_Lady Maisie._ Indeed! And why not? _Phill._ Mr. JAMES SPURRELL appears to have elevated himself to a very different sphere from what he occupied when _I_ used to know him, my lady; though how and why he comes to be where he is, I don't rightly understand myself at present. _Lady Maisie_ (_to herself_). And no wonder! I feel horribly guilty! (_Aloud._) You mustn't blame poor Mr. SPURRELL, PHILLIPSON; _he_ couldn't help it! _Phill._ (_with studied indifference_). I'm not blaming him, my lady. If he prefers the society of his superiors to mine, he's very welcome to do so; there's others only too willing to take his place! _Lady Maisie._ Surely none who would be as fond of you or make so good a husband, PHILLIPSON! _Phill._ That's as maybe, my lady. There was one young man that travelled down in the same compartment, and sat next me at supper in the room. I could see he took a great fancy to me from the first, and his attentions were really quite pointed. I am sure I couldn't bring myself to repeat his remarks, they were so flattering! _Lady Maisie._ Don't you think you will be rather a foolish girl if you allow a few idle compliments from a stranger to outweigh such an attachment as Mr. SPURRELL seems to have for you? _Phill._ If _he_'s found new friends, my lady, I consider myself free to act similarly. _Lady Maisie._ Then you don't know? He told us quite frankly this evening that he had only just discovered you were here, and would much prefer to be where you were. He went down to the Housekeeper's Room on purpose. _Phill._ (_moved_). It's the first I've heard of it, my lady. It must have been after I came up. If I'd only known he'd behave like _that_! _Lady Maisie_ (_instructively_). You see how loyal he is to _you_. And now, I suppose, he will find he has been supplanted by this new acquaintance--some smooth-tongued, good-for-nothing valet, I daresay? _Phill._ (_injured_). Oh, my lady, indeed he wasn't a _man_! But there was nothing serious between us--at least, on _my_ side--though he certainly did go on in a very sentimental way himself. However, he's left the Court by now, that's _one_ comfort! (_To herself._) I wish now I'd said nothing about him to JEM. If he was to get asking questions downstairs----He always _was_ given to jealousy--reason or none! [_A tap is heard at the door._ _Lady Rhoda_ (_outside_). MAISIE, may I come in? if you've done your hair, and sent away your maid. (_She enters._) Ah, I see you haven't. _Lady Maisie._ Don't run away, RHODA; my maid has just done. You can go now, PHILLIPSON. _Lady Rhoda_ (_to herself, as she sits down_). PHILLIPSON! So _that_'s the young woman that funny vet man prefers to Us! H'm, can't say I feel flattered! _Phill._ (_to herself, as she leaves the room_). This must be the Lady RHODA, who was making up to my JEM! He wouldn't have anything to say to her, though; and, now I see her, I am not surprised at it! [_She goes; a pause._