_Captain Thicknesse_ (_to himself_). I may just as well get back to Aldershot to-morrow--_now_. I'll go and prepare Lady C.'s mind, in case. It's hard luck; just when everything seemed goin' right! I'd give somethin' to have the other bard back, I know. It's no earthly use my tryin' to stand against _this_ one! PART XX DIFFERENT PERSONS HAVE DIFFERENT OPINIONS LADY MAISIE'S _Room at Wyvern_. TIME--_Saturday night, about_ 11.30. _Lady Maisie_ (_to_ PHILLIPSON, _who is brushing her hair_). You are _sure_ mamma isn't expecting me? (_Irresolutely._) Perhaps I had better just run in and say good night. _Phillipson._ I wouldn't recommend it, really, my lady; her ladyship seems a little upset in her nerves this evening. _Lady Maisie_ (_to herself_). _Il-y-a de quoi!_ (_Aloud, relieved._) It might only disturb her, certainly.... I hope they are making you comfortable here, Phillipson? _Phillipson._ Very much so indeed, thank you, my lady. The tone of the room downstairs is _most_ superior. _Lady Maisie._ _That's_ satisfactory. And I hear you have met an old admirer of yours here--Mr. Spurrell, I mean. _Phillipson._ We _did_ happen to encounter each other in one of the galleries, my lady, just for a minute; though I shouldn't have expected _him_ to allude to it! _Lady Maisie._ Indeed! And why not? _Phillipson._ Mr. James Spurrell appears to have elevated himself to a very different sphere from what he occupied when _I_ used to know him, my lady; though how and why he comes to be where he is, I don't rightly understand myself at present. _Lady Maisie_ (_to herself_). And no wonder! I feel horribly guilty! (_Aloud._) You mustn't blame poor Mr. Spurrell, Phillipson; _he_ couldn't help it! _Phillipson_ (_with studied indifference_). I'm not blaming him, my lady. If he prefers the society of his superiors to mine, he's very welcome to do so; there's others only too willing to take his place! _Lady Maisie._ Surely none who would be as fond of you or make so good a husband, Phillipson! _Phillipson._ That's as maybe, my lady. There was one young man that travelled down in the same compartment, and sat next me at supper in the room. I could see he took a great fancy to me from the first, and his attentions were really quite pointed. I am sure I couldn't bring myself to repeat his remarks, they were so flattering! _Lady Maisie._ Don't you think you will be rather a foolish girl if you allow a few idle compliments from a stranger to outweigh such an attachment as Mr. Spurrell seems to have for you? _Phillipson._ If _he_'s found new friends, my lady, I consider myself free to act similarly. _Lady Maisie._ Then you don't know? He told us quite frankly this evening that he had only just discovered you were here, and would much prefer to be where you were. He went down to the housekeeper's room on purpose.