(SIR JOSEPH _takes paper, goes up_ R. C.)
LADY C. (L. C.) Papa! Does Margaret know?
MOLLEN. About Everard? Oh yes. And of course she's indignant. Although she adores our friend Balsted, she resents the desertion of an ancient admirer.
SIR J. (_coming down_ C.) I fail to see how this helps us.
MOLLEN. (R. C.) Balsted, Balsted, you surely affect this denseness! I've told Everard, by the way, that he has my full consent and approval.
MOLLEN. That the decision rests with my daughter--
LADY C. (_cross to_ C.) With _me_! What am I to say to him?
SIR J. (L. C.) (_whispering to her_) We'll elope!
MOLLEN. In the meantime Balsted will be good enough to overwhelm Margaret with his elderly devotion--
MOLLEN. You will! Where you were doddery before, you will now be paralytic! You will, for the next week, refuse to stir from the house, or let Margaret do as much as budge from your side!
MOLLEN. Yes. And Rosamund does more or less the same with Everard.
LADY C. Papa, I can't! I tell you I can't!
MOLLEN. You must! _I_ tell you, you must! (LADY C. _goes up_ C.)
(MARGARET _calls "Joseph" and appears at the same place as before_. BALSTED _is_ L.)
(_Down_ L. C.) The girl again! Balsted, we will leave you with her. Read your paper--she mustn't think we've been plotting. Read it, I say--at present you're simply glaring!
LADY C. (_up_ R. C. _intercepting_ MARGARET--_speaking very gently_) Margaret--my dear Margaret!
MARGARET. (_up_ R. _coldly_) I congratulate you, Lady Claude.
LADY C. You congratulate me! You believe--
MOLLEN. (_up_ C.) (_sternly_) Rosamund, I want you! Come!
(_He marches her off_ L. U. E., MARGARET _looks scornfully after her, then sits on the grass, close to_ SIR J. _who holds the paper as a shield_.)
MARGARET. (C., _reproachfully_) Joseph, I warned you! You refused to take any steps! Now you see!
(SIR JOSEPH _turns over the paper wildly_.)
MARGARET. It is unpardonable of them both, but he, the poor boy, is at least to be pitied. There really should be a law against elderly women marrying mere boys! But it's our duty to do something, isn't it, Joseph? We really can't stand by and allow him to be so foolish--can we?
Ah, Everard, Everard! We have heard the--news. Your uncle has something to say to you--haven't you, Joseph?