Delaney of Terry Hut--he got so he'd
drink cold tea if there was a whiskey label on the bottle. They've
fuddled you with labels. It's my business to see that you know what kind
of people you're dealin' with.

ETHEL [almost in tears]. You're bullying me! I don't see why you talk so
brutally to me.

PIKE [sadly and earnestly]. Do you think I'd do it for anything but you?

ETHEL [angrily]. You are odious! Insufferable!

PIKE [humbly]. Don't you think I know you despise me?

ETHEL. I do not despise you; if I had stayed at home, and grown up
there, I should probably have been a provincial young woman playing
"Sweet Genevieve" for you to-night. But my life has not been that, and
you have humiliated me from the moment of your arrival here. You have
made me ashamed both of you and of myself. And now you have some
preposterous plan which will shame me again, humiliate both of us once
more, before my friends, these gentlefolk.

[A loud noise without. LADY CREECH'S voice is heard shouting.]

PIKE [dryly]. I think the gentlefolk are here.

[The upper doors up centre are thrown open; LADY CREECH hurriedly
enters, with MADAME DE CHAMPIGNY and HORACE, followed by ALMERIC.]

LADY CREECH. My dear child, what are you doing in this dreadful place
with this dreadful person?

MADAME DE CHAMPIGNY. My dear, les convenances!

HORACE. Ethel, I'm extremely surprised; come away at once!

ALMERIC. Oh, I say, you know, really, Miss Ethel! You can't stay here,
you know, _can_ you?

PIKE. I'm her guardian; she's here by my authority, she'll stay by my
authority.

[LORD HAWCASTLE appears in the open doors and bows sardonically to
PIKE.]

HAWCASTLE [suavely]. Ah, good-evening, Mr. Pike!

HORACE. Lord Hawcastle, will you insist upon Ethel's leaving? It's quite
on the cards we shall have a disagreeable scene here.

HAWCASTLE [smiling]. I see no occasion for it; we're here simply for Mr.
Pike's answer. He knows where we stand and we know where he stands.

PIKE [with a grim smile]. I reckon you're right so far.

HAWCASTLE [continuing]. And his answer will be yes.

PIKE [with quiet emphasis]. But you're wrong there!

HAWCASTLE [to HORACE, with sudden seriousness]. Perhaps you are right,
Mr. Granger-Simpson. Painful things may be done. Better the young lady
were spared them. Take your sister away.

[He motions HORACE toward the door.]

ALMERIC. For God's sake do--it may be quite rowdy.

LADY CREECH [to ETHEL at the same time]. M