was a time when a sprig of geranium on the
window-sill would have contented her. [Looking at a photograph of LADY
TWOMBLEY upon the table.] There she is--Kitty Twombley. In one of my
gowns too. Kitty Twombley, once Kitty White, the daughter of a poor
farmer down in Cleverton. Ah, when young Mr. Julian Twombley came
canvassing Farmer White's vote he found you innocently scrubbing the
bricks, I suppose! And now! [With a courtesy.] Lady Twombley, wife of a
Cabinet Minister and Patroness Extraordinary of that deserving young
widow, Fanny Gaylustre! [She sits surveying the portraits upon the
table.] Ha, ha! I'll turn you all to account some fine day. Why
shouldn't I finish as well as the dairy-fed daughter of a Devonshire
yokel? What on earth is wrong with my bonnet? [She puts her hand up
behind her head and finds LADY TWOMBLEY's letter which BROOKE had left
on the back of the chair.] Lady Twombley's writing. [Reading.] "My sweet
child. For heaven's sake let me have your skeddle----" [She sits up
suddenly and devours the contents of the letter.] Oh! [Reading aloud.]
"I'm desperately short of money! Things are as blue as old Stilton! If
your pa finds out----!" My word!

BROOKE TWOMBLEY.

[Heard speaking outside.] My dear Valentine, why shouldn't you come
in--what?

[MRS. GAYLUSTRE creeps round in front of the table and disappears with
the letter in her hand as BROOKE enters, dragging in VALENTINE WHITE, a
roughly-dressed, handsome young fellow of about six-and-twenty, bronzed
and bearded.]

VALENTINE WHITE.

Now, Brooke, you know I cut away from England years ago because I
couldn't endure ceremony of any kind.

BROOKE TWOMBLEY.

I'm not treating you with ceremony--what!

VALENTINE WHITE.

[Looking about him.] Phew! the atmosphere's charged with it. That fellow
with his hair powdered nearly sent me running down the street like a mad
dog.

BROOKE TWOMBLEY.

Where the deuce have you been for the last six or eight years?

VALENTINE WHITE.

Where? Oh, buy a geography; call it, "Explorations of Valentine White in
Search of Freedom," and there you have it.

BROOKE TWOMBLEY.

Freedom!

VALENTINE WHITE.

Blessed freedom from forms, shams, and ceremonies of all sorts and
descriptions.

BROOKE TWOMBLEY.

Why, you left us for South Africa. Didn't South Africa satisfy you?

VALENTINE WHITE.

Satisfy me! I joined the expedition to Bangwaketsi. What were the
consequences?

BROOKE TWOMBLEY.

Fever?

VAL