might be wiser—

Cynthia. [Still with cordial good temper.] Oh, but you must come! I mean to be a perfect wife to Philip and all his relations! That sounds rather miscellaneous, but you know what I mean.

Sudley. [Very sententious.] I am afraid—

Cynthia. [Gay and still covering her embarrassment.] If you don't come, it'll look as if you were not standing by Philip when he's in trouble! You'll come, won't you—but of course you will.

Sudley. [After a self-important pause.] I will come, Mrs. Karslake. [Pausing.] Good-afternoon. [In a tone of sorrow and light compassion.] Good-bye, Mary. Good-afternoon, Sarah. [Sighing.] Grace, dear. [To Miss Heneage.] At what hour did you say the alimony commences?

Miss Heneage. [Quickly and commandingly to cover his slip.] The ceremony is at three P. M., William.

[Sudley walks toward the door.

Mrs. Phillimore. [With fatigued voice and manner as she rises.] I am going to my room to rest awhile.

[She trails slowly from the room.

Miss Heneage. [To Sudley.] Oh, William, one moment—I entirely forgot! I've a most important social question to ask you! [She accompanies him slowly to the door.] in regard to the announcements of the wedding—who they shall be sent to and who not. For instance—the Dudleys— [Deep in their talk, Sudley and Miss Heneage pass out together.

Cynthia. [From the sofa.] So that's Cousin William?

Grace. [From the tea-table.] Don't you like him?

Cynthia. [Calmly sarcastic.] Like him? I love him. He's so generous. He couldn't have received me with more warmth if I'd been a mulatto.