THE FIRST ACT SIR DAVID CARLYON'S _country house_; VERA'S _sitting-room. Window right, behind window a curtain on a rod projecting into the room and forming a recess. By window table strewn with books and papers. The books chiefly foreign, with paper backs. On another table a very large birdcage covered with a tablecloth. Doors in the left corner of the back wall, and in the side wall, right._ ELIZABETH _discovered sitting in a large chair in the recess_. VERA _holding an ophthalmoscope_. ELIZABETH. Am I sitting right, dear? VERA. Yes, that's it. Just the same as before. [_Drawing the curtain so as to darken the recess._] Now, I must let the light fall full on your eye--just for a minute. Don't wink. That's all; now you can go right into the dark again, Elizabeth. [ELIZABETH _comes out rubbing her eyes_.] I'm afraid it hurt; it is so kind of you! ELIZABETH. Not at all, dear. And it is all right as soon as I get into the dark again. VERA. Should you like to see what the end of your optic nerve is like? There! [_Showing plate in a book._ ELIZABETH. Dear me, Vera; is there anything wrong with me? VERA. Not a thing! That's a picture of a typical healthy eye. You are quite uninteresting, you and Father both! ELIZABETH. I don't see how _his_ eyes can be uninteresting. VERA. From Dr. Rheinhardt's point of view, quite. Here are two abnormal ones. See how different they are from yours. ELIZABETH. [_Without interest._] Yes, dear. [_Hesitating._] I was wondering---- VERA. You see the depression of that line? That man died insane in two years. If ever one saw that, one would know---- [_Breaks off._] What did you say? ELIZABETH. That poor bird: I wondered if I might feed him in here, where it's warm? VERA. [_Suspiciously._] What are you going to feed him with? ELIZABETH. [_Apologetically._] Well, you see, Vera, he is really ill. He won't eat anything at all unless it's alive. VERA. Then you can't feed him in my room! ELIZABETH. Very well, dear. [_Goes and takes the great cage._] Do you know, Vera, I think you are really a little unkind about my eagles. VERA. I can't think why father ever gave you such horrid things! ELIZABETH. I dare say I shouldn't care for them so much if he hadn't given them to me. But really, Vera, they are such splendid great things, with their fierce eyes---- VERA. Oh, their looks are magnificent; it's their habits! But I must get to work again. [_Turns to the table and opens a book_; ELIZABETH _is moving towards the door back, when enter_ SERVANT, U.L. SERVANT. If you please, ma'am, a gentleman asking for Sir David. ELIZABETH. Oh! [_Moving towards door_ R. _with evident wish to escape_. VERA. Don't run away, Elizabeth. ELIZABETH. I think I must, dear. [_Exit_ ELIZABETH. VERA. I cannot see any one till five. [ADENE _appears behind_ SERVANT _in doorway_. ADENE. I beg your pardon, Miss Carlyon, I only wanted to ask---- VERA.