_Reg._ Think of you? The woman Reginald De Lancey Van Tromp loves is above thought. In but one way can the loveliest of her sex offend me. _Polly (eagerly)._ Ah! Tell me, so that I may never do it. _Reg._ By wefusing the heart and hand he (_kneeling_) places at her feet. _Polly._ Oh! I am faint with too great happiness. (_Leans on Reg._) Reginald, support— Oh, Jiminy! Some one’s coming. [_Recovers, and rushes up l. to l. b., exit l. d. followed by_ REG. _Enter_ MRS. VAN TROMP _and_ FRED, _b. d._ _Mrs. V. T. (coming down)._ I told you we should find this room empty. [_Looks about._ _Fred._ But that doesn’t tell me why you asked me to bring you here. _Mrs. V. T._ Perhaps to cheat you out of your dance with our host’s pretty daughter. _Fred._ I might answer you in kind. But it’s fairer to tell you that your mask is no disguise. _Mrs. V. T._ You know me? _Fred._ Yes. You are “our host’s pretty daughter.” _Mrs. V. T._ I am but a poor actress if I have played my part so badly. _Fred._ Indeed, no. Even now I find it hard to believe, your acting is so perfect. If I had not known your domino, I should never have recognised you. _Mrs. V. T._ My domino? _Fred._ I overheard it mentioned. I was sorry to learn your secret, but really I couldn’t help it. _Mrs. V. T._ It really does not matter. But I am glad you told me. Most men would have kept mum and let me talk on about “our host’s pretty daughter,” and then have never let me hear the last of it. _Fred._ I’m afraid I’m no better than the rest of my sex, Miss Wortley. With most women I should have done that. _Mrs. V. T._ And why am I an exception? _Fred._ I didn’t want to deceive you. _Mrs. V. T._ Why not? _Fred._ Because I wanted you to think well of me. _Mrs. V. T._ Why, I do that already. If you only knew how I respected and admired the men who have been real friends, and not seekers of my money! _Fred._ Miss Wortley, I thank you for your kind thoughts of me, but you mustn’t think them any longer. _Mrs. V. T._ Why not? _Fred._ Because I don’t deserve them. Do you remember our first meeting? _Mrs. V. T. (aside)._ Gracious! I hope I’m not to be cross-examined. (_Aloud, hesitatingly._) It was on a yacht, wasn’t it? _Fred._ After that cruise I came back to my desk and bachelor quarters, but neither they nor I have been the same since. It’s always seemed to me as if a bit of heaven had come into my life in those days. Every hour since has been consecrated to an ideal. I have worked as I was never able to work before. And why? Because I was straining every fibre to win money and position enough to be able to come to you and say: “Miss Wortley, I love you as a man must love one so sweet and beautiful. I’m not rich, but if you can care for me enough to make a few sacrifices I will try and keep you from regretting them, by love and tenderness.”