TIM: No, I only came an hour ago. LORD WILLIAM: It’s all very trying. TIM: It is having a saint like Ann discussed at all that makes one so sick. It is like seeing people without religion in a church. SELINA: I wouldn’t mind so much if they knew Ann. She is a miracle no one can deny. TIM: What line does Ninian take? SELINA: At last Ninian’s qualities are coming in handy. He is incredibly grand, and, of course, it comes quite naturally to him. He is prepared to horse-whip anyone. He talks about “my wife.” He does not, of course, _say_ she is above suspicion. That would be to cast a slur upon himself. Who was Cæsar? LORD WILLIAM: Ninian is one of those men who believe implicitly in their own all-conquering charm and, consequently, in the absence of temperament of every woman who resists them. They never consider the possibility of anyone who is not passionately in love with them being passionately in love with anyone else. TIM: Well, no one suspects Ann of being in love with Jordan. LORD WILLIAM: Ah—no. [_He obviously knows the truth._ TIM: It is wonderful of her suddenly to invent a story like that, but, of course, I do see that it was rather trying for Ninian. SELINA: Have you seen Mr. Jordan since, Papa? LORD WILLIAM: Yes. TIM: He must have been dreadfully upset at all the worry poor Ann is having. LORD WILLIAM: He seemed to be thinking mainly of himself. SELINA: There are two things I can’t forgive Ann. One is her marriage with Ninian, and the other her friendship with Mr. Jordan. LORD WILLIAM: They would, no doubt, each agree with you about the other. TIM: But for that Martineau woman, no one would have known anything about it. [_Enter ANN, looking white and wretched, she kisses LORD WILLIAM and SELINA, and TIM kisses her hands._ ANN: What were you saying about Mabel? SELINA: The viper. LORD WILLIAM: That woman is a hell cat. ANN: Poor thing! I don’t think she means it. Her tongue runs away with her. SELINA: Tim wants to gag her with thistles. ANN: I didn’t know you went in for ingenious tortures. LORD WILLIAM: Tim is a little more discriminating in his charity than you are. SELINA: Where is Ninian? ANN: At his anti-Bolshevist Committee Meeting. LORD WILLIAM: Is that bud bursting into flower? ANN: It keeps a lot of violent-minded people busy. If “minded” be the word. SELINA: I had a letter from Mrs. Sidebotham—Si_de_botham ... this morning. She wants me to organize an entertainment in the village. I am afraid that Papa’s vulgar jokes wouldn’t do for that. ANN: Nor would Red Pottage. SELINA: “I’m a red rag to the Reds, so we’re all of us red together.” LORD WILLIAM: Is it to be in aid of the organ? SELINA: It is. LORD WILLIAM: No one can say that I don’t know all about village life. I’ve not forgotten my youth. ANN: What was Grandpapa like? LORD WILLIAM: Very formidable—arrogant, dry, autocratic, with magnificent manners.