n time to see her kiss_ JOHN.] I say, is it the
custom? Every time she does that, my boy, you owe me a thousand
pounds. [_Seeing_ CYNTHIA, _who approaches them, he looks at her and_
JOHN _in turn._] Mrs. Karslake. [_To_ JOHN.] And then you say it's not
an extraordinary country!

[CYNTHIA _is more and more puzzled._

VIDA. [_To_ JOHN.] See you next Derby, Jack! [_Walking to the door.
To_ SIR WILFRID.] Come along, Wilfrid! We really ought to be going.
[_To_ CYNTHIA.] I hope, dear, you haven't married him! Phillimore's a
tomb! Good-bye, Cynthia--I'm so happy! [_As she goes._] Just think of
the silly people, dear, that only have this sensation once in a
lifetime!

[JOHN _follows_ VIDA _out the door._

SIR WILFRID. [_To_ CYNTHIA.] Good-bye, Mrs. Karslake. And I say, ye
know, if you have married that dull old Phillimore fellah, why, when
you've divorced him, come over and stay at Traynham! I mean, of
course, ye know, bring your new husband. There'll be lots o' horses to
show you, and a whole covey of jolly little Cates-Darbys. Mind you
come! [_With real delicacy of feeling and forgetting his wife._] Never
liked a woman as much in my life as I did you!

VIDA. [_Outside; calling him._] Wilfrid, dear!

SIR WILFRID. [_Loyal to the woman who has caught him._] --except the
one that's calling me!

JOHN _returns, and_ SIR WILFRID, _nodding to him, goes out._
JOHN _shuts the door and crosses the room. There is a pause._

CYNTHIA. So you're not married?

JOHN. No. But I know that you imagined I was.

CYNTHIA. [_After a pause._] I suppose you think a woman has no right
to divorce a man--and still continue to feel a keen interest in his
affairs?

JOHN. Well, I'm not so sure about that, but I don't quite see how--

CYNTHIA. A woman can be divorced--and still-- [JOHN _assents; she hides
her embarrassment._] Well, my dear Karslake, you've a long life before
you, in which to learn how such a state of mind is possible! So I
won't stop to explain. Will you be kind enough to get me a cab? [_She
moves to the door._

JOHN. Certainly. I was going to say I am not surprised at your feeling
an interest in me. I'm only astonished that, having actually married
Phillimore, you come here--

CYNTHIA. [_Indignantly._] I'm not married to him!

JOHN. [_Silent for a moment._] I left you on the brink--made me feel a
little uncertain.

CYNTHIA. [_In a matter of course tone._] I changed my mind--that's
all.