MRS. ALLONBY. Lord Illingworth, I want to speak to you for a
moment. Do come over.

LORD ILLINGWORTH. Will you excuse me, Mrs. Arbuthnot? Now, don't
let your charming mother make any more difficulties, Gerald. The
thing is quite settled, isn't it?

GERALD. I hope so. [LORD ILLINGWORTH goes across to MRS.
ARBUTHNOT.]

MRS. ALLONBY. I thought you were never going to leave the lady in
black velvet.

LORD ILLINGWORTH. She is excessively handsome. [Looks at MRS.
ARBUTHNOT.]

LADY HUNSTANTON. Caroline, shall we all make a move to the music-
room? Miss Worsley is going to play. You'll come too, dear Mrs.
Arbuthnot, won't you? You don't know what a treat is in store for
you. [To DOCTOR DAUBENY.] I must really take Miss Worsley down
some afternoon to the rectory. I should so much like dear Mrs.
Daubeny to hear her on the violin. Ah, I forgot. Dear Mrs.
Daubeny's hearing is a little defective, is it not?

THE ARCHDEACON. Her deafness is a great privation to her. She
can't even hear my sermons now. She reads them at home. But she
has many resources in herself, many resources.

LADY HUNSTANTON. She reads a good deal, I suppose?