PETE. What can that be?
EFFIE. You’ll never know — you poor, spiritless critter.
(She goes.)
PETE (bewildered and rather fond of her). Have I made an awful mistake? Effie, Effie woman!
(The nine o’clock bell begins to strike in distance. He goes heavily. When the bell has ceased, MISS GOODWILLIE and lucy enter.)
LUCY (looking at cottage). I never expected to see it again. Miss Goodwillie, if you had not told me I could not have believed that he would forgive me for deceiving him so shamelessly in the field.
MISS GOODWILLIE. Lucy, I have a confession to make to you. He does not know of that.
LUCY. Oh! You said you had told him!
MISS GOODWILLIE. It was my only way to get you back.
LUCY. You have deceived me!
MISS GOODWILLIE. He is so unhappy, Lucy, and my letter is a voice from the dead, telling me not to part true lovers. Lucy dear, it rests with you to say that Bob’s last letter to me was not written in vain. Go inside to him.
LUCY. If I do, I must tell him all.
MISS GOODWILLIE. It’s not necessary.
LUCY. It is necessary for me. I could never look him in the face again, if I didn’t first tell him all.
MISS GOODWILLIE. Then tell him ‘all,’ and be thankful it is so little you have to tell him.
LUCY. Little!
MISS GOODWILLIE. You have only brought him to his senses by a naughty trick. The Humane Society should give you a medal.
LUCY. ‘I would never overlook guile in a woman,’ those were his words.
MISS GOODWILLIE. It is your part to make him eat them.
LUCY. You said yourself, he would never forgive me.
MISS GOODWILLIE. Pooh! I was just taking advantage of your being an emotional goose. You are a sensible woman in other matters, but a goose is what you have been about this. You wouldn’t be halfway to London before you saw that all you have done is the merest trifle.
LUCY. He will be so — amazed.
MISS GOODWILLIE. He will, indeed! And then how he will chuckle! If he is the good fellow I think him.
LUCY. No, no!
MISS GOODWILLIE. And then he will shout for me to come and hear what a clever Miss Lucy it is! Go!
LUCY. I’m so frightened. You don’t think it would be better if I just went and drowned myself!
MISS GOODWILLIE. Here is something for luck. (Kisses her.)
He thinks Lucy White is the loveliest name in the world. Tell him you are getting tired of it.
(Enter lucy into house, miss goodwillie produces her torn letter to read. She hears voices, glances at window, full of curiosity. Enter sir george, lady gilding, and dowager.)
DOWAGER. Miss Goodwillie, let us congratulate you.
LADY GILDING. On your merciful escape from the woman White.
MISS GOODWILLIE. Thank you. Won’t you sit down? It is so pleasant out of doors.
(They sit. She stands, with glances at window.)
SIR GEORGE. We met the man, Henders, a quarter of an hour ago wheeling her luggage to the station.
LADY GILDING. And we climbed the little hill and watched her train go off.
MISS GOODWILLIE. Oh, indeed!
SIR GEORGE. Is the Professor at home? Miss goodwillie (who is taking eager peeps at window). Yes. But he is — very busy just now.
LADY GILDING. He has reached an important point in his labours, has he not?
MISS GOODWILLIE. A very important point.
DOWAGER. And how is he getting on?
MISS GOODWILLIE. I’m not sure; I wish I knew.
(COSENS comes to gate.)
COSENS. Good evening, all.
SIR GEORGE. Perhaps the Doctor can tell us.
LADY GILDING. We are asking, Doctor, how the Professor is getting on?
COSENS. He sent me out this moment to tell Miss Goodwillie that he is getting on famously.
MISS GOODWILLIE. You really mean that, Doctor?
COSENS. I mean it.
MISS GOODWILLIE. Then it is all right.
DOWAGER. I am so glad.
SIR GEORGE. We have been congratulating Miss Goodwillie on sending Miss White back to London.
COSENS. Ah! (Looks at MISS GOODWILLIE.)
(The figures of PROFESSOR and LUCY are seen tn shadow on blind, COSENS, from where he is standing, sees them.
MISS GOODWILLIE sees also. The others, being seated beneath window, do not see.)
LADY GILDING. I hope he is not missing her.
COSENS. Not in the least.
(professor is seen, in shadow, putting fingers through lucy’s hair.)
DOWAGER. She is in her right place, at last!
(LUCY is seen with head on PROFESSOR’S chest.)
COSENS. She is!
MISS GOODWILLIE. She is. And now I have something to tell you all. I want Tom to marry.
DOWAGER. Mildred!
LADY GILDING. Mamma!
MISS GOODWILLIE. What is more, the woman I should like to see him married to, is — very near him at this moment.
DOWAGER. George!
MISS GOODWILLIE. I believe she loves him.
DOWAGER. She does! Oh! You make me so happy.
(cosens, who is leaning over the gate, chuckles.)
Dear Miss Goodwillie, come and sit beside me.
MISS GOODWILLIE. With pleasure.
(professor’s hand is seen opening window a little.)
LADY GILDING. What was that? Miss goodwillie. It must be Tom opening his window.
DOWAGER. That is where he works, isn’t it? The last time I was in that room he gave me an electric shock.
COSENS. You don’t need to be in the room for that. He could give you an electric shock, though you were sitting here and he upstairs.
LADY GILDING. How clever!
DOWAGER. I wish he would.
PROFESSOR. Dearest!
(dowager rises.)
MISS GOODWILLIE (as if she had heard nothing). What is it?
DOWAGER. I thought — I must have been mistaken.
SIR GEORGE. Miss Goodwillie, the match to which you refer will give me complete satisfaction.
LADY GILDING. It has our warm approval.
MISS GOODWILLIE. Thank you.
PROFESSOR. Darling!
SIR GEORGE. Do you hear anything?
DOWAGER. Not just now — but a moment ago —
LADY GILDING. I heard nothing.
MISS GOODWILLIE. Nor I.
SIR GEORGE. Strange.
LADY GILDING. I am sure she will make him