pening the box._] A solitaire shirt-stud.
[_She retains a neatly-folded piece of paper which is enclosed in the
box and hands the box to_ SOPHY.
SOPHY.
Beautiful. [_Glancing at the piece of paper in_ MURIEL'S _hand._] What's
that?
MURIEL.
[_Unfolding the paper carefully._] This goes with it.
[_She holds the paper before_ SOPHY.
SOPHY.
[_Reading._] "To Napier--"
MURIEL.
[_Withdrawing the paper._] Ah, no.
SOPHY.
Mayn't I?
MURIEL.
[_Yielding the paper impulsively._] Yes, _you_ may.
[MURIEL _turns away and stands leaning upon the back of the screen-chair
on the left, with her face in her hands._ SOPHY _places the jeweller's
case upon the circular table._
SOPHY.
[_Reading with difficulty._] "To Napier from Muriel. I only--" what? You
_have_ blotted it.
MURIEL.
[_With a sob._] Have I?
SOPHY.
You've been crying over it.
MURIEL.
Yes.
SOPHY.
"I only--" I can't read it.
MURIEL.
[_Through her tears._]
"I only know--we loved in vain:
I only feel--Farewell!--Farewell!"
SOPHY.
[_In a low voice._] Very nice, darling. [_She lays the paper tenderly
upon the box and goes to_ MURIEL. _Eyeing her keenly._] You really _are_
determined, then, to wish him good-bye?
MURIEL.
[_Turning to her and weeping upon her shoulder._] Oh, Sophy! Sophy!
SOPHY.
There, there! it'll soon be over.
MURIEL.
[_Raising her head._] Over! yes, yes! over!
SOPHY.
And--p'r'aps it's all for the best, you know.
MURIEL.
For the best!
SOPHY.
What I mean is, that very likely we've both of us been a little cruel to
poor Lord Quex--hard on him--
MURIEL.
[_Indignantly._] _You_ say this to me! [_Distractedly._] _You_ say this,
after having poisoned my mind and given me an awful night of
sleeplessness and doubt. Yesterday I was as firm as a rock; to-day I'm
as weak as water again. [_Facing_ SOPHY _with flashing eyes._] Ah, I
tell you honestly you'd better not let me meet Captain Bastling this
morning! you'd better not let me see him!
[_The door-gong sounds._ BASTLING _appears at the window, and looks into
the room._
SOPHY.
[_Whose back is towards the window, soothingly._] No, no, you sha'n't go
across to Valma's while you're like this. I'll make an excuse for you to
Captain Bastling--
BASTLING.
[_At the window._] Muriel!
MURIEL.
[_Passing_ SOPHY _swiftly._] Napier!
SOPHY.
[_Holding her arm._] Darling--
MURIEL.
[_Freeing herself.
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