[Perhaps the music of the lawn-mower is not to JOHN’s mood, for he betakes himself to another room. MR. VENABLES pauses in his labours to greet a lady who has appeared on the lawn, and who is MAGGIE. She is as neat as if she were one of the army of typists [who are quite the nicest kind of women], and carries a little bag. She comes in through the window, and puts her hands over the COMTESSE’s eyes.] COMTESSE. They are a strong pair of hands, at any rate. MAGGIE. And not very white, and biggish for my size. Now guess. [The COMTESSE guesses, and takes both the hands in hers as if she valued them. She pulls off MAGGIE’s hat as if to prevent her flying away.] COMTESSE. Dear abominable one, not to let me know you were coming. MAGGIE. It is just a surprise visit, Comtesse. I walked up from the station. [For a moment MAGGIE seems to have borrowed SYBIL’S impediment.] How is--everybody? COMTESSE. He is quite well. But, my child, he seems to me to be a most unhappy man. [This sad news does not seem to make a most unhappy woman of the child. The COMTESSE is puzzled, as she knows nothing of the situation save what she has discovered for herself.] Why should that please you, O heartless one? MAGGIE. I won’t tell you. COMTESSE. I could take you and shake you, Maggie. Here have I put my house at your disposal for so many days for some sly Scotch purpose, and you will not tell me what it is. MAGGIE. No. COMTESSE. Very well, then, but I have what you call a nasty one for you. [The COMTESSE lures MR. VENABLES into the room by holding up what might be a foaming glass of lemon squash.] Alas, Charles, it is but a flower vase. I want you to tell Mrs. Shand what you think of her husband’s speech. [MR. VENABLES gives his hostess a reproachful look.] VENABLES. Eh--ah--Shand will prefer to do that himself. I promised the gardener--I must not disappoint him--excuse me-- COMTESSE. You must tell her, Charles. MAGGIE. Please, Mr. Venables, I should like to know. [He sits down with a sigh and obeys.] VENABLES. Your husband has been writing the speech here, and by his own wish he read it to me three days ago. The occasion is to be an important one; and, well, there are a dozen young men in the party at present, all capable of filling a certain small ministerial post. [He looks longingly at the mower, but it sends no message to his aid.] And as he is one of them I was anxious that he should show in this speech of what he is capable. MAGGIE. And hasn’t he? [Not for the first time MR. VENABLES wishes that he was not in politics.] VENABLES. I am afraid he has. COMTESSE. What is wrong with the speech, Charles?