JEAN. I do rather wonder she can bring herself to talk about--the unfortunate women of the world. MRS. H. The effrontery of it! JEAN. Or ... the courage! (_Puts her hand up to her throat as if the sentence had caught there._) MRS. H. Even presumes to set _me_ right! Of course I don't _mind_ in the least, poor soul ... but I feel I owe it to your dead mother to tell you about her, especially as you're old enough now to know something about life---- JEAN (_slowly_).--and since a girl needn't be very old to suffer for her ignorance. (_Moves a little away._) I _felt_ she was rather wonderful. MRS. H. _Wonderful!_ JEAN (_pausing_). ... To have lived through _that_ when she was ... how old? MRS. H. (_rising_). Oh, nineteen or thereabouts. JEAN. Five years younger than I. To be abandoned and to come out of it like this! MRS. H. (_laying her hand on the girl's shoulder_). It was too bad to have to tell you such a sordid story to-day of all days. JEAN. It is a very terrible story, but this wasn't a bad time. I feel very sorry to-day for women who aren't happy. (_Motor horn heard faintly._) (_Jumping up._) That's Geoffrey! MRS. H. Mr. Stonor! What makes you think...? JEAN. Yes, yes. I'm sure, I'm sure---- (_Checks herself as she is flying off. Turns and sees_ LORD JOHN _entering from the garden._) (_Motor horn louder._) LORD J. Who do you think is motoring up the drive? JEAN (_catching hold of him_). Oh, dear! how am I ever going to be able to behave like a girl who isn't engaged to the only man in the world worth marrying? MRS. H. You were expecting Mr. Stonor all the time! JEAN. He promised he'd come to luncheon if it was humanly possible; but I was afraid to tell you for fear he'd be prevented. LORD J. (_laughing as he crosses to the lobby_). You felt we couldn't have borne the disappointment. JEAN. I felt I couldn't. (_The lobby door opens._ LADY JOHN _appears radiant, followed by a tall figure in a dust-coat, &c., no goggles. He has straight, firm features, a little blunt; fair skin, high-coloured; fine, straight hair, very fair; grey eyes, set somewhat prominently and heavy when not interested; lips full, but firmly moulded._ GEOFFREY STONOR _is heavier than a man of forty should be, but otherwise in the pink of physical condition. The_ FOOTMAN _stands waiting to help him off with his motor coat._) LADY JOHN. Here's an agreeable surprise! (JEAN _has gone forward only a step, and stands smiling at the approaching figure._) LORD J. How do you do? (_As he comes between them and briskly shakes hands with_ STONOR.) (FARNBOROUGH _appears at the French window_.) FARN. Yes, by Jove! (_Turning to the others clustered round the window._) What gigantic luck!