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WALTER _has his moment's hesitation; he drinks, and with tremendous effort succeeds in composing his face._
HECTOR. [_Gaily._] To Walter, the Bachelor! [_He drinks his glass to the dregs and puts it down._] And now--for a game.
WALTER. I think I--
HECTOR. [_Coaxingly._] Sit down, laddie--just one rubber. It's quite early. Do. There's a good chap. [_They all sit:_ HECTOR _at back,_ BETTY _to the left of him,_ WALTER _to the right--he spreads out the cards--they draw for partners._] As we are--you and Betty--I've got the dummy. [_He shuffles the cards_--BETTY _cuts--he begins to deal._] That's how I like it--one on each side of me. Also I like having dummy. Now, Betty, play up. Oh, Lord, how good it is, how good! A nightmare, I tell you--terrible! And really you must forgive me for being such an ass. But the way you played up, both of you! My little Betty--a Duse, that's what she is--a real Duse! [_He gathers up his cards._] And the gods are kind to me--I've got a hand, I tell you! I call NO TRUMPS!
[_He beams at them--they are placidly sorting their cards. He puts his hand down and proceeds to look at his dummy, as the curtain falls._
CURTAIN
A MARRIAGE HAS BEEN ARRANGED....
THE PERSONS OF THE PLAY
MR. HARRISON CROCKSTEAD LADY ALINE DE VAUX
_Produced at the Garrick Theatre on March 27, 1904_
A MARRIAGE HAS BEEN ARRANGED....
SCENE _The conservatory of No. 300 Grosvenor Square. Hour, close on midnight. A ball is in progress, and dreamy waltz music is heard in the distance._
LADY ALINE DE VAUX _enters, leaning on the arm of_ MR. HARRISON CROCKSTEAD.
LADY ALINE _is a tall, exquisitely-gowned girl, of the conventional and much-admired type of beauty. Put her in any drawing-room in the world, and she would at once be recognised as a highborn Englishwoman. She has in her, in embryo, all those excellent qualities that go to make a great lady: the icy stare, the haughty movement of the shoulder, the disdainful arch of the lip; she has als