[_In horror._] Sophy! SOPHY. [_Discomposed--rising._] Er--if I'm to do anything to your nails-- [_As_ SOPHY _is moving towards the manicure-table,_ MURIEL _intercepts her._ MURIEL. You are surely not suggesting that Lord Quex has ever descended--? SOPHY. [_Hastily._] No, no, no. [_Brushing past_ MURIEL _and seating herself before the screen-chair_.] Come; they'll all be here directly. MURIEL. [_Sitting in the screen-chair._] Sophy, you have heard some story-- SOPHY. [_Examining_ MURIEL'S _hands._] A little varnishing is all you need to-day. MURIEL. You shall tell me! SOPHY. [_Proceeding with her work methodically._] It's nothing much; I'm sorry I-- MURIEL. [_Imperatively._] Sophy! SOPHY. [_Reluctantly._] Oh, well--well, when I was at Mrs. Beaupoint's in Grosvenor Street-- MURIEL. Yes? SOPHY. A Lady Pumphrey came to stay there with a goodish-looking maid--Edith Smith her name was-- MURIEL. Never mind her name! SOPHY. And they'd lately met Lord Quex in a country house in Worcestershire. Well, he had kissed _her_--Smith admitted it. MURIEL. Kissed whom--Lady Pumphrey? SOPHY. Oh, of course he'd kissed Lady Pumphrey; but he kissed Smith afterwards, when he tipped her. She told me what he said. MURIEL. What did he say? SOPHY. He said, "There's a little something for yourself, my girl." MURIEL. [_Starting to her feet and walking away._] My heavens! a Maid! what next am I to hear--his _blanchisseuse_? [_Sinking into a chair._] Oh! oh, dear! SOPHY. [_Turning in her chair to face_ MURIEL.] It's one thing I always meant to keep to myself. MURIEL. [_Bitterly._] Still, I have promised to forgive him for so much already! And, after all, this occurred a long while ago. SOPHY. [_Thoughtfully._] Ye--e--es. I suppose if you _did_ find him up to anything of that sort now, you'd--what would you do? MURIEL. Do! [_With all her heart._] Marry Napier Bastling. SOPHY. [_Rising--a mischievous light in her eyes._] Ah--! I almost wish it _would_ happen! MURIEL. Sophy! SOPHY. [_Leaning against the edge of the circular table, gripping_ MURIEL'S _hand._] Just for your sake, darling. [_In a low voice._] I almost wish _I_ could come across him in some quiet little shady spot-- MURIEL. [_Looking up at_ SOPHY, _horrified._] What! SOPHY. In one of those greeny nooks you've told me of, at Fauncey Court. [_Between her teeth._] If he ever tried to kiss _me_, and I told you of it, you'd take my word for it, wouldn't you? MURIEL. [_Starting to her feet._] For shame! how dare you let such an idea enter your head? you, a respectable girl, just engaged yourself--! SOPHY. [_With a quick look towards the window._] Oh, yes! hush! [_Clapping her hand to her mouth._] Oh, what would Valma say if he knew I'd talked in this style! [_The door-gong sounds._ MURIEL Here they are. SOPHY.