Oh! When it's just a quiet little dinner in his own rooms! If it had been the _Carlton_, now!
He proposed to entertain us at the Carlton at first--but I stopped _that_. It all bears out what I say--that he has absolutely _no_ sense of the value of----
[_Interposing calmly._] There, Anthony, that's enough! Horace is engaged to Sylvia--and the most sensible thing we can do is to make the best of it.
[_Rising and moving to the right._] I _am_ making the best of it, Sophia! If Ventimore was like Spencer Pringle, now!----
He would never have been engaged to _me_!
[_To SYLVIA._] Pringle, my dear, is a steady, hard-working young fellow. I've a real respect and liking for _Pringle_. And if I _must_ have an architect for a son-in-law, he is the man _I_ should have preferred!
Why, he hasn't been near us for weeks and weeks--and I hope he means to stay away altogether! I always thought him a conceited prig.
You may come to think differently, my dear. [_Pulling out his watch._] Nearly half-past six! Tut-tut! All this time wasted! It's useless to wait any longer for Ventimore. We may just as well go!
[_At door._] Wait! [_Opens door and listens._] There's Horace coming upstairs! I'm sure it's his step!
[_Stops by table with relief._] At last! Now I shall know!
[_SPENCER PRINGLE enters. He is a smug, self-satisfied looking man of about thirty-five, smooth-shaven, except for small side-whiskers. He is in a light tweed suit, having just come up from the country._
[_Repressing her disappointment._] Mr. Pringle!
[_In doorway._] Miss Sylvia! Mrs. Futvoye! [_Shaking hands with the PROFESSOR._] Professor! Well! this is unexpected.
[_Graciously._] Glad to see you, Pringle! You are quite a stranger. Indeed, my daughter was remarking, only a little while ago, that you hadn't been near us for weeks!
[_To SYLVIA, flattered._] Delighted to think I've been missed! But my apparent--er--neglect has been quite unavoidable.
[_Laughing._] So kind of you to relieve our minds, Mr. Pringle!
[_Solemnly._] I assure you it's the fact. I've been away constantly for the last two months, superintending work I'm doing in various parts of the country. [_With importance._] Hardly a moment to call my own!
[_SYLVIA turns with the intention of sitting down; he places a chair for her._