picious, holding back._] I don't know that I care--we went
there last year----

_Matt._ We did! Same old game, eh? Come along.

[_Drags_ LUCAS _off_.

_Pilcher._ [_Has been gathering up his parcels._] Well, good-bye!
Good-bye! [_Rattles the hospital box vigorously._] Three splendid
victories for free will and moral resolution!

[_Exit, rattling the box._

_Harry._ Doll, you really haven't got any bills this year?

_Dolly._ No! no! Only the few little oddments that no woman can prevent.

_Harry._ You might let me see the little oddments----

_Dolly._ I will. [_Suddenly._] Oh Harry, I quite forgot! Do forgive me!

_Harry._ What?

_Dolly._ I never wrote the geyser bath people!

_Harry._ Never mind the geyser bath.

_Dolly._ And only this morning you rowed me because I hadn't got it
ready for the New Year! Where did you put their address?

_Harry._ I don't know! Somewhere upstairs among my papers.

_Dolly._ [_Gently pushing him off._] I can just catch to-night's post!
Make haste and get it! Quick! There's a dear! And then we can get the
bath fixed up for you next week.

_Harry._ Ye--es. I say, Doll, I mean to get those oddments fixed up
to-night.

[_Taps the writing-case significantly and exit._ DOLLY _looks
frightened, sees him off, goes up to writing-desk, takes out bills,
looks at them, throws up her arms in despair, groans, slams down
the writing-desk, looks at the chair she has touched in first act,
shows great resolution, marches up and touches it._

_Dolly._ Yes! Yes! I have got free will.

[_Goes back from it, again looks at it, again marches up to it,
touches it._

_Dolly._ Then why do I keep on having bills?

RENIE _enters in great agitation and distress._

_Renie._ Oh, Dolly!

_Dolly._ What's the matter?

_Renie._ Oh, Dolly!

_Dolly._ What is it?

_Renie._ [_Throws her arms round_ DOLLY _affectionately._] You've always
been such a true friend to me----

_Dolly._ Yes, dear.

_Renie._ More like a sister. And I know I may trust you now.

_Dolly._ [_A little suspicious._] Yes. Has anything happened?

_Renie._ Yes. Oh, Dolly----

_Dolly._ Tell me!

_Renie._ As we were going out at the garden gate, Captain Wentworth held
out a letter behind his back for me to take----

_Dolly._ What?!

_Renie._ But now his arm is wounded he couldn't manage it properly, and
he dropped it. I hurried to pick it up, and then my husband noticed and