_Mrs. Tid._ (_roused_). I hope I know how to make my own child obey me. GWENDOLEN, come out of that corner. Put down your book. (GWEN. _obeys_.) I wish you to repeat something to your Auntie--what you refused to say downstairs--_you_ know what I mean! _Gwen._ Do you mean the thing Miss SEATON said I wasn't to, because you'd be angry? _Mrs. Tid._ (_majestically_). Miss SEATON had no business to know whether I should be angry or not. She is only your Governess--_I_ am your Mother. And I shall be extremely angry if you don't repeat it at once--in fact, I shall send you off to bed. So you can choose for yourself. _Gwen._ I don't want to go to bed ... I'll tell, if I may whisper it. _Mrs. Tid._ Well, if you are too shy to speak out loud, you _may_ whisper. You see, Aunt, I am not _quite_ such a cipher as you fancied! [GWEN. _puts her mouth to_ Mrs. GILWATTLE'S _ear, and proceeds to whisper_. SCENE IX.--_Breakfast-room--Time, the same as in the foregoing Scene._ Mr. TIDMARSH, _after proposing to "join the ladies," much to the relief of_ Lord STRATHSPORRAN, _has brought him in here on the transparent pretext of showing him a picture_. _Mr. Tid._ (_carefully closing the door_). I only just wanted to tell you that I don't at all like the way you've been going on. It's not my wish to make complaints, but there _is_ a limit! _Lord Strath._ (_hotly_). There _is_--you're very near it now, Sir! (_To himself._) If I quarrel with this little beggar, I shan't see MARJORY! (_Controlling his temper._) Perhaps you'll kindly let me know what you complain of? _Mr. Tid._ Well, why couldn't you say you didn't smoke when my Uncle offered you one of his cigars? You must have felt me kick you under the table! _Lord. Strath._ I did--distinctly. But I gave you credit for its being accidental. And, if you wish to know, I said I smoked because I do. I don't see why you should expect me to _lie_ about it! _Mr. Tid._ I don't agree with you. I consider you ought to have had more tact, after the hint I gave you. _Lord Strath._ It didn't occur to me that you were trying to kick _tact_ into me. And, naturally, when I saw your Uncle about to smoke---- _Mr. Tid._ That was different, as you might have known. Why, _one_ cigar is as much as my wife can stand! _Lord Strath._ You--er--wouldn't wish her to smoke _more_ than one, surely? _Mr. Tid._ (_outraged_). My wife smoke! Never did such a thing in her life! She don't allow _me_ to smoke. She wouldn't allow Mr. GILWATTLE if he wasn't her Uncle. And I can tell you, when she comes down in the morning, and finds the curtains smelling of smoke, and hears you were the _other_, I shall catch it! _Lord Strath._ Sorry for you--but if you had only made your kick a trifle more explanatory----