_Und._ (_recovering his sang-froid_). I am hardly likely to have heard of it from any other quarter. _Lady Maisie._ Of course not. And did he tell you that she was here, in this very house? _Und._ No, he never mentioned _that_. What a singular coincidence! _Lady Maisie._ Yes, rather. The worst of it is that the foolish girl seems to have heard that he was a guest here, and jumped to the conclusion that he had ceased to care for her; so she revenged herself by a desperate flirtation with some worthless wretch she met in the Housekeeper's Room, whose flattery and admiration, I'm very much afraid, have completely turned her head! _Und._ (_uncomfortably_). Ah, well, she must learn to forget him, and no doubt, in time---- How wonderful the pale sunlight is on that yew hedge! _Lady Maisie._ You are not very sympathetic! I should not have told you at all, only I wanted to show you that if poor Mr. SPURRELL _did_ innocently usurp your place, he may have lost---- But I see all this only bores you. _Und._ Candidly, Lady MAISIE, I can't affect a very keen interest in the--er--gossip of the Housekeeper's Room. Indeed I am rather surprised that _you_ should condescend to listen to---- _Lady Maisie_ (_to herself_). This is really _too_ much! (_Aloud._) It never occurred to me that I was "condescending" in taking an interest in a pretty and wayward girl who happens to be my maid. But then I'm not a Democrat, Mr. BLAIR. _Und._ I--I'm afraid you construed my remark as a rebuke; which it was not at all intended to be. _Lady Maisie._ It would have been rather uncalled for if it had been, wouldn't it? (_Observing his growing uneasiness._) I'm afraid you don't find this bench quite comfortable? _Und._ I--er--moderately so. (_To himself._) There's a female figure coming down the terrace steps. It's horribly like---- But that must be my morbid fancy; still, if I can get Lady MAISIE away, just in case---- (_Aloud._) D--don't you think sitting still becomes a little--er--monotonous after a time? Couldn't we---- [_He rises, spasmodically._ _Lady Maisie_ (_rising too_). Certainly; we have sat here quite long enough. It is time we went back. _Und._ (_to himself_). We shall meet her! and I'm almost sure it's---- I _must_ prevent any---- (_Aloud._) Not _back_, Lady MAISIE! You--you promised to show me the orchid-house--you did, indeed! _Lady Maisie._ Very well; we can go in, if you care about orchids. It's on our way back. _Und._ (_to himself_). This is too awful! It _is_ that girl PHILLIPSON. She is looking for somebody! Me! (_Aloud._) On second thoughts, I don't think I _do_ care to see the orchids. I detest them; they are weird unnatural extravagant things. Let us turn back and see if there are any snowdrops on the lawn behind that hedge. I love the snowdrop, it is so trustful and innocent, with its pure green-veined---- _Do_ come and search for snowdrops!