d with a smooth skin and a bright eye, directly
he raises a hand--take him without a murmur, money-hunter though he may
be. Take him! by Jove, she leaps into his arms!

FRAYNE.

D'ye mean that Bastling--?

QUEX.

Napier Bastling! [_Breaking into a prolonged peal of laughter._] Ha, ha,
ha, ha! Chick, he's just what _I_ was at eight-and-twenty. Ha, ha, ha!
what I was--and worse, damn him!--and she loves him.

SOPHY.

[_Who has been listening with wide-open eyes and parted lips._] It's not
true! it isn't true!

QUEX.

[_Turning to her._] Isn't it! You think so, hey? No, I suppose you
haven't experimentalised upon _him_; you haven't spied on him, and
tempted him as you tempted me. You have never got _him_ into a quiet
corner and stuck your impudent face in his. If you had--

SOPHY.

Oh! he wouldn't--!

[FRAYNE _has walked away;_ QUEX _now joins him._

QUEX.

[_As he goes._] Wouldn't he! ha, ha, ha! [_To_ FRAYNE, _fiercely._] What
the devil am I to do, Chick?

FRAYNE.

Punch his head.

SOPHY.

[_Panting._] Oh! oh! [BASTLING, _indistinctly seen through the muslin
blinds, appears at the window. He raps gently upon the window frame._
SOPHY _glances at the window._] Eh--? [_Under her breath._] Oh! [_She
goes swiftly to_ QUEX _and_ FRAYNE, _seizes them by the arms, and
pushes them towards the door in the partition, saying agitatedly._] Wait
there! don't come out, or make a noise--

QUEX.

What are you up to now?

SOPHY.

Stay here till I find out what's happened. Oh, I'll do what I can for
you!

[_They enter the private room and she closes the door. Then she returns
to the window, unfastens it, and retreats._ BASTLING _pushes open the
window and comes in._

BASTLING.

[_Advancing to her excitedly._] Ah, Sophy! [_Looking round._] Any one
about?

SOPHY.

[_Pointing to the left._] All my girls are in there. Where is she?

BASTLING.

Next door. She's sitting down, calming herself--having her cry out.

SOPHY.

Crying!

BASTLING.

She's all right--awfully happy. I told her I'd come and tell you.

SOPHY.

Tell me--!

BASTLING.

It's settled.

SOPHY.

Settled!

BASTLING.

She's mine, Sophy.

SOPHY.

[_With a gasp._] Yours!

BASTLING.

We're going to be married at once--next week. We shall need your help
still. Of course, it must be a secret marriage. She will follow me out
by-and-by.

SOPHY.

[_Nodding, dully._] Oh, yes.

BASTLING.

Why, aren't you glad about