re can be no objection to _that_.
DOWAGER.
Certainly not.
LADY MACPHAIL.
When will your daughter grant him an hour for that purpose?
LADY TWOMBLEY.
An _hour_?
MACPHAIL.
Three-quarters will be enough, mother.
LADY MACPHAIL.
Bravely said!
DOWAGER.
Charming!
LADY TWOMBLEY.
When, Julian?
SIR JULIAN TWOMBLEY.
H'm! when?
DOWAGER.
When? [IMOGEN's voice is heard outside.]
IMOGEN.
[Calling.] Mamma, dear!
DOWAGER.
When? I suggest, now. Here is Imogen.
[MACPHAIL rises hastily and awkwardly. IMOGEN enters.]
IMOGEN.
Oh, I didn't know you had visitors. [Shaking hands with SIR COLIN and
LADY MACPHAIL.] Sir Colin--Lady Macphail.
DOWAGER.
Now, Julian, leave them together! Katherine!
SIR JULIAN TWOMBLEY.
Imogen, my dear.
[IMOGEN comes to SIR JULIAN. LADY TWOMBLEY, the DOWAGER, LADY MACPHAIL,
and MACPHAIL talk together.]
SIR JULIAN TWOMBLEY.
Talk to Sir Colin for a few moments while I look through my speech.
IMOGEN.
Certainly, papa. [SIR JULIAN goes out.] What an awful task! [Taking a
book from the table.]
LADY MACPHAIL.
[Quietly to MACPHAIL.] Colin, let her hear how a Macphail can love.
[Kissing him.] My boy! [To the DOWAGER and LADY TWOMBLEY.] I'll drive
round to Lady Macwhirter's and return. Leave them! Ah, the pipers shall
play to the home-coming of a bride at Castle Ballocheevin! [She goes
out.]
DOWAGER.
Come, Katherine. Think of it! To be the mother-in-law of the head of the
Clan Macphail!
LADY TWOMBLEY.
Dora, what's the use of a head with no tongue in it?
[The DOWAGER and LADY TWOMBLEY go out. MACPHAIL looks round uneasily.]
MACPHAIL.
[To himself.] Where's mother?
IMOGEN.
[To herself.] Oh, why do they leave us! [To MACPHAIL.] Were you at the
dance of the Perth Highlanders last night, Sir Colin?
MACPHAIL.
Aye, I was.
IMOGEN.
Did you dance much?
MACPHAIL.
Aye, I did.
IMOGEN.
[To herself.] He must make the next remark.
MACPHAIL.
[Nerving himself and rising suddenly.] Miss Twombley!
IMOGEN.
Sir Colin!
MACPHAIL.
I--I just wish you had been there.
IMOGEN.
Do you? Why?
MACPHAIL.
Because--because--because I'm thinking there was room for more people.
IMOGEN.
Oh, of course. [She goes to the window and looks out.] Lady Macphail is
just driving away.
MACPHAIL.
No!
IMOGEN.
Yes, there she goes.
[MACPHAIL goes hastily to the window and looks out.]
MACPHAIL.
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