irits,
Mary.

LADY MARY (gaily). I am.

LADY BROCKLEHURST (with a significant glance at LORD BROCKLEHURST).
After--

LADY MARY. I--I mean. The fact is--

(Again that disconcerting glance between the Countess and her son.)

LORD LOAM (humorously). She hears wedding bells, Emily, ha, ha!

LADY BROCKLEHURST (coldly). Do you, Mary? Can't say I do; but I'm hard
of hearing.

LADY MARY (instantly her match). If you don't, Lady Brocklehurst, I'm
sure I don't.

LORD LOAM (nervously). Tut, tut. Seen our curios from the island, Emily;
I should like you to examine them.

LADY BROCKLEHURST. Thank you, Henry. I am glad you say that, for I have
just taken the liberty of asking two of them to step upstairs. (There
is an uncomfortable silence, which the entrance of CRICHTON with TWEENY
does not seem to dissipate. CRICHTON is impenetrable, but TWEENY hangs
back in fear.)

LORD BROCKLEHURST (stoutly). Loam, I have no hand in this.

LADY BROCKLEHURST (undisturbed). Pooh, what have I done? You always
begged me to speak to the servants, Henry, and I merely wanted to
discover whether the views you used to hold about equality were adopted
on the island; it seemed a splendid opportunity, but Mr. Woolley has not
a word on the subject.

(All eyes turn to ERNEST.)

ERNEST (with confidence). The fact is--

(The fatal words again.)

LORD LOAM (not quite certain what he is to assure her of). I assure you,
Emily--

LADY MARY (as cold as steel). Father, nothing whatever happened on the
island of which I, for one, am ashamed, and I hope Crichton will be
allowed to answer Lady Brocklehurst's questions.

LADY BROCKLEHURST. To be sure. There's nothing to make a fuss about, and
we're a family party. (To CRICHTON.) Now, truthfully, my man.

CRICHTON (calmly). I promise that, my lady.

(Some hearts sink, the hearts that could never understand a Crichton.)

LADY BROCKLEHURST (sharply). Well, were you all equal on the island?

CRICHTON. No, my lady. I think I may say there was as little equality
there as elsewhere.

LADY BROCKLEHURST. Ah the social distinctions were preserved?

CRICHTON. As at home, my lady.

LADY BROCKLEHURST. The servants?

CRICHTON. They had to keep their place.

LADY BROCKLEHURST. Wonderful. How was it managed? (With an inspiration.)
You, girl, tell me that?

(Can there be a more critical moment?)

TWEENY (in agony). If you please, my lady, it was all the Gov.'s doing.

(They give themselves up for lo