FANNY. The excitement! Do you know what an actress’s life always seemed to me like? Dancing on a tight-rope with everybody throwing stones at you. One soon gets tired of that sort of excitement. Oh, I was never in love with the stage. Had to do something for a living. THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL. It must be a hard life for a woman. THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL. Especially for anyone not brought up to it. FANNY. You see, I had a good voice and what I suppose you might call a natural talent for acting. It seemed the easiest thing. THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL. I suppose your family were very much opposed to it? [_Vernon rises_. _He stands with his back to the fire_.] FANNY. My family? Hadn’t any! THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL. No family? _Bennet enters_. _Vernon and Fanny left the door open_. _He halts_, _framed by the doorway_. FANNY. No. You see, I was an only child. My father and mother both died before I was fourteen. THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL. But your uncle? FANNY. Oh, him! It was to get away from him and all that crew that I went on the stage. THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL. It is so sad when relations don’t get on together. FANNY. Sadder still when they think they’ve got a right to trample on you, just because you happen to be an orphan and—I don’t want to talk about my relations. I want to forget them. I stood them for nearly six months. I don’t want to be reminded of them. I want to forget that they ever existed. I want to forget— _Bennet has come down very quietly_. _Fanny_, _from where he stands_, _is the only one who sees him_. _He stands looking at her_, _his features_, _as ever_, _immovable_. _At sight of him her eyes and mouth open wider and wider_. _The words die away from her tongue_. _Vernon has turned away to put a log on the fire_, _and so has not seen her expression—only hears her sudden silence_. _He looks up and sees Bennet_. VERNON. Ah, Bennet! [_He advances_, _holding out his hand_.] You quite well? BENNET [_shaking hands with him_]. Quite well. VERNON. Good! And all the family? BENNET. Nothing to complain of. Charles has had a touch of influenza. VERNON. Ah, sorry to hear that. BENNET. And your lordship? VERNON. Fit as a fiddle—your new mistress. _Fanny has risen_. _Bennet turns to her_. _For a moment his back is towards the other three_. _Fanny alone sees his face_. BENNET. We shall endeavour to do our duty to her ladyship. [_He turns to Vernon_.] I had arranged for a more fitting reception— VERNON. To tell the honest truth, Bennet, the very thing we were afraid of—why we walked from the station, and slipped in by the side door. [_Laughing_.] Has the luggage come? BENNET. It has just arrived. It was about that I came to ask. I could not understand— _The Misses Wetherell have also risen_. _Fanny’s speechless amazement is attributed by them and Vernon to natural astonishment at discovery of his rank_.