The Gay Lord Quex Part 72

QUEX.

Eh?

MURIEL.

[_Rising, and speaking in a low, appealing voice._] Give me your word you have been loyal to me, down to your very thought, since our engagement.

QUEX.

[_Earnestly._] Muriel, I--

MURIEL.

Hus.h.!.+ [_Giving him her hand._] I believe you. [_The door-gong sounds._]

And, look here! I haven't been quite fair, or generous, to you, I am afraid. But I am going to be different--

QUEX.

After to-day!

MURIEL.

From this moment. Harry--

QUEX.

Hey?

MURIEL.

I won't keep you till the end of the year. Marry me, and have done with it, directly the Season is over, and take me away.

QUEX.

[_Bending over her hand._] Good heavens--! [MISS LIMBIRD _holds the_ portiere _aside and admits_ LADY OWBRIDGE, _the_ d.u.c.h.eSS OF STROOD, _and_ MRS. EDEN. MISS LIMBIRD _then returns to her desk._ QUEX _goes to_ LADY OWBRIDGE, _takes her arm, and leads her forward._] Aunt Julia!

aunt! my dear aunt Julia!

[_The_ d.u.c.h.eSS _joins_ FRAYNE. MRS. EDEN _comes to_ MURIEL _and receives the news of the hastened marriage._ SOPHY _moves away to the window._

QUEX.

[_Excitedly, to_ LADY OWBRIDGE.] Oh, my dear aunt!

LADY OWBRIDGE.

What ails you, Henry?

QUEX.

Muriel! she--she--she's going to marry me!

LADY OWBRIDGE.

I hope so.

QUEX.

But at the end of the Season! a month hence! a month, a month, a month!

LADY OWBRIDGE.

My dear boy! Heaven prosper your union! Muriel--

MRS. EDEN.

[_To_ LADY OWBRIDGE.] Isn't this glorious news, Lady Owbridge? But I always thought it unwise to protract the engagement. You never know _what_ may happen, do you? I must tell the dear d.u.c.h.ess--

[_She joins the_ d.u.c.h.eSS _and_ FRAYNE, _and chatters to them._

LADY OWBRIDGE.

[_To_ MURIEL, _in a low voice._] Muriel, you are right. In this life, if you have anything to pardon, pardon quickly. Slow forgiveness is little better than no forgiveness.

MRS. EDEN.

[_Coming to_ QUEX.] Congratulate you.

QUEX.

Thanks.

[LADY OWBRIDGE _moves away, joining the_ d.u.c.h.eSS, _as_ MRS. EDEN _returns to_ MURIEL.

MRS. EDEN.

[_Kissing_ MURIEL.] You sensible girl!

[FRAYNE _comes to_ QUEX.

FRAYNE.

[_To_ QUEX, _mournfully._] Old chap, this is shockingly sudden.

QUEX.

Ha, ha!

FRAYNE.