THE RECTOR. Ah! Excellent--excellent! Do! THE SQUIRE. Wonder if her husband shoots? She seems quite-er--quite---- LADY ELLA. [Watching the door] Quite! Altogether charming; one of the nicest faces I ever saw. [THE DOCTOR comes out alone.] Oh! Doctor--have you? is it----? DOCTOR. Right as rain! She held him like an angel--he just licked her, and never made a sound. LADY ELLA. Poor darling! Can I---- [She signs toward the door.] DOCTOR. Better leave 'em a minute. She's moppin' 'im off. [He wrinkles his nose] Wonderful clever hands! THE SQUIRE. I say--who is she? DOCTOR. [Looking from face to face with a dubious and rather quizzical expression] Who? Well--there you have me! All I know is she's a first-rate nurse--been helpin' me with a case in Ditch Lane. Nice woman, too--thorough good sort! Quite an acquisition here. H'm! [Again that quizzical glance] Excuse me hurryin' off--very late. Good-bye, Rector. Good-bye, Lady Ella. Good-bye! [He goes. A silence.] THE SQUIRE. H'm! I suppose we ought to be a bit careful. [JARVIS, flyman of the old school, has appeared on the verandah.] JARVIS. [To THE RECTOR] Beg pardon, sir. Is the little dog all right? MAUD. Yes. JARVIS. [Touching his hat] Seein' you've missed your train, m'm, shall I wait, and take you 'ome again? MAUD. No. JARVIS. Cert'nly, m'm. [He touches his hat with a circular gesture, and is about to withdraw.] LADY ELLA. Oh, Jarvis--what's the name of the people here? JARVIS. Challenger's the name I've driven 'em in, my lady. THE SQUIRE. Challenger? Sounds like a hound. What's he like? JARVIS. [Scratching his head] Wears a soft 'at, sir. THE SQUIRE. H'm! Ah! JARVIS. Very nice gentleman, very nice lady. 'Elped me with my old mare when she 'ad the 'ighsteria last week--couldn't 'a' been kinder if they'd 'a' been angels from 'eaven. Wonderful fond o' dumb animals, the two of 'em. I don't pay no attention to gossip, meself. MAUD. Gossip? What gossip? JARVIS. [Backing] Did I make use of the word, m'm? You'll excuse me, I'm sure. There's always talk where there's newcomers. I takes people as I finds 'em. THE RECTOR. Yes, yes, Jarvis--quite--quite right! JARVIS. Yes, sir. I've--I've got a 'abit that way at my time o' life. MAUD. [Sharply] How long have they been here, Jarvis? JARVIS. Well---er--a matter of three weeks, m'm. [A slight involuntary stir.] [Apologetic] Of course, in my profession I can't afford to take notice of whether there's the trifle of a ring between 'em, as the sayin' is. 'Tisn't 'ardly my business like. [A silence.] LADY ELLA. [Suddenly] Er--thank you, Jarvis; you needn't wait. JARVIS. No, m'lady. Your service, sir--service, m'm. [He goes. A silence.] THE SQUIRE. [Drawing a little closer] Three weeks? I say--er-- wasn't there a book? THE RECTOR. [Abstracted] Three weeks----I certainly haven't seen them in church.