_Mrs. Tid._ She, she doesn't _deserve_--Oh, I don't know _what_ I'm saying. Of _course_, Lord STRATHSPORRAN, anything, _anything_ I can do to----I will send her down to you, if you will only wait. She shall not keep you long! _Lord Strath._ (_alone, to himself_). It's an ill wind, &c. I shall have MARJORY all to myself, now! To think that--but for a lucky blunder--I should be spelling out scarabs and things on the wrong side of that wall at this moment, and never dreaming that MARJORY was so----Ah, she's coming! (Miss SEATON _enters, looking pale and disconsolate._) MARJORY, you've no idea what you've missed! I _must_ tell you--it's too good to lose. What _do_ you think all these good people have been taking me for? You'll never guess! They actually believed I was hired from BLANKLEY'S! Give you my word they did!... Why don't you _laugh_, MARJORY? _Miss Seaton_ (_faintly_). I--I _am_ laughing. No, DOUGLAS, I'm not. I can't; I haven't the conscience to. Oh, I never meant you to know--but I must tell you, whatever comes of it! _I_ believed it too, at first. (_Tragically._) I _did_, DOUGLAS! _Lord Strath._ _Did_ you though, MARJORY? Then, by Jove, I _must_ have looked the character! _Miss Seaton_ (_timidly_). I knew you--you weren't very well off, DOUGLAS, and so I fancied you might----Oh, I know it was hateful of me ever to think such a thing, but I did. And you can never _really_ forgive me! _Lord Strath._ Couldn't think of it! Shall I tell you something else, MARJORY? I've a strong impression that you will not be an inmate of this happy English household _much_ longer. _Miss Seaton._ I'm _sure_ I shan't, from Mrs. TIDMARSH'S expression just now. But I don't care! _Lord Strath._ Don't be reckless. How do you know there isn't a moral lion about? And where will you go next, MARJORY? _Miss Seaton_ (_with a shrug_). I don't know. I suppose to anybody who wants a Governess, and doesn't mind taking her without a reference, if there _is_ such a person! _Lord Strath._ Well, oddly enough, I fancy I know somebody who has been trying for a long time to find a young person of just your age and appearance, and might be induced to waive a reference on a personal interview. (Miss SEATON _looks incredulous._)... MARJORY, don't you understand? If I hadn't been such a pauper, I'd have spoken long ago, when we were up in Scotland together, only it didn't seem fair then. I--I daresay I've no better chance now; but, at least, I've more right to speak than I had, and--and--will you have me, MARJORY? (_She turns away._) I--I won't worry you, dear, if you really can't care about me in that way; but--but if you only _could_, MARJORY, even a little! _Miss Seaton._ DOUGLAS!... _Same Scene--somewhat later._