_Renie._ My husband never even swears at me! Oh, Dolly, you are lucky!

_Dolly._ Hum!

_Renie._ Oh, Dolly---- [_Sighs and goes away._

_Dolly._ Is anything the matter?

_Renie._ No dear. Nothing, except--oh, life is so hard! so hard!

_Dolly._ Renie, if you're in trouble----

_Renie._ Thank you, dear. I knew you'd help me.

_Dolly._ Yes, so long as it isn't money. And even then I'd help you,
only I can't.

_Renie._ It isn't money.

_Dolly._ Then what is it?

_Renie._ [_Looking at_ DOLLY _curiously._] I wonder if you would
understand.

_Dolly._ I'll do my best.

_Renie._ It's such a strange story. [_Moving away,_ DOLLY _makes a
little dubious grimace behind her back._ RENIE _suddenly comes up to_
DOLLY _very effusively._] Dolly, I will trust you. You know I thoroughly
admire and honour my husband.

_Dolly._ [_A little startled._] Ye-es.

_Renie._ You know that nothing could ever induce me to wrong him for a
moment?

_Dolly._ No----

_Renie._ Nothing could be further from my thoughts.

_Dolly._ No--but is there anybody--Renie, who is it?

_Renie._ Give me your sacred promise you'll never breathe a word to any
living soul?

_Dolly._ Not a word--who is it?

_Renie._ Not even to your husband?

_Dolly._ Not even to my husband.

_Renie._ Nor to him?

_Dolly._ Him? No, of course not. Who is it?

_Renie._ Well, dear, you know what my life has been. Few women have met
with so little real sympathy as I. Few women have suffered----

_Dolly._ No, dear. Who is it? Do I know him?

_Renie._ Your cousin Lucas has a deep and sincere admiration for me.

_Dolly._ Lu!? Lu!? Of course! I might have known he'd never ride a dozen
miles in the snow for a sermon! It's disgraceful of him!

_Renie._ No, dear, he's not to blame. We are neither of us to blame.

_Dolly._ [_Contemptuously._] Oh! Why you haven't known him a month, have
you?

_Renie._ I met him for the first time in this room three weeks ago last
Thursday afternoon.

_Dolly._ It's a great pity the Professor didn't come down with you.

_Renie._ That would have made no difference. It had to be!

_Dolly._ What had to be? Renie, how far has this gone? You've been
meeting him alone----

_Renie._ Once or twice.

_Dolly._ You've slipped away every afternoon this week.

_Renie._ However often I may have met him, he has offered me nothing but
the most chivalrous attention. He has always respected me----

_Dolly._ Well then, he mustn't re