[_Gravely._] Quite so, Madam! [_With an old-fashioned bow._] I am glad to have seen you, Madam--I had heard--so much. But I must go now. I have to make sure Mr. Sanford has taken his medicine before retiring--his heart’s not just right. RICHARD. [_In a level voice._] Mr. Sanford, I presume, is the bridegroom? MARTIN. [_Withdrawing with grave courtesy._] Er--yes, sir! And somewhat excited over to-morrow. [MARTIN _steps into the cottage, putting out the electric lights and goes upstairs_. LYDIA. [_Regarding his retreating figure._] A nice-appearing old man, Richard! [_She comes quite close to him; then, softly._] I’m glad he’s not being married to-morrow! RICHARD. [_Starting._] What do you mean? LYDIA. [_Practically._] Well, I prefer their being horrid--like that man and that dreadful woman in the house! [_Reminiscently._] I couldn’t help being sorry for the gentle lady that was here,--oh, you know, quite a while ago! RICHARD. You mean the one they called “Virginia”? That was visiting Bird’s Nest before he brought her here to live? LYDIA. Yes, Virginia! But he didn’t really love her! We couldn’t have had _them_ about! What a cold she took that night! [_Placidly._] I guess it settled on her lungs right away! [_With a little smile._] They weren’t here when we came back. RICHARD. [_A trifle uncomfortably._] I know----! LYDIA. And another year--that dark beauty. He was speaking a foreign tongue to her when we came. “Celeste,” I think her name was. I think it is a French name. With what I had picked up at the Academy for Young Ladies, I could easily see they were planning to settle right here in a few weeks. She didn’t love him at all! [_With a mischievous laugh._] Do you remember how frightened she was, Richard? [_Smoothing her little panniers._] Big women are always such cowards! RICHARD. [_As before._] Yes, of course,--but---- LYDIA. [_With a touch of asperity._] What is it, Richard? RICHARD. You--we’ve upset the plans of a good many people, haven’t we? Need we bother any more about them? [_Gently._] We have each other--to-night----! LYDIA. [_With infinite wistfulness._] Ah, Richard! Richard! You are only a man----! [_Very low._] No one must live here! Don’t you understand? RICHARD. [_Started._] You mean--else we couldn’t come back? LYDIA. We couldn’t come back! Just think, Richard--[_Caressing him gently._] we couldn’t come back----! We’d wait all the long, long year, and then--when to-night came--we couldn’t come back----!