Dolly Reforming Herself Part 14

_Criddle._ Yes, ma'am. [_Going._

_Lucas._ Criddle, what's the weather like?

_Criddle._ It's a bit colder, sir. Looks as if we were going to have another heavy fall of snow.

_Lucas._ I don't think I'll go to-night, Criddle. If I want the gee saddled, I'll go and tell them myself.

_Criddle._ Yes, sir. [_Exit._

_Lucas._ [_In arm-chair._] I say, Dolly, you don't really expect me to go careering over that heath at this unG.o.dly hour?

_Dolly._ You can't stay here. Renie is very much upset; she has had hysterics. So I've put her in the spare room.

_Lucas._ Well, you can give me a shake-down somewhere--in the billiard-room.

_Dolly._ [_Shakes her head._] I can't ask the servants to make up impossible beds in impossible places at this unG.o.dly hour.

_Lucas._ I call this beastly unfair of you, Doll.

_Dolly._ Unfair?

_Lucas._ Just as I'd summoned up all my resolution to do the right thing, and avoid ructions for your sake, you pounce down on me, and order me off the premises, and----

_Dolly._ [_Getting angry._] If you don't behave yourself and go off quietly, I shall have to order you off the premises.

[_Makes an appeal by gesture to_ MATT _to get him off._

_Matt._ Now, my hero! [_Lifting him out of the arm-chair._] Buckle on your armor! Sally forth! Once more unto the breach!

[_With some difficulty he raises_ LUCAS _out of the chair._

_Lucas._ Well, I'll go and have a look at the weather. [_Goes sulkily up to door._] Mind you, if you turn me out I won't be responsible if there's a flare up----

_Dolly._ Very well, so long as we don't have a flare-up here. Oh!

[_Rings the bell again._

_Lucas._ [_Goes off, sulky, muttering._] Of all the--turning me out--beastly infernal nuisance!

[_Exit grumbling, leaving door open._

_Dolly._ It would serve them both right if there was to be a flare-up--only I'm sure she'd drag me into it somehow. [CRIDDLE _appears at door._] Please send and ask them at the Red Lion to saddle Captain Wentworth's horse and send it here at once.

_Criddle._ Yes, ma'am. [_Exit._

_Dolly._ Lucas is going to behave as badly over this as he did over the governess. Dad----!

_Matt._ Well?

_Dolly._ Of course, Lucas is in the army, but surely he--he isn't a fair sample?

_Matt._ Oh no, oh no! Lucas is very exceptional--quite exceptional.

_Dolly._ I thought so! They can't all be----

_Matt._ Oh no! I'm glad to say----

_Dolly._ I'm determined he shall go to-night.

LUCAS _re-enters._

_Lucas._ I say, Dolly, I wish you'd come and look at the weather.

_Dolly._ What for?

_Lucas._ There's a great black cloud--it's going to come down!

_Dolly._ [_Enraged._] I don't care if the heavens come down! You're going back to Aldershot to-night.

_Lucas._ But I tell you---- [_Appeals to_ MATT.] It's simply impossible for me to ride across that heath----

_Matt._ But you rode across it last night in a howling snowstorm----

_Lucas._ Yes, I did! Last night! And never again, thank you! No! I don't mind shaking down anywhere to oblige----

[_He is about to drop again into the arm-chair, but_ MATT _gently pushes him aside and drops into the chair himself._

_Lucas._ [_Going to sofa._] Anywhere to oblige!

[_Drops comfortably on to sofa._

_Dolly._ [_Comes up to him finally._] Lucas, this is abominable! I suppose you think because we treated you so leniently over that wretched governess----

_Lucas._ Well, I thought you were pretty deuced hard down on us----

_Dolly._ What?! Oh! [_Appeals to_ MATT.

_Lucas._ I didn't mind your slanging me, but you might have had a little consideration for her feelings, because, after all, she was one of your own s.e.x!

_Dolly._ My own s.e.x! The minx!

_Lucas._ And an orphan!

_Dolly._ Orphan! [_To_ MATT.] Go and speak to him! Go and speak to him!

[MATT _rises and goes to_ LUCAS. DOLLY _sits down in despair._

_Matt._ Come, Lu. You're not playing the game! You promised to take yourself off.