[SCENE: _Rosamund's Flat; the drawing-room. The apartment is plainly furnished. There is a screen in the corner of the room furthest from the door. It is 9 A. M. Rosamund is seated alone at a table. She wears a neat travelling-dress, with a plain straw hat. Her gloves lie on a chair. A small portable desk full of papers is open before her. She gazes straight in front of her, smiling vaguely. With a start she recovers from her daydreams, and rushing to the looking-glass, inspects her features therein. Then she looks at her watch._] ROSAMUND. Three hours yet! I'm a fool [_with decision. She sits down again, and idly picks up a paper out of the desk. The door opens, unceremoniously but quietly, and James enters. The two stare at each other, James wearing a conciliatory smile_]. ROSAMUND. You appalling creature! JAMES. I couldn't help it, I simply couldn't help it. ROSAMUND. Do you know this is the very height and summit of indelicacy? JAMES. I was obliged to come. ROSAMUND. If I had any relations-- JAMES. Which you haven't. ROSAMUND. I say _if_ I had any relations-- JAMES. I say _which_ you haven't. ROSAMUND. Never mind, it is a safe rule for unattached women always to behave as if they had relations, especially female relations whether they have any or not. My remark is, that if I had any relations they would be absolutely scandalized by this atrocious conduct of yours. JAMES. What have I done? ROSAMUND. Can you ask? Here are you, and here am I. We are to be married to-day at twelve o'clock. The ceremony has not taken place, and yet you are found on my premises. You must surely be aware that on the day of the wedding the parties--yes, the "parties," that is the word--should on no account see each other till they see each other in church. JAMES. But since we are to be married at a registry office, does the rule apply? ROSAMUND. Undoubtedly. JAMES. Then I must apologize. My excuse is that I am not up in these minute details of circumspection; you see I have been married so seldom. ROSAMUND. Evidently. [_A pause, during which James at last ventures to approach the middle of the room._] Now you must go back home, and we'll pretend we haven't seen each other. JAMES. Never, Rosamund! That would be acting a lie. And I couldn't dream of getting married with a lie on my lips. It would be so unusual. No; we have sinned, or rather I have sinned, on this occasion. I will continue to sin--openly, brazenly. Come here, my dove. A bird in the hand is worth two under a bushel. [_He assumes an attitude of entreaty, and, leaving her chair, Rosamund goes towards him. They exchange an ardent kiss._] ROSAMUND [_quietly submissive_]. I'm awfully busy, you know, Jim. JAMES. I will assist you in your little duties, dearest, and then I will accompany you to the sacred ed--to the registry office. Now, what were you doing? [_She sits down, and he puts a chair for himself close beside her._]