_Spurrell (to himself)._ Formidable old party opposite me in the furs!
Nice-looking girl over in the corner; not a patch on my EMMA, though!
Wonder why I catch 'em sampling me over their papers whenever I look up!
Can't be anything wrong with my turn out. Why, of course, they heard TOM
talk about my going down to Wyvern Court; think I'm a visitor there and
no end of a nob! Well, what snobs some people are, to be sure!
_Lady Cantire (to herself)._ So this is the young poet I made ALBINIA
ask to meet me. I can't be mistaken, I distinctly heard his friend
mention _Andromeda_. H'm, well, it's a comfort to find he's _clean!_
Have I read his poetry or not? I know I _had_ the book, because I
distinctly remember telling MAISIE she wasn't to read it--but--well,
that's of no consequence. He looks clever and quite respectable--not in
the least picturesque--which is fortunate. I was beginning to doubt
whether it was quite prudent to bring MAISIE; but I needn't have worried
myself.
_Lady Maisie (to herself)._ Here, actually in the same carriage! Does he
guess who _I_ am? Somehow----Well, he certainly _is_ different from what
I expected. I thought he would show more signs of having thought and
suffered; for he _must_ have suffered to write as he does. If Mamma knew
I had read his poems; that I had actually written to beg him not to
refuse Aunt ALBINIA'S invitation! He never wrote back. Of course I
didn't put my address; but still, he could have found out from the Red
Book if he'd cared. I'm rather glad now he _didn't_ care.
_Spurr. (to himself)._ Old girl seems as if she meant to be sociable;
better give her an opening. (_Aloud._) Hem! would you like the window
down an inch or two?
_Lady Cant._ Not on _my_ account, thank you.
_Spurr. (to himself)._ Broke the ice, anyway. (_Aloud._) Oh, _I_ don't
want it down, but some people are fond of fresh air.
_Lady Cant. (with a dignified little shiver)._ With a temperature as
glacial as it is in here! Surely not!
_Spurr._ Well, it _is_ chilly; been raw all day. (_To himself._) She
don't answer. I _haven't_ broken the ice.
[_He produces a memorandum book._
_Lady Maisie (to herself)._ He hasn't said anything _very_ original yet.
So _nice_ of him not to pose! Oh, he's got a note-book; he's going to
compose a poem. How interesting!
[Illustration: "He's going to compose a poem. How interesting!"]
_Spurr. (to himself)._ Yes, I'm all right if _Voluptuary_ wins the
Lincolnshire Handicap; lucky to get on at the price I did. When will the
weights come out for the City and Suburban? Let's see whether the Pink
'Un has anything about it.
[_He refers to the "Sporting Times."_
_Lady Maisie (to herself)._ The inspiration's stopped--_what_ a pity!
How odd of him to read the _Globe_! I thought he was a Democrat!
_Lady Cant._ MAISIE, there's quite a clever little notice in _Society
Snippets_ about the dance at SKYMPINGS last week. I'm sure I wonder how
they pick up these things; it quite bears out what I was told; says the
supper arrangements were "simply disgraceful; _no_ plovers' eggs, and
not nearly enough champagne; and what there was, undrinkable!" So _like_
poor dear Lady CHESEPARE; never _does_ do things like anybody else. I'm
sure _I've_ given her hints enough!
_Spurr. (to himself, with a suppressed grin)._ Wants to let me see _she_
knows some swells. Now _ain't_ that paltry?
_Lady Cant. (tendering the paper)._ Would you like to see it, MAISIE?
Just this hit here; where my finger is.
_Lady Maisie (to herself, flushing)._ I saw him smile. What _must_ he
think of us, with his splendid scorn for rank? (_Aloud._) No, thank you,
Mamma; such a wretched light to read by!
_Spurr. (to himself)._ Chance for _me_ to cut in! (_Aloud._) Beastly
light, isn't it? 'Pon my word, the company ought to provide us with a
dog and string apiece when we get out!
_Lady Cant. (bringing a pair of long-handled glasses to bear upon him)._
I happen to hold shares in this line. May I ask _why_ you consider a
provision of dogs and string at all the stations a necessary or
desirable expenditure?
_Spurr._ Oh--er--well, you know, I only meant, bring on _blindness_ and
that. Harmless attempt at a joke, that's all.
_Lady Cant._ I see. I scarcely expected that _you_ would condescend to
such weakness. I--ah--think you are going down to stay at Wyvern for a
few days, are you not?
_Spurr (to himself)._ I was right. What TOM said _did_ fetch the old
girl; no harm in humouring her a bit. (_Aloud._) Yes--oh yes,
they--aw--wanted me to run down when I could.
_Lady Cant._ I heard they were expecting you. You will find Wyvern a
pleasant house--for a short visit.
_Spurr (to himself). She_ heard! Oh, she wants to kid me she knows the
CULVERINS. Rats! (_Aloud._) Shall I, though? I daresay.
_Lady Cant._ Lady CULVERIN is a very sweet woman; a little limited,
perhaps, not intellectual, or quite what one would call the _grande
dame_; but perhaps _that_ could scarcely be expected.
_Spurr. (vaguely)._ Oh, of course not--no. (_To himself._) If she
bluffs, so can I! (_Aloud._) It's funny your turning out to be an
acquaintance of Lady C.'s, though.
_Lady Cant._ You think so? But I should hardly call myself an
_acquaintance_.
_Spurr. (to himself)._ Old cat's trying to back out of it now; she
_shan't_, though! (_Aloud._) Oh, then I suppose you know Sir RUPERT
best?
_Lady Cant._ Yes, I certainly know Sir RUPERT better.
_Spurr. (to himself)._ Oh, you do, do you? We'll see. (_Aloud._) Nice
cheery old chap, Sir RUPERT, isn't he? I must tell him I travelled down
in the same carriage with a particular friend of his. (_To himself._)
That'll make her sit up!
_Lady Cant._ Oh, then you and my brother RUPERT have met already?
_Spurr. (aghast)._ Your brother! Sir RUPERT CULVERIN your----! Excuse
me--if I'd only known, I--I do assure you I never should have dreamt of
saying----!
_Lady Cant. (graciously)._ You've said nothing whatever to distress
yourself about. You couldn't possibly be expected to know who I was.
Perhaps I had better tell you at once that I am Lady CANTIRE, and this
is my daughter, Lady MAISIE MULL. (SPURRELL _returns_ Lady MAISIE'S
_little bow in the deepest confusion._) We are going down to Wyvern too,
so I hope we shall very soon become better acquainted.
_Spurr. (to himself, overwhelmed)._ The deuce we shall! I _have_ got
myself into a hole this time; I wish I could see my way well out of it!
Why on earth couldn't I hold my confounded tongue? I _shall_ look an ass
when I tell 'em.
[_He sits staring at them in silent embarrassment._