MRS. WESTERN. [_Roughly._] I don't care _what_ you think. Leave me alone!
[_There is silence. The_ JUDGE, _sitting by the fire, whistles
loudly "Waltz me around again, Willie!"_ HARVEY _has gone moodily
across the room and stands by the sideboard._ MRS. BANKET _is
sitting behind the table. After a moment the door opens, and_
MISS FARREN _comes in, with hat and cloak on, and goes straight
to_ MRS. WESTERN. _She is an extremely pretty girl of twenty._
MISS FARREN. You want me, Mrs. Western?
MRS. WESTERN. Oh, Miss Farren, I've lost my bracelet.
MISS FARREN. Really! I'm so sorry! Where?
MRS. WESTERN. I don't know. You didn't see it, of course, after we'd gone?
MISS FARREN. [_Shaking her head._] No--and no one came in. I was writing
the letter to Harrod's.
MRS. WESTERN. No one at all?
MISS FARREN. No--I'm sure of that. And I'd hardly got to my room when I
heard the car come back.
MRS. WESTERN. Well, thank you, Miss Farren.
MISS FARREN. It's very annoying. You're sure it's not in the car?
JUDGE. My dear Miss Farren, it's not in the car, it's not anywhere, and
I'm beginning to believe it never was at all. Come, Alice, let's go. We
shan't see much of the play, but we can at least help the British drama by
buying two programmes.
MISS FARREN. [_With a light laugh--then turning to_ MRS. WESTERN _again._]
Do you want me any more, Mrs. Western?
MRS. WESTERN. No, thanks. [MISS FARREN _turns to go_--MRS. WESTERN, _who
has suddenly cast an eager glance at her, as though attracted by
something, calls her back._] Oh, Miss Farren!
MISS FARREN. [_Turning._] Yes?
MRS. WESTERN. I wonder whether you'd be so good as to shift this aigrette
of mine--it's hurting me.
MISS FARREN. Certainly.
[_She comes back to_ MRS. WESTERN, _and stands by her side; as
she raises her arm_ MRS. WESTERN _jumps up and seizes it by the
wrist._
MRS. WESTERN. My bracelet!
[_Keeping a tight hold of_ MISS FARREN'S _wrist, she holds it at
arm's length. There is a general cry of amazement--the_ JUDGE
_and his wife start to their feet_--HARVEY _rushes eagerly
towards her._
JUDGE. Alice!
MRS. BANKET. Oh!