Beautiful. [_Glancing at the piece of paper in_ MURIEL'S _hand._] What's that? MURIEL. [_Unfolding the paper carefully._] This goes with it. [_She holds the paper before_ SOPHY. SOPHY. [_Reading._] "To Napier--" MURIEL. [_Withdrawing the paper._] Ah, no. SOPHY. Mayn't I? MURIEL. [_Yielding the paper impulsively._] Yes, _you_ may. [MURIEL _turns away and stands leaning upon the back of the screen-chair on the left, with her face in her hands._ SOPHY _places the jeweller's case upon the circular table._ SOPHY. [_Reading with difficulty._] "To Napier from Muriel. I only--" what? You _have_ blotted it. MURIEL. [_With a sob._] Have I? SOPHY. You've been crying over it. MURIEL. Yes. SOPHY. "I only--" I can't read it. MURIEL. [_Through her tears._] "I only know--we loved in vain: I only feel--Farewell!--Farewell!" SOPHY. [_In a low voice._] Very nice, darling. [_She lays the paper tenderly upon the box and goes to_ MURIEL. _Eyeing her keenly._] You really _are_ determined, then, to wish him good-bye? MURIEL. [_Turning to her and weeping upon her shoulder._] Oh, Sophy! Sophy! SOPHY. There, there! it'll soon be over. MURIEL. [_Raising her head._] Over! yes, yes! over! SOPHY. And--p'r'aps it's all for the best, you know. MURIEL. For the best! SOPHY. What I mean is, that very likely we've both of us been a little cruel to poor Lord Quex--hard on him-- MURIEL. [_Indignantly._] _You_ say this to me! [_Distractedly._] _You_ say this, after having poisoned my mind and given me an awful night of sleeplessness and doubt. Yesterday I was as firm as a rock; to-day I'm as weak as water again. [_Facing_ SOPHY _with flashing eyes._] Ah, I tell you honestly you'd better not let me meet Captain Bastling this morning! you'd better not let me see him! [_The door-gong sounds._ BASTLING _appears at the window, and looks into the room._ SOPHY. [_Whose back is towards the window, soothingly._] No, no, you sha'n't go across to Valma's while you're like this. I'll make an excuse for you to Captain Bastling-- BASTLING. [_At the window._] Muriel! MURIEL. [_Passing_ SOPHY _swiftly._] Napier! SOPHY. [_Holding her arm._] Darling-- MURIEL. [_Freeing herself._] Release me, Sophy! release me! ah--! [_She joins_ BASTLING _and they disappear. As_ SOPHY _goes to the window and looks out after them,_ QUEX _enters, followed by_ FRAYNE. QUEX. [_Glancing round the room._] Miss Fullgarney-- SOPHY. [_Turning sharply._] Hey? [_Blankly._] Oh--my lord--! QUEX. I am compelled to intrude upon you again. I have just met Lady Owbridge, with her Grace and Mrs. Eden in Sackville Street. My aunt sends me with a message to Miss Eden. SOPHY. [_Confused._] M--m--Miss Eden? QUEX. Mrs. Eden has proposed a lunch at Prince's, provided that Miss Eden feels equal to--[_Looking about him again._] Where is Miss Eden? SOPHY. Where? QUEX. She is here--with you. SOPHY. N--no. QUEX. No? SOPHY.