THE VOICE OF JANE [_from the dressing-room_]. Are you going to keep me
waiting all night?
[_They start_. _Ernest hastily thrusts the telegram into his
breast-pocket_.]
FANNY. Coming, dear, coming. [_To Ernest_] Not a word to anyone!
[_She hurries him out and closes door behind him_.] Merely been putting
the room a bit tidy. [_She is flying round collecting her outdoor
garments_.] Thought it would please you. So sorry if I’ve kept you
waiting. [_Jane has appeared at door_.] After you, dear.
_Jane goes out again_. _Fanny_, _with her pile of luggage_, _follows_.
[CURTAIN]
_ACT II_
_SCENE_
_The same_.
_Time_.—_The next morning_.
_The door opens_. _Dr. Freemantle enters_, _shown in by Bennet_, _who
follows him_.
DR. FREEMANTLE [_talking as he enters_]. Wonderful! Wonderful! I don’t
really think I ever remember so fine a spring.
BENNET [_he is making up the fire_]. I’m afraid we shall have to pay for
it later on.
DR. FREEMANTLE. I expect so. Law of the universe, you know, Bennet—law
of the universe. Everything in this world has got to be paid for.
BENNET. Except trouble. [_The doctor laughs_.] The Times? [_He hands
it to him_.]
DR. FREEMANTLE. Thanks. Thanks. [_Seats himself_.] Won’t be long—his
lordship, will he?
BENNET. I don’t think so. I told him you would be here about eleven.
DR. FREEMANTLE. Um—what do you think of her?
BENNET. Of—of her ladyship?
DR. FREEMANTLE. What’s she like?
BENNET. [_They have sunk their voices_.] Well, it might have been
worse.
DR. FREEMANTLE. Ah! There’s always that consolation, isn’t there?
BENNET. I think her ladyship—with _management_—may turn out very
satisfactory.
DR. FREEMANTLE. You like her?
BENNET. At present, I must say for her, she appears willing to be
taught.
DR. FREEMANTLE. And you think it will last?
BENNET. I think her ladyship appreciates the peculiarity of her
position. I will tell the Miss Wetherells you are here.
DR. FREEMANTLE. Ah, thanks!
BENNET. I fancy her ladyship will not herself be visible much before
lunch time. I understand she woke this morning with a headache. [_He
goes out_.]
_The Doctor reads a moment_. _Then the door of the dressing-room opens_,
_and Fanny enters_. _Her dress is a wonderful contrast to her costume of
last evening_. _It might be that of a poor and demure nursery
governess_. _Her hair is dressed in keeping_. _She hardly seems the
same woman_.
FANNY [_seeing the Doctor_, _she pauses_]. Oh!
DR. FREEMANTLE [_rises_]. I beg pardon, have I the pleasure of seeing
Lady Bantock?
FANNY. Yes.
DR. FREEMANTLE. Delighted. May I introduce myself—Dr. Freemantle? I
helped your husband into the world.
FANNY. Yes. I’ve heard of you. You don’t mind my closing this door, do
you? [_Her very voice and manner are changed_.]
DR. FREEMANTLE [_a little puzzled_]. Not at all.
FANNY [_she closes the door and returns_]. Won’t—won’t you be seated?
DR. FREEMANTLE. Thanks. [_They both sit_.] How’s the headache?
FANNY. Oh, it’s better.
DR. FREEMANTLE. Ah! [_A silence_.] Forgive me—I’m an old friend of the
family. You’re not a bit what I expected.
FANNY. But you like it? I mean you think this—[_with a gesture_]—is all
right?
DR. FREEMANTLE. My dear young lady, it’s charming. You couldn’t be
anything else.
FANNY. Thank you.
DR. FREEMANTLE. I merely meant that—well, I was not expecting anything
so delightfully demure.
FANNY. That’s the idea—“seemly.” The Lady Bantocks have always been
“seemly”? [_She puts it as a question_.]
DR. FREEMANTLE [_more and more puzzled_]. Yes—oh, yes. They have always
been—[_His eye catches that of Constance_, _first Lady Bantock_, _looking
down at him from above the chimney-piece_. _His tone changes_.] Well,
yes, in their way, you know.
FANNY. You see, I’m in the difficult position of following her _late_
ladyship. _She_ appears to have been exceptionally “seemly.” This is
her frock. I mean it _was_ her frock.
DR. FREEMANTLE. God bless my soul! You are not dressing yourself up in
her late ladyship’s clothes? The dear good woman has been dead and
buried these twenty years.
FANNY [_she looks at her dress_]. Yes, it struck me as being about that
period.
DR. FREEMANTLE [_he goes across to her_]. What’s the trouble? Too much
Bennet?
FANNY [_she looks up_. _There is a suspicion of a smile_]. One might
say—sufficient?
DR. FREEMANTLE [_laughs_]. Excellent servants. If they’d only remember
it. [_He glances round—sinks his voice_.] Take my advice. Put your
foot down—before it’s too late.
FANNY. Sit down, please. [_She makes room for him on the settee_.]
Because I’m going to be confidential. You don’t mind, do you?
DR. FREEMANTLE [_seating himself_]. My dear, I take it as the greatest
compliment I have had paid to me for years.
FANNY. You put everything so nicely. I’m two persons. I’m an
angel—perhaps that is too strong a word?