What a pity it is you’re so poor! Your principles are really excellent. GERALD. But what about Nellie? How will she take it? LADY SELLENGER. She’s so reserved, poor dear! She never speaks of her feelings. But after three London seasons most girls have learnt to bow to the inevitable. And how is Lord Hollington? GERALD. He’s to be married as soon as he comes back from India. LADY SELLENGER. It was dreadfully sad that his uncle and his cousin should die within a year. If anything happened to him you’d be in very different circumstances. But, of course, it would be wicked to wish it. I hope you never do. GERALD. Never. I trust he’ll live to a hundred. LADY SELLENGER. And I daresay he’ll have fifteen children. Those delicate men often do.... Why don’t you speak to Nellie now and get it over? GERALD. This very minute? With others in the room? LADY SELLENGER. That’s just it, I want to give neither of you any opportunity for sentiment. GERALD. You’re certainly very practical. LADY SELLENGER. No woman can afford to be sentimental when she has a marriageable daughter.... For heaven’s sake don’t make Nellie cry, we’re dining out to-night. GERALD. I’ll do my best to be very matter of fact. LADY SELLENGER. [_Raising her voice._] Mr. Blenkinsop, I want to quarrel with you! BLENKINSOP. [_Coming forward._] You fill me with consternation. LADY SELLENGER. You passed us in Pall Mall this afternoon and you cut us dead. BLENKINSOP. I’m so sorry, I didn’t see you. I’d just been to the War Office to inquire if there was any news of those fellows out in India. By the way, Halstane, isn’t Hollington a relation of yours? GERALD. Yes, why? BLENKINSOP. Haven’t you seen anything in the paper? GERALD. No. BLENKINSOP. Oh, but surely. There’s sure to be something about it in the _Westminster_. [_He takes up the paper._ GERALD. That’s an early one. [_Faintly are heard the cries of “Special.”_ FREDDIE. Listen, there’s the last edition coming along. LADY SELLENGER. But what is it, Mr. Blenkinsop? BLENKINSOP. A small force was sent out to punish some local people up in the hills, who’d been making themselves troublesome, and it hasn’t been heard of since. The idea is that there may have been some trouble and they’ve all got cut up. MRS. DOT. But how does it concern Lord Hollington? BLENKINSOP. He was in command of it. GERALD. Good God! BLENKINSOP. When I was there a couple of hours ago the War Office had no news at all. GERALD. But why didn’t you tell me about it? BLENKINSOP. I thought you knew. I’d forgotten for the moment that Hollington had anything to do with you. He’s a very distant relation, isn’t he? GERALD. Yes, I hardly know him. LADY SELLENGER. But if anything has happened to him.... [_Cries outside of “Special, Special.”_ MRS. DOT. Why don’t you get a paper? Freddie, run and get one, will you? GERALD. No, Charles can go. [_He rings, and_ CHARLES _immediately comes in_. GERALD.