_Captain Thicknesse._ What an observant young beggar you are, BEARPARK! Nothin' escapes you. No, I haven't. (_To_ Sir RUPERT, _rather sheepishly_.) Fact is, Sir, I--I somehow just missed the train, and--and--thought I might as well come back, instead of waitin' about, don't you know. _Sir Rupert_ (_heartily_). Why, of course, my dear boy, of course! Never have forgiven you if you _hadn't_. Great nuisance for _you_, though. Hope you blew the fool of a man up; he _ought_ to have been round in plenty of time. [Illustration: "Perhaps--when you come to think over it all quietly--you _will_."] _Capt. Thick._ Not the groom's fault, Sir. I kept him waitin' a bit, and--and we had to stop to shift the seat and that, and so---- _Und._ (_to himself_). Great blundering booby! Can't he see nobody wants him _here!_ As if he hadn't bored poor Lady MAISIE enough at breakfast! Ah, well, I must come to her rescue once more, I suppose! _Sir Rup._ Half an hour to lunch! Anybody like to come round to the stables? I'm going to see how my wife's horse _Deerfoot_ is getting on. Fond of horses, eh, Mr.--a--UNDERSHELL? Care to come with us? _Und._ (_to himself_). I've seen quite enough of _that_ beast already! (_Aloud, with some asperity._) You must really excuse me, Sir RUPERT. I am at one with Mr. RUSKIN--I _detest_ horses. _Sir Rup._ Ah? Pity. We're rather fond of 'em here. But we can't expect a poet to be a sportsman, eh? _Und._ For my own poor part, I confess I look forward to a day, not far distant, when the spread of civilisation will have abolished every form of so-called Sport. _Sir Rup._ _Do_ you, though? (_After conquering a choke with difficulty._) Allow me to hope that you will continue to enjoy the pleasures of anticipation as long as possible. (_To the rest._) Well, are you coming? [_All except_ UNDERSHELL _follow their host out_. _Und._ (_alone, to himself_). If they think I'm going to be _patronised_, or suppress my honest convictions----! Now I'll go and pick those---- (Lady MAISIE _enters from the Conservatory_.) Ah, Lady MAISIE, I have been trying to find you. I had plucked a few snowdrops, which I promised myself the pleasure of presenting to you. Unfortunately they--er--failed to reach their destination. _Lady Maisie_ (_distantly_). Thanks, Mr. BLAIR; I am only sorry you should have given yourself such unnecessary trouble. _Und._ (_detaining her, as she seemed about to pass on_). I have another piece of intelligence which you may hear less--er--philosophically, Lady MAISIE. Your _bête noire_ has returned. _Lady Maisie_ (_with lifted eyebrows_). My _bête noire_, Mr. BLAIR? _Und._ Why affect not to understand? I have an infallible instinct in all matters concerning _you_, and, sweetly tolerant as you are, I instantly divined what an insufferable nuisance you found our military friend, Captain THICKNESSE.