thly speech. Every one awaits
it with misgiving--the servants lest they should applaud, as last time,
in the wrong place, and the daughters because he may be personal about
them, as the time before. ERNEST is annoyed that there should be
this speech at all when there is such a much better one coming, and
BROCKLEHURST foresees the degradation of the peerage. All are thinking
of themselves alone save CRICHTON, who knows his master's weakness,
and fears he may stick in the middle. LORD LOAM, however, advances
cheerfully to his doom. He sees ERNEST'S stool, and artfully stands on
it, to his nephew's natural indignation. The three ladies knit their
lips, the servants look down their noses, and the address begins.)

LORD LOAM. My friends, I am glad to see you all looking so happy. It
used to be predicted by the scoffer that these meetings would prove
distasteful to you. Are they distasteful? I hear you laughing at the
question.

(He has not heard them, but he hears them now, the watchful CRICHTON
giving them a lead.)

No harm in saying that among us to-day is one who was formerly hostile
to the movement, but who to-day has been won over. I refer to Lord
Brocklehurst, who, I am sure, will presently say to me that if the
charming lady now by his side has derived as much pleasure from his
company as he has derived from hers, he will be more than satisfied.

(All look at TWEENY, who trembles.)

For the time being the artificial and unnatural--I say unnatural
(glaring at CRICHTON, who bows slightly)--barriers of society are swept
away. Would that they could be swept away for ever.

(The PAGEBOY cheers, and has the one moment of prominence in his life.
He grows up, marries and has children, but is never really heard of
again.)

But that is entirely and utterly out of the question. And now for a few
months we are to be separated. As you know, my daughters and Mr. Ernest
and Mr. Treherne are to accompany me on my yacht, on a voyage to distant
parts of the earth. In less than forty-eight hours we shall be under
weigh.

(But for CRICHTON'S eye the reckless PAGEBOY would repeat his success.)

Do not think our life on the yacht is to be one long idle holiday. My
views on the excessive luxury of the day are well known, and what I
preach I am resolved to practise. I have therefore decided that my
daughters, instead of having one maid each as at present, shall on this
voyage have but one maid between them.

(Three maids rise; a