_Lady Maisie_ (_horrified_). Oh, stop Mr. BLAIR, please stop! I don't want to hear any more. I see now. It was _you_ who---- _Und._ Of course it was I. Surely the girl herself has been telling you so just now! _Lady Maisie._ You really thought _that_ possible, too? She simply came with a message from my mother. _Und._ (_slightly disconcerted_). Oh! If I had known it was merely _that_. However, I am sure I need not ask you to treat my--my communication in the strictest confidence, Lady MAISIE. _Lady Maisie._ Indeed, that is _perfectly_ unnecessary, Mr. BLAIR. _Und._ Yes, I felt from the first that I could trust you--even with my life. And I cannot regret having told you, if it has enabled you to understand me more thoroughly. It is such a relief that you know all, and that there are no more secrets between us. You _do_ feel that I only acted as was natural and inevitable under the circumstances? _Lady Maisie._ Oh, yes, yes. I--I daresay you could not help it. I mean you did quite, _quite_ right! _Und._ Ah, how you comfort me with your fresh girlish----You are not _going_, Lady MAISIE? _Lady Maisie_ (_rising_). I must. I ought to have gone before. My mother wants me. No, you are not to come too; you can go on and gather those snowdrops, you know. [_She walks slowly back to the house._ _Und._ (_looking after her_). She took it wonderfully well. I've made it all right, or she wouldn't have said that about the snowdrops. Yes, she shall not be disappointed; she shall have her posy! SCENE XXXIV.--_The Morning Room. Half an hour later._ _Lady Maisie_ (_alone--to herself_). Thank Goodness, _that_'s over! It was _awful_. I don't think I _ever_ saw Mamma a deeper shade of plum colour! _How_ I have been mistaken in Mr. BLAIR! That he could write those lines:-- "Aspiring unto that far-off Ideal, How should I stoop to any meaner love?" and yet philander with my poor foolish PHILLIPSON the moment he met her! And then to tell Mamma about my letter like that! Why, even Mr. SPURRELL had more discretion--to be sure, _he_ knew nothing about it--but _that_ makes no difference! RHODA was right; I ought to have allowed a margin; only I should never have allowed _enough!_ The worst of it is that, if Mamma was unjust in some things she said, she was right about _one_. I _have_ disgusted GERALD. He mayn't be brilliant, but at least he's straightforward and loyal and a gentleman, and--and he did like me once. He doesn't any more, or he wouldn't have gone away. And it may be ages before I ever get a chance to let him see how _dreadfully_ sorry---- (_She turns, and sees_ Captain THICKNESSE.) Oh, haven't you gone _yet?_ _Captain Thicknesse._ Yes, I went, but I've come back again. I--I couldn't help it; 'pon my word I couldn't. _Lady Maisie_ (_with a sudden flush_). You--you weren't _sent_ for--by--by anyone? _Capt. Thick._ So _likely_ anyone would send for me, isn't it?