_Con._ (_pulling the fingers of her gloves_) A gentleman--you know him--has been--calling upon aunt--and me. We have seen a good deal of him. _Ger._ Who is he? _Con._ Mr. Waterfield. (_Keeps her eyes on the floor_.) _Ger._ Well? _Con._ He says--he--he--he wants me to marry him.--Aunt likes him. _Ger._ And you? _Con._ I like him too. I don't think I like him enough--I dare say I shall. It is _so_ good of him to take poor me! He is _very_ rich, they say. _Ger._ Have you accepted him? _Con._ I am afraid he thinks so.--Ye--e--s.--I hardly know. _Ger._ Haven't you--been rather--in a hurry--Constance? _Con._ No, indeed! I haven't been in a hurry at all. He has been a long time trying to make me like him. I have been too long a burden to Mrs. Clifford. _Ger._ So! it is her doing, then! _Con._ You were away, you know. _Ger._ (_bitterly_) Yes; too far--chipping stones and making mud-pies! _Con._ I don't know what you mean by that, Arthur. _Ger._ Oh--nothing. I mean that--that--Of course if you are engaged to him, then-- _Con._ I'm afraid I've done very wrong, Arthur. If I had thought you would care!--I knew aunt would be pleased!--she wanted me to have him, I knew.--I ought to do what I can to please her,--ought I not? I have no right to-- _Ger._ Surely, surely. Yes, yes; I understand. It was not your fault. Only you mustn't marry him, if you--. Thank you for telling me. _Con._ I ought to have told you before--before I let him speak to me again. But I didn't think you would care--not much. _Ger._ Yes, yes. _Con._ (_looking up with anxiety_) Ah! you _are_ vexed with me, Arthur! I see how wrong it was now. I never saw you look like that. I am very, very sorry. (_Bursts into tears_.) _Ger._ No, no, child! Only it is rather sudden, and I want to think about it. Shall I send William home with you? _Con._ No, thank you. I have a cab waiting. You're not angry with your little beggar, Arthur? _Ger._ What is there to be angry about, child? _Con._ That I--did anything without asking you first. _Ger._ Nonsense! You couldn't help it. _You_'re not to blame one bit. _Con._ Oh, yes, I am! I ought to have asked you first. But indeed I did not know you would care. Good-bye.--Shall I go at once?