CHARTERIS. Probably a diagram of the liver. (Julia, with an exclamation of disgust makes for the recess. Charteris catches her sleeve.) Stop: be careful, Julia. (She frees herself by giving him a push which upsets him into the easy chair; then crosses to the recess and stands looking down at Grace and Paramore from the corner next the fireplace.) JULIA (with suppressed fury). You seem to have found a very interesting book, Dr. Paramore. (They look up, astonished.) May I ask what it is? (She stoops swiftly; snatches the book from Paramore; and comes down to the table quickly to look at it whilst they rise in amazement.) Good Words! (She flings it on the table and sweeps back past Charteris, exclaiming contemptuously) You fool! (Paramore and Grace, meanwhile, come from the recess; Paramore bewildered, Grace very determined.) CHARTERIS (aside to Julia as he gets out of the easy chair). Idiot! She'll have you turned out of the club for this. JULIA (terrified). She can't--can she? PARAMORE. What is the matter, Miss Craven? CHARTERIS (hastily). Nothing--my fault--a stupid, practical joke. I beg your pardon and Mrs. Tranfield's. GRACE (firmly). It is not your fault in the least, Mr. Charteris. Dr. Paramore: will you oblige me by finding Sylvia Craven for me, if you can? PARAMORE (hesitating). But-- GRACE. I want you to go now, if you please. PARAMORE (succumbing). Certainly. (He bows and goes out by the staircase door.) GRACE. You are going with him, Charteris. JULIA. You will not leave me here to be insulted by this woman, Mr. Charteris. (She takes his arm as if to go with him.) GRACE. When two ladies quarrel in this club, it is against the rules to settle it when there are gentlemen present--especially the gentleman they are quarrelling about. I presume you do not wish to break that rule, Miss Craven. (Julia sullenly drops Charteris's arm. Grace turns to Charteris and adds) Now! Trot off. CHARTERIS. Certainly, certainly. (He follows Paramore ignominiously.) GRACE (to Julia, with quiet peremptoriness). Now: what have you to say to me? JULIA (suddenly throwing herself tragically on her knees at Grace's feet). Don't take him from me. Oh don't--don't be so cruel. Give him back to me. You don't know what you're doing--what our past has been--how I love him. You don't know-- GRACE. Get up; and don't be a fool. Suppose anyone comes in and sees you in that ridiculous attitude! JULIA. I hardly know what I'm doing. I don't care what I'm doing: I'm too miserable. Oh, won't you listen to me? GRACE. Do you suppose I am a man to be imposed on by this sort of rubbish? JULIA (getting up and looking darkly at her). You intend to take him from me, then? GRACE. Do you expect me to help you to keep him after the way you have behaved? JULIA (trying her theatrical method in a milder form--reasonable and impulsively goodnatured instead of tragic). I know I was wrong to act as I did last night. I beg your pardon. I am sorry. I was mad.