ROSALINE (_with a shriek_). Oh, my heart! This is fate! REMBRANDT TEMPENNY (_alarmed_.) I beg your pardon? Don't go off like that. What's the matter? ROSALINE. It is _He_--_He_ who--! Oh, I am going to faint. REMBRANDT TEMPENNY. No,--no, for goodness' sake, don't do that. What do you mean by "he?" Here, I say, compose yourself. ROSALINE. It is the man I love. The finger of Fate is in it. Where is he? Bring him to me! Charlie, my own! REMBRANDT TEMPENNY (_very flustered_). Oh I say--look here, you know--? (_Aside_.) This is the devil and all--Charlie will never forgive me! (_Aloud_.) My dear good girl, he _isn't_ your "own," I assure you he isn't. There is a Mrs. Sylvester, as you know very well. (_Aside_.) If he comes in and finds her here, there's an end of all my sittings. What a piece of infernal luck to be sure! ROSALINE _(resolutely)._ Where is he? REMBRANDT TEMPENNY (_sullenly_). I don't know--I suppose he is at home. ROSALINE. Fetch him then--let me see his dear face again. REMBRANDT TEMPENNY. What??? ROSALINE. Bring him to me--now, this instant! We have been divided too long already. REMBRANDT TEMPENNY. You have, have you? ROSALINE. Far, far too long. REMBRANDT TEMPENNY (_aside_). I must humour her. (_Aloud_.) Well, perhaps you _have_, on second thoughts. Yes, it is a long time. ROSALINE. I have never forgotten him. I have always treasured his memory in my soul. REMBRANDT TEMPENNY (_soothingly_). That was very nice of you. You are a very nice girl--I saw it at once. ROSALINE. _He_ used to say that--he used to call me his "Toppett." REMBRANDT TEMPENNY. His little "Toppett?" It is a pretty name, and I am sure he will be delighted to find you here, when he comes. It will be a surprise for him, won't it; quite a surprise! (_Aside_.) A perfect devil of a surprise! ROSALINE. For all he knows I might be dead--dead with the violets blooming over my tomb. REMBRANDT TEMPENNY. Yes, yes,--buttercups and daisies. (_Aside_.) I shall get the giddy push from here when he does come; I see it sticking out a foot. (_Aloud_.) I say, Poppett--I mean "Rosaline," do you feel equal to going on with the sitting till he arrives? ROSALINE (_passively_). As you please--I must live. REMBRANDT TEMPENNY (_aside._) It is doubtful whether Sylvester will see it in the same light. (_Aloud_.) Well, then, suppose you take up your position again. (_He poses her with much difficulty, as each time he places her arms in the required attitude, she moves to wipe away a tear_). REMBRANDT TEMPENNY. There, now we've got it at last. (_He goes back to the easel, and commences to work_). ROSALINE. (_Bursting into sobs, and collapsing altogether_.) Boo--hoo--hoo! REMBRANDT TEMPENNY (_despairingly_). Oh, great Jupiter! This is too much! Can't you contain your emotion? I know it is very praiseworthy, but can't you bottle it up? How on earth am I to paint you while you keep going on like this. (_The street-door bell rings_).