_Captain Thicknesse_ (_outside, to_ TREDWELL). Dogcart round, eh? everything in? All right--shan't be a minute. (_Entering._) Hallo, PILLINER, you all alone here? (_He looks round disconcertedly._) Don't happen to have seen Lady MAISIE about? _Pilliner._ Let me see--she _was_ here a little while ago, I fancy.... Why? Do you want her? _Capt. Thick._ No--only to say good-bye and that. I'm just off. _Pill._ Off? To-day! You don't mean to tell me your chief is such an inconsiderate old ruffian as to expect you to travel back to your TOMMIES on the Sabbath! You could wait till to-morrow if you _wanted_ to. Come now! _Capt. Thick._ Perhaps--only, you see, I _don't_ want to. _Pill._ Well, tastes differ. A cross-country journey in a slow train, with unlimited opportunities of studying the Company's bye-laws and traffic arrangements at several admirably ventilated junctions, is not my own idea of the best way to spend a cheery Sunday, that's all. _Capt. Thick._ (_gloomily_). Daresay it will be about as cheery as stoppin' on here, if it comes to that. _Pill._ I admit we were most of us a wee bit chippy at breakfast. The Bard conversed--but he seemed to diffuse a gloom somehow. Shut you up once or twice in a manner that might almost be described as d--d offensive. _Capt. Thick._ Don't know what you all saw in what he said that was so amusin'. Confounded rude _I_ thought it! _Pill._ Don't think anyone _was_ amused--unless it was Lady MAISIE. By the way, he might perhaps have selected a happier topic to hold forth to Sir RUPERT on than the scandalous indifference of large landowners to the condition of the rural labourer. Poor dear old boy, he stood it wonderfully, considering. Pity the Countess breakfasted upstairs; she'd have enjoyed herself. However, he had a very good audience in little Lady MAISIE. _Capt. Thick._ I do hate a chap that jaws at breakfast.... _Where_ did you say she was? _Lady Maisie's voice_ (_outside, in Conservatory_). Yes, you really ought to see the Orangery and the Elizabethan Garden, Mr. BLAIR. If you will be on the terrace in about five minutes, I could take you round myself. I must go and see if I can get the keys first. _Pill._ If you want to say good-bye, old fellow, now's your chance! _Capt. Thick._ It--it don't matter. She's engaged. And, look here, you needn't mention that I was askin' for her. _Pill._ Of course, old fellow, if you'd rather not. (_He glances at him._) But I say, my dear old chap, if _that_'s how it is with you, I don't quite see the sense of chucking it up _already_, don't you know. No earthly affair of mine, I know; still, if I _could_ manage to stay on, I would, if I were _you_. _Capt. Thick._ Hang it all, PILLINER, do you suppose _I_ don't know when the game's up! If it was any _good_ stayin' on---- And besides, I've said good-bye to Lady C., and all that. No, it's too late now. _Tredwell_ (_at the door_). Excuse me, Sir, but if you're going by the 10.40, you haven't any too much time.