ON _inquiringly._] What----?
LADY FILSON.
[_Pointing to the open door._] H'sh!
[BERTRAM _shuts the door and_ LADY FILSON _seats herself
upon the settee on the right._
BERTRAM.
[_Coming to her._] What has happened, mother?
LADY FILSON.
What I conjectured. I was certain of it.
BERTRAM.
He _has_ proposed to my sister?
LADY FILSON.
Yes.
BERTRAM.
[_Struck by his mother's manner._] She has refused him?
LADY FILSON.
[_Nodding._] She's _eprise_ with another man.
BERTRAM.
Who is it?
LADY FILSON.
She didn't----
BERTRAM.
Is it Trefusis?
LADY FILSON.
_I_ believe it's Delacour.
BERTRAM.
[_Walking about._] Possibly! Possibly!
LADY FILSON.
[_Anxiously._] I do hope she realizes what she's doing, Bertram. Sir
Timothy could buy them both up, with something to spare.
BERTRAM.
I agree, my dear mother; but it would have been horribly offensive to
_us_, I mean t'say, to see the name of Ottoline's husband branded upon
sides of bacon in the windows of the provision-shops.
LADY FILSON.
Oh, disgusting! [_Brightening._] How sensibly you look at things,
darling!
BERTRAM.
[_Taking up a position before the fireplace._] Whereas George Delacour
and Edward Trefusis are undeniably gentlemen--gentlemen by birth and
breeding, I mean t'say.
LADY FILSON.
Trefusis is connected, through his brother, with the Northcrofts!
BERTRAM.
Quite so. If Ottoline married Edward, she would be Lady Juliet's
sister-in-law.
LADY FILSON.
Upon my word, Bertie, I don't know _which_ of the two I'd rather it
turned out to be!
[SIR RANDLE _returns, with a solemn countenance. He
closes the door and comes forward._
SIR RANDLE.
[_To_ LADY FILSON.] A melancholy morning, Winnie.
LADY FILSON.
[_Sighing._] A
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