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VERNON。 You see； dear； it might hurt them； coming from me。 It would seem like ingratitude。 Mrs。 BennetWhy； it wasn't till I began to ask questions that I grasped the fact that she WASN'T my real mother。 As for old Bennet； ever since my father diedwell； I hardly know how I could have got on without him。 It was Charles Bennet that taught me to ride； I learned my letters sitting on Jane's lap。
FANNY。 Yes。 Perhaps I had better do it myself。
VERNON。 I'm sure it will be more effective。 Of course I shall support you。
FANNY。 Thank you。 Oh； by the by； dear； I shan't be able to go with you to…day。
VERNON。 Why not？
FANNY。 I've rather a headache。
VERNON。 Oh； I'm so sorry。 Oh； all right； we'll stop at home。 I'm not so very keen about it。
FANNY。 No； I want you to go； dear。 Your aunts are looking forward to it。 I shall get over it all the sooner with everybody out of the way。
VERNON。 Well； if you really wish it。
The Misses Wetherell steal in。 They are dressed for driving。 They exchange greetings with the Doctor。
FANNY。 You know you promised to obey。 ＇Tickles his nose with a flower。＇
VERNON ＇laughingto the Doctor＇。 You see what it is to be married？
DR。 FREEMANTLE ＇laughs＇。 Very trying。
VERNON ＇turning to his aunts＇。 Fanny isn't coming with us。
THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL ＇to Fanny＇。 Oh； my dear！
FANNY。 It's only a headache。 ＇She takes her aside。＇ I'm rather glad of it。 I want an excuse for a little time to myself。
THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL。 I understand； dear。 It's all been so sudden。 ＇She kisses herthen to the room＇ She'll be all the better alone。 We three will go on。 ＇She nods and signs to her sister。＇
FANNY ＇kissing the Elder Miss Wetherell＇。 Don't you get betting。
THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL。 Oh no； dear； we never do。 It's just to see the dear horses。 ＇She joins her sister。 They whisper。＇
VERNON ＇to the Doctor to whom he has been talking＇。 Can we give you a lift？
DR。 FREEMANTLE。 Well； you might as far as the Vicarage。 Good…bye； Lady Bantock。
FANNY ＇shaking hands＇。 Good…bye； Doctor。
VERNON。 Sure you won't be lonely？
FANNY ＇laughs＇。 Think I can't exist an hour without you？ Mr。 Conceited！
VERNON ＇laughs and kisses her＇。 Come along。 ＇He takes the Doctor and his younger Aunt towards the door。＇
THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL ＇who is following last＇。 I like you in that frock。
FANNY ＇laughs＇。 So glad。 It's Ernest who attends to the fires； isn't it？
THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL。 Yes； dear。
FANNY。 I wish you'd send him up。 ＇At doorcalls after them＇ Hope you'll all enjoy yourselves！
VERNON ＇from the distance＇。 I shall put you on a fiver。
FANNY。 Mind it wins。 ＇She listens a momentcloses door； comes back to desk； and takes a Bradshaw。＇ Five…six…threefive…six…three。 ＇Finds page。＇ St。 Pancras； eight o'clock。 Oh； Lord！ Stamford； 10。45。 Leave Stamford＇Ernest has entered。＇ Is that you； Ernest？
ERNEST。 Yes。
FANNY。 Shut the door。 Sure it went off last night； that telegram？
ERNEST。 Yes。
FANNY。 If he doesn't catch that eight o'clock； he can't get here till nearly four。 That will be awkward。 ＇To Ernest＇ What time is it now？
ERNEST ＇looks at clock＇。 Twenty past eleven。
FANNY。 If he does； he'll be here about twelveI believe I'll go and meet him。 Could I get out without being seen？
ERNEST。 You'll have to pass the lodge。
FANNY。 Who's at the lodge now？
ERNEST。 Mother。
FANNY。 Damn！
Bennet has entered unnoticed and drawn near。 At this point from behind； he boxes Ernest's ears。
ERNEST。 Here； steady！
BENNET。 On the occasions when your cousin forgets her position； you will remember it and remind her of it。 Get out！ ＇Ernest； clumsily as ever； 〃gets out。〃＇ A sort of person has called who； according to his own account； 〃happened to be passing this way；〃 and would like to see you。
FANNY ＇who has been trying to hide the Bradshawwith affected surprise。＇ To see me！
BENNET ＇drily＇。 Yes。 I thought you would be surprised。 He claims to be an old friend of yoursMr。 George Newte。
FANNY ＇still keeping it up＇。 George Newte！ Of courseah； yes。 Do you mind showing him up？
BENNET。 I thought I would let you know he had arrived； in case you might be getting anxious about him。 I propose giving him a glass of beer and sending him away again。
FANNY ＇flares up＇。 Look here； uncle； you and I have got to understand one another。 I may put up with being bullied myselfif I can't see any help for itbut I'm not going to stand my friends being insulted。 You show Mr。 Newte up here。
A silence。
BENNET。 I shall deem it my duty to inform his lordship of Mr。 Newte's visit。
FANNY。 There will be no need to。 Mr。 Newte； if his arrangements permit； will be staying to dinner。
BENNET。 That； we shall see about。 ＇He goes out。＇
FANNY ＇following him to door＇。 And tell them I shall want the best bedroom got ready in case Mr。 Newte is able to stay the night。 I've done it。 ＇She goes to piano； dashes into the 〃Merry Widow Waltz；〃 or some other equally inappropriate but well…known melody； and then there enters Newte； shown in by Bennet。 Newte is a cheerful person； attractively dressed in clothes suggestive of a successful bookmaker。 He carries a white pot hat and tasselled cane。 His gloves are large and bright。 He is smoking an enormous cigar。＇
BENNET。 Mr。 Newte。
FANNY ＇she springs up and greets him。 They are evidently good friends＇ 。 Hulloa； George！
NEWTE。 Hulloa； FanI beg your pardon； Lady Bantock。 ＇Laughs。＇ Was just passing this way …
FANNY ＇cutting him short＇。 Yes。 So nice of you to call。
NEWTE。 I said to myself＇His eye catches Bennet； he stops。＇ Ah； thanks。 ＇He gives Bennet his hat and stick； but Bennet does not seem satisfied。 He has taken from the table a small china tray。 This he is holding out to Newte； evidently for Newte to put something in it。 But what？ Newte is puzzled； he glances at Fanny。 The idea strikes him that perhaps it is a tip Bennet is waiting for。 It seems odd； but if it be the customhe puts his hand to his trousers pocket。＇
BENNET。 The smoking…room is on the ground…floor。
NEWTE。 Ah； my cigar。 I beg your pardon。 I couldn't understand。 ＇He puts it on the traybreaks into a laugh。＇
BENNET。 Thank you。 Her ladyship is suffering from a headache。 If I might suggesta little less boisterousness。 ＇He goes out。＇
NEWTE ＇he watches him out＇。 I say； your Lord Chamberlain's a bit of a freezer！
FANNY。 Yes。 Wants hanging out in the sun。 How did you manage to get here so early？ ＇She sits。＇
NEWTE。 Well； your telegram rather upset me。 I thoughtcorrect etiquette for me to sit down here； do you think？
FANNY。 Don't ask me。 Got enough new tricks of my own to learn。 ＇Laughs。＇ Should chance it； if I were you。
NEWTE。 Such a long time since I was at Court。 ＇He sits。＇ Yes； I was up at five o'clock this morning。
FANNY ＇laughs＇。 Oh； you poor fellow！
NEWTE。 Caught the first train to Melton； and came on by cart。 What's the trouble？
FANNY。 A good deal。 Why didn't you tell me what I was marrying？
NEWTE。 I did。 I told you that he was a gentleman； that he …
FANNY。 Why didn't you tell me that