_Man._ Entirely conscious, Mademoiselle, of both. _Mar._ [_Bitterly._] Perhaps you expect me to ask your pardon? _Man._ Assuredly I do. Wealth can afford to humble itself--poverty cannot. _Mar._ [_As she is going, turns with a haughty humility._] Then, sir, I ask your pardon. [_Exit._ _Man._ Oh! my sister, my darling Rose! It needs all my love for thee to make endurance of these insults less than cowardice! Coldness and antipathy have increased to absolute hate and persecution. She is determined to drive me hence. She will succeed at last, and then-- _Enter DOCTOR DESMARETS._ Ah! my dear Doctor! _Des._ I've eaten some lunch, had the dust brushed off, and now I'm going to brush some more on. _Man._ How so? _Des._ Just got a letter--patient very sick--twenty miles ride there and back. Pleasant life, a doctor's. _Man._ Where is it? _Des._ About four miles beyond the ruins of Elfin. _Man._ The ruins of Elfen. _Des._ Yes; but what's the matter with you? you look feverish and queer. Anything wrong between you and the family? _Man._ Why, no. But-- _Des._ But--what? They tell me you're quite a great man here--old Laroque can't live without you--angry because you don't spend all your evenings at the Chateau--and the ladies, without exception, are crazy about you. _Man._ Pardon me--there's one _important_ exception--Mlle Marguerite. _Des._ What the devil! You don't mean to tell me you can't agree with _her_. _Man._ I do assure you--she loses no opportunity to humiliate, and even openly insult me. Indeed, it has lately become insufferable--so that I am going to tax your friendship once more, to seek for me some other employment. _Des._ Now don't be hasty, my dear boy. By Jove! here she comes--no she don't--she perceives you--and there she goes. She don't escape _me_ though. _Man._ Nay, my dear doctor, I beg of you-- _Des._ Stuff! nonsense! I'll just give her a piece of my mind. [_Exit._ _Man._ I very much fear the Doctor's zeal in my cause will lead him into trouble with this proud girl--but I am resolved. Here, I will not, _can_ not remain. Rose, my darling, thy marriage dowry must be sought and won elsewhere. I will at once visit my poor old friend, and say farewell. Marguerite I will see no more--no faltering now--a good resolve once taken, action should be speedy. To-night the horse I have almost learned to love, because she would one day ride him, shall bear me for the last time. [_Exit._ _The DOCTOR and MARGUERITE are heard outside--then enter._ _Des._ Can't help it, if I _do_ offend you. The young man is my friend-- _Mar._ Doctor-- _Des._ My friend, Mademoiselle--and I never desert a friend, even though he has incurred the displeasure of your proud ladyship. _Mar._ Do you not regard _me_ as a friend? _Des._ I should rather think so; known you since you were a baby; disposition altered since then--