SYDNEY. I am being good. I’m returning hint for hint. MISS FAIRFIELD. [_Ruffling_] Is this the way you let your daughter speak to me, Margaret? SYDNEY. [_Closing with her_] You see, she doesn’t enjoy being hinted at either. MARGARET. [_Between the upper and the nether mill-stone_] I don’t know what you mean, Sydney, but _don’t_! SYDNEY. I mean that I’m not going to let Aunt Hester interfere in my affairs like she does in yours. That’s what I mean. MISS FAIRFIELD. These are the manners they teach you at your fine school, I suppose! SYDNEY. Never mind, Auntie, I’ve had my lessons in the holidays too. You needn’t think I haven’t watched the life you’ve led Mother over this divorce business. MARGARET. [_Distressed at the discussion_] Sydney! Sydney! SYDNEY. [_Remorselessly_] Well, hasn’t she? What prevented you from marrying Gray ages ago? Father’s been out of his mind long enough, poor man! You knew you were free to be free. You knew you were making Gray miserable and yourself miserable--and yet, though that divorce law has been in force for years, it’s taken you all this time to fight your scruples. At least, you call them scruples! What you really mean is Aunt Hester and her prayer book. And now, when you have at last consented to give yourself a chance of being happy--when it’s Christmas Day and you’re going to be married at New Year--still you let Aunt Hester sit at your own breakfast table and insult you with talk about deadly sin. It’s no use pretending you didn’t Auntie, because Mother left my door open and I heard you. MARGARET. [_With a certain dignity_] Sydney, I can take care of myself. SYDNEY. [_Oblivious of it_] Take care of yourself! As if everybody didn’t ride rough-shod over you when I’m not there. MARGARET. Yes, but my pet, you musn’t break out like this. Of course your aunt knows you don’t really mean to be rude-- SYDNEY. I do mean to be rude to her when she’s rude to you. MARGARET. My dear, you quite misunderstand your aunt. SYDNEY. Oh, no, I don’t, Mother! [MARGARET _shrugs her shoulders helplessly and sits down on the sofa to the left of the fireplace_.] MISS FAIRFIELD. [_Rising_] I’m afraid you’ll have to go to church without me, Margaret. I’m thoroughly upset. You’ve brought up your daughter to ignore me, and I know why. I’m the wrong side of the family. I’m the one person in this house who remembers poor Hilary. I shall read the service in the drawing-room. [_She goes out._] SYDNEY. [_Looking after her_] She owes me something. She’s been dying for an excuse, with that cold. [_She turns to the sofa and says more gently_] What’s the use of crying, Mother? If Gray finds out there’ll be a row, and then Aunt Hester’ll be sorry she ever was born. MARGARET. It isn’t that. You get so excited, Sydney! You remind me--your father was so excitable. I don’t like to see it. SYDNEY. I’m not really. I needn’t let myself go if I don’t want to.