_It is very dark in the garden. Though there may be by now a faint morning light in the sky it has not penetrated yet among these trees. It is very still, too. Now and then the leaves of a tree are stirred, as if in its sleep; that is all. Suddenly a shrill, frightened, but not tragical scream is heard. After a moment_ ANN LEETE _runs quickly down the steps and on to the fountain, where she stops, panting_. LORD JOHN CARP _follows her, but only to the top of the steps, evidently not knowing his way_. ANN _is a girl of twenty; he an English gentleman, nearer forty than thirty_. LORD JOHN. I apologise. ANN. Why is it so dark? LORD JOHN. Can you hear what I'm saying? ANN. Yes. LORD JOHN. I apologise for having kissed you . . . almost unintentionally. ANN. Thank you. Mind the steps down. LORD JOHN. I hope I'm sober, but the air . . . ANN. Shall we sit for a minute? There are several seats to sit on somewhere. LORD JOHN. This is a very dark garden. _There is a slight pause._ ANN. You've won your bet. LORD JOHN. So you did scream! ANN. But it wasn't fair. LORD JOHN. Don't reproach me. ANN. Somebody's coming. LORD JOHN. How d'you know? ANN. I can hear somebody coming. LORD JOHN. We're not sitting down. ANN'S _brother_, GEORGE LEETE _comes to the top of the steps, and afterwards down them. Rather an old young man._ GEORGE. Ann! ANN. Yes. GEORGE. My lord! LORD JOHN. Here. GEORGE. I can't see you. I'm sent to say we're all anxious to know what ghost or other bird of night or beast has frightened Ann to screaming point, and won you . . . the best in Tatton's stables--so he says now. He's quite annoyed. LORD JOHN. The mare is a very good mare. ANN. He betted it because he wanted to bet it; I didn't want him to bet it. GEORGE. What frightened her? ANN. I had rather, my lord, that you did not tell my brother why I screamed. LORD JOHN. I kissed her. GEORGE. Did you? ANN. I had rather, Lord John, that you had not told my brother why I screamed. LORD JOHN. I misunderstood you. GEORGE. I've broke up the whist party. Ann, shall we return? LORD JOHN. She's not here. GEORGE. Ann. LADY COTTESHAM, ANN'S _sister and ten years older, and_ MR. DANIEL TATTON, _a well-living, middle-aged country gentleman, arrive together_. TATTON _carries a double candlestick. . . the lights out_. MR. TATTON. Three steps? SARAH. No . . . four. LORD JOHN. Miss Leete. TATTON _in the darkness finds himself close to_ GEORGE. MR. TATTON. I am in a rage with you, my lord. GEORGE. He lives next door. MR. TATTON. My mistake. [_He passes on._] Confess that she did it to please you. LORD JOHN. Screamed! MR. TATTON. Lost my bet. We'll say . . . won your bet . . . to please you. Was skeered at the dark . . . oh, fie! LORD JOHN. Miss Leete trod on a toad. MR. TATTON. I barred toads . . . here. LORD JOHN. I don't think it. MR. TATTON. I barred toads. Did I forget to? Well . . . it's better to be a sportsman. SARAH. And whereabout is she?