MISS P. (_crossing to up stage, C._). Do not, I beg of you, be so rash. (_Sighs with relief as CECIL descends._) In the geography book from which it was my pleasure to instruct you when you were a child, China and Japan were treated under one chapter.
CECIL. As to geography, I have forgotten all I ever learned. Sit down there. See, is this (_goes to summer-house_) a table or a stool? I will make myself comfortable on the ground (_sits on ground by summer-house, L. C._). Let us discuss the situation. (_MISS P. hesitates._) Do, G. Nobody can object to our sitting down. You see, the voyage is safely over and you were not drowned.
MISS P. That is true, Cecil. (_Sits gingerly on stool R. of CECIL._) I have not, as you say, been consigned to a watery grave. However, nothing will induce me to enter one of those terribly unsafe carriages again. Carriages, indeed! Undignified, overgrown perambulators!
CECIL. I enjoyed it. My little man ran and raced and laughed. It really was most exciting. I thought he would upset and half kill several of those dear little people. _They_ only laugh.
MISS P. The vacant mind--the ready laugh. They are a small, insignificant race.
CECIL (_laughing_). Think of Arthur, his height! And those great beetle-crushers!
CECIL. Would you have me say pedal extremities?
MISS P. I should prefer greater dignity of language.
CECIL (_demurely_). Consider, then, my dear brother’s consternation, his delighted surprise, when he returns to the hotel to find US.
MISS P. (_sighing_). You are singularly heedless, my dear Cecil. Your brother never took any notice of your letters or telegrams. From that I construe disapproval. You remember another familiar saying: Scratch a man and you find a Tartar. We have braved the dangers of the deep----
CECIL. G., dear, you know you enjoyed it. The flirtations you had with Professor Anstruther----
MISS P. Cecil, I am surprised, astounded! Professor Anstruther is a man with a peculiarly cultivated mind. I was gleaning all the information I could on the fascinating subject of antiquities. You remember I often had cause to beg you to show less levity in your intercourse with Captain Waring.
CECIL (_rising_). Dear G., I was accumulating information on military matters. (_MISS P. rises._) There, forgive me I don’t wonder at any one admiring your sweet, white curls. (_Caresses._) We must not spend the whole day in the Princess’s garden unasked, though I should love to poke about these dear little ponds.