_Isabel (glancing at them with a movement of disgust)_. You may send them up to my room. _Footman_. I beg pardon, m’m, but one is a note from Mme. Fanfreluche, and the man who brought it is waiting for an answer. _Isabel_. Didn’t you tell him I was out? _Footman_. Yes, m’m. But he said he had orders to wait till you came in. _Isabel_. Ah--let me see. (_She opens the note_.) Ah, yes. (_A pause_.) Please say that I am on my way now to Mme Fanfreluche’s to give her the answer in person. You may tell the man that I have already started. Do you understand? Already started. _Footman_. Yes, m’m. _Isabel_. And--wait. (_With an effort_.) You may tell me when the man has started. I shall wait here till then. Be sure you let me know. _Footman_. Yes, m’m. (_He goes out_.) _Isabel (sinking into a chair and hiding her face)_. Ah! (_After a moment she rises, taking up her gloves and sunshade, and walks toward the window which opens on the lawn_.) I’m so tired. (_She hesitates and turns back into the room_.) Where can I go to? (_She sits down again by the tea-table, and bends over the kettle. The clock strikes half-past five_.) _Isabel (picking up her sunshade, walks back to the window)_. If I _must_ meet one of them... _Oberville (speaking in the hall)_. Thanks. I’ll take tea first. (_He enters the room, and pauses doubtfully on seeing Isabel_.) _Isabel (stepping towards him with a smile)_. It’s not that I’ve changed, of course, but only that I happened to have my back to the light. Isn’t that what you are going to say? _Oberville_. Mrs. Warland! _Isabel_. So you really _have_ become a great man! They always remember people’s names. _Oberville_. Were you afraid I was going to call you Isabel? _Isabel_. Bravo! _Crescendo!_ _Oberville_. But you have changed, all the same. _Isabel_. You must indeed have reached a dizzy eminence, since you can indulge yourself by speaking the truth! _Oberville_. It’s your voice. I knew it at once, and yet it’s different. _Isabel_. I hope it can still convey the pleasure I feel in seeing an old friend. (_She holds out her hand. He takes it_.) You know, I suppose, that Mrs. Raynor is not here to receive you? She was called away this morning very suddenly by her aunt’s illness. _Oberville_. Yes. She left a note for me. (_Absently_.) I’m sorry to hear of Mrs. Griscom’s illness. _Isabel_. Oh, Mrs. Griscom’s illnesses are less alarming than her recoveries. But I am forgetting to offer you any tea. (_She hands him a cup_.) I remember you liked it very strong. _Oberville_. What else do you remember? _Isabel_. A number of equally useless things. My mind is a store-room of obsolete information. _Oberville_. Why obsolete, since I am providing you with a use for it? _Isabel_. At any rate, it’s open to question whether it was worth storing for that length of time. Especially as there must have been others more fitted--by opportunity--to undertake the duty. _Oberville_. The duty?