MISS SUSAN (who knows that there is no hope for her but in flight ). I think I hear Phoebe calling me a sudden indisposition. Pray excuse me, Henrietta. (She goes. )
MISS HENRIETTA. We know not, sir, whether to offer you our felicitations?
VALENTINE (cogitating ). May I ask, ma'am, what you mean by an obstacle? Is there some mystery about Miss Livvy?
MISS HENRIETTA. So much so, sir, that we at one time thought she and Miss Phoebe were the same person.
VALENTINE. Pshaw!
MISS FANNY. Why will they admit no physician into her presence?
MISS HENRIETTA. The blinds of her room are kept most artfully drawn.
MISS FANNY (plaintively ). We have never seen her, sir. Neither Miss Susan nor Miss Phoebe will present her to us.
VALENTINE (impressed ). Indeed.
(MISS HENRIETTA and MISS FANNY, encouraged by his sympathy, draw nearer the door of the interesting bedchamber. They falter. Any one who thinks, however, that they would so far forget themselves as to open the door and peep in, has no understanding of the ladies of Quality Street. They are, nevertheless, not perfect, for MISS HENRIETTA knocks on the door. )
(There is no answer. It is our pride to record that they come away without even touching the handle. They look appealing at CAPTAIN BROWN, whose face has grown grave. )
(He walks into the bedroom. They feel an ignoble drawing to follow him, but do not yield to it. When he returns his face is inscrutable.)
VALENTINE. Ha.
MISS FANNY. We did not hear you address her.
VALENTINE. She is not awake, ma'am.
MISS HENRIETTA. It is provoking.
MISS FANNY (sternly just ). They informed Mary that she was nigh asleep.
VALENTINE. It is not a serious illness I think, ma'am. With the permission
of Miss Phoebe and Miss Susan I will make myself more acquaint with her disorder presently. (He is desirous to be alone. ) But we must not talk lest we disturb her.
MISS FANNY. You suggest our retiring, sir?
VALENTINE. Nay, Miss Fanny
MISS FANNY. You are very obliging; but I think, Henrietta
MISS HENRIETTA (rising ). Yes, Fanny.
(No doubt they are the more ready to depart that they wish to inform MISS WILLOUGHBY at once of these strange doings. As they go , MISS SUSAN and MISS PHOEBE return, and the adieux are less elaborate than usual. Neither visitors nor hostesses quite know what to say . MISS SUSAN is merely relieved to see them leave, but MISS PHOEBE has read something in their manner that makes her uneasy. )
VALENTINE. No.
(She reads danger in his face.)
VALENTINE (somewhat stern ). Miss Phoebe, I desire to see Miss Livvy.
PHOEBE. Impossible.
VALENTINE. Why impossible? They tell me strange stories about no one's seeing her. Miss Phoebe, I will not leave this house until I have seen her.
PHOEBE. You cannot. (But he is very determined, and she is afraid of him. ) Will you excuse me, sir, while I talk with Susan behind the door?
(The sisters go guiltily into the bedroom, and CAPTAIN BROWN after some hesitation rings for PATTY.)
PATTY (with all her wits about her ). Trick, sir! Who would dare?
VALENTINE. I know, Patty, that Miss Phoebe has been Miss Livvy all the time.
PATTY. I give in!
VALENTINE. Why has she done this?
PATTY (beseechingly ). Are you laughing, sir?
VALENTINE. I am very far from laughing.
PATTY (turning on him ). 'Twas you that began it, all by not knowing her in the white gown.
VALENTINE. Why has this deception been kept up so long?
PATTY. Because you would not see through it. Oh, the wicked denseness. She thought you were infatuate with Miss Livvy because she was young and silly.
VALENTINE. It is infamous.
PATTY. I will not have you call her names. 'Twas all playful innocence at first, and now she is so feared of you she is weeping her soul to death, and all I do I cannot rouse her. 'I ha' a follower in the kitchen, ma'am,' says I, to infuriate her. 'Give him a glass of cowslip wine,' says she, like a gentle lamb. And ill she can afford it, you having lost their money for them.
VALENTINE. What is that? On the contrary, all the money they have, Patty, they owe to my having invested it for them.
PATTY. That is the money they lost.
VALENTINE. You are sure of that?
PATTY. I can swear to it.
VALENTINE. Deceived me about that also. Good God; but why?
PATTY. I think she was feared you would offer to her out of pity. She said something to Miss Susan about keeping a flag flying. What she meant I know not. (But he knows, and he turns away his face. ) Are you laughing, sir?
VALENTINE. No, Patty, I am not laughing. Why do they not say Miss Livvy has gone home? It would save them a world of trouble.
PATTY. The Misses Willoughby and Miss Henrietta they watch the house all day. They would say she cannot be gone, for we did not see her go.
VALENTINE (enlightened at last ). I see!
PATTY. And Miss Phoebe and Miss Susan wring their hands, for they are feared Miss Livvy is bedridden here for all time. (Now his sense of humour asserts itself ). Thank the Lord, you 're laughing!
(At this he laughs the more, and it is a gay CAPTAIN BROWN on whom MISS SUSAN opens the bedroom door. This desperate woman is too full of plot to note the change in him. )