The Gay Lord Quex - LightNovelsOnl.com
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QUEX.
Eh?
MURIEL.
[_Rising, and speaking in a low, appealing voice._] Give me your word you have been loyal to me, down to your very thought, since our engagement.
QUEX.
[_Earnestly._] Muriel, I--
MURIEL.
Hus.h.!.+ [_Giving him her hand._] I believe you. [_The door-gong sounds._]
And, look here! I haven't been quite fair, or generous, to you, I am afraid. But I am going to be different--
QUEX.
After to-day!
MURIEL.
From this moment. Harry--
QUEX.
Hey?
MURIEL.
I won't keep you till the end of the year. Marry me, and have done with it, directly the Season is over, and take me away.
QUEX.
[_Bending over her hand._] Good heavens--! [MISS LIMBIRD _holds the_ portiere _aside and admits_ LADY OWBRIDGE, _the_ d.u.c.h.eSS OF STROOD, _and_ MRS. EDEN. MISS LIMBIRD _then returns to her desk._ QUEX _goes to_ LADY OWBRIDGE, _takes her arm, and leads her forward._] Aunt Julia!
aunt! my dear aunt Julia!
[_The_ d.u.c.h.eSS _joins_ FRAYNE. MRS. EDEN _comes to_ MURIEL _and receives the news of the hastened marriage._ SOPHY _moves away to the window._
QUEX.
[_Excitedly, to_ LADY OWBRIDGE.] Oh, my dear aunt!
LADY OWBRIDGE.
What ails you, Henry?
QUEX.
Muriel! she--she--she's going to marry me!
LADY OWBRIDGE.
I hope so.
QUEX.
But at the end of the Season! a month hence! a month, a month, a month!
LADY OWBRIDGE.
My dear boy! Heaven prosper your union! Muriel--
MRS. EDEN.
[_To_ LADY OWBRIDGE.] Isn't this glorious news, Lady Owbridge? But I always thought it unwise to protract the engagement. You never know _what_ may happen, do you? I must tell the dear d.u.c.h.ess--
[_She joins the_ d.u.c.h.eSS _and_ FRAYNE, _and chatters to them._
LADY OWBRIDGE.
[_To_ MURIEL, _in a low voice._] Muriel, you are right. In this life, if you have anything to pardon, pardon quickly. Slow forgiveness is little better than no forgiveness.
MRS. EDEN.
[_Coming to_ QUEX.] Congratulate you.
QUEX.
Thanks.
[LADY OWBRIDGE _moves away, joining the_ d.u.c.h.eSS, _as_ MRS. EDEN _returns to_ MURIEL.
MRS. EDEN.
[_Kissing_ MURIEL.] You sensible girl!
[FRAYNE _comes to_ QUEX.
FRAYNE.
[_To_ QUEX, _mournfully._] Old chap, this is shockingly sudden.
QUEX.
Ha, ha!
FRAYNE.
