ANN. I know it.
LORD JOHN. And love me?
ANN. I suppose so.
LORD JOHN. Make sure.
ANN. But I hate you too . . I know that.
LORD JOHN. Shall I kiss you?
ANN. [_Helplessly._] Yes.
_He kisses her full on the lips._
ANN. I can't hate you enough.
LORD JOHN. [_Triumphantly._] Speak the truth now.
ANN. I feel very degraded.
LORD JOHN. Nonsense.
ANN. [_Wretchedly._] This is one of the things which don't matter.
LORD JOHN. Ain't you to be mine?
ANN. You want the right to behave like that as well as the power.
LORD JOHN. You shall command me.
ANN. [_With a poor laugh._] I rather like this in a way.
LORD JOHN. Little coquette!
ANN. It does tickle my vanity.
_For a moment he sits looking at her, then shakes himself to his feet._
LORD JOHN. Now I must go.
ANN. Yes . . I want to think.
LORD JOHN. For Heaven's sake . . no!
ANN. I came this morning straight to where we were last night.
LORD JOHN. As I hung about the garden my heart was beating.
ANN. I shall like you better when you're not here.
LORD JOHN. We're to meet in Brighton?
ANN. I'm afraid so.
LORD JOHN. Good-bye.
ANN. There's just a silly sort of attraction between certain people, I
believe.
LORD JOHN. Can you look me in the eyes and say you don't love me?
ANN. If I looked you in the eyes you'd frighten me again. I can say
anything.
LORD JOHN. You're a deep child.
GEORGE LEETE _appears on the terrace_.
GEORGE. My lord!
LORD JOHN. [_Cordially._] My dear Leete.
GEORGE. No . . I am not surprised to see you.
ANN. George, things are happening.
LORD JOHN. Shake hands.
GEORGE. I will not.
ANN. Lord John asks me to be married to him. Shake hands.
GEORGE. Why did you fight?
ANN. Why did you fight?
LORD JOHN. [_Shrugging._] Your father struck me.
ANN. Now you've hurt him . . that's fair.
_Then the two men do shake hands, not heartily._
GEORGE. We've trapped you, my lord.
LORD JOHN. I know what I want. I love your sister.
ANN. I don't like you . . but if you're good and I'm good we shall get
on.
GEORGE. Why shouldn't one marry politically?
LORD JOHN. [_In_ ANN'S _ear_.] I love you.
ANN. No . . no . . no . . no . . no . . [_Discovering in this an echo of
her father, she stops short._]
GEORGE. We're a cold-blooded family.
LORD JOHN. I don't think so.
GEORGE. I married for love.
LORD JOHN. Who doesn't? But, of course there should be other reasons.
GEORGE. You won't receive my wife.
LORD JOHN. Here's your sister.
LADY COTTESHAM _comes from the direction of the house_.
SARAH. Back again?
LORD JOHN. You see.
_From the other side appears_ MR. TATTON.
MR. TATTON. As you all seem to be here I don't mind interrupting.
GEORGE. [_Hailing him._] Well . . neighbour?
MR. TATTON. Come . . come . . what's a little fighting more or less!
GEORGE. Bravo, English sentiment . . relieves a deal of awkwardness.
_The two shake hands._
SARAH. [_Who by this has reached_ LORD JOHN.] . . And back so soon?
ANN. Lord John asks to marry me.
LORD JOHN. Yes.
MR. TATTON. I guessed so . . give me a bit of romance!
SARAH. [_Suavely._] This is perhaps a little sudden, my dear Lord John.
Papa may naturally be a little shocked.
GEORGE. Not at all, Sarah.
MR. TATTON. How's the wound?
GEORGE. Not serious . . nothing's serious.
SARAH. You are very masterful, wooing sword in hand.
ANN. George and I have explained to Lord John that we are all most
anxious to marry me to him and he doesn't mind--