Agnes. [To sir George and Kirke.] Yes?

Sir George.  We are glad to be able to give a most favourable report.  I may say that Mr Cleeve has never appeared to be in better health.

Agnes. [Drawing a deep breath.] He will be very much cheered by what you say.

Sir George. [Bowing stiffly.] I’m glad—­

Agnes.  His illness left him with a morbid, irrational impression that he would never be his former self again.

Sir George.  A nervous man recovering from a scare.  I’ve helped remove that impression I believe.

Agnes.  Thank you.  We have a troublesome, perhaps a hard time before us; we both need all our health and spirits. [Turning her head, listening.] Lucas?

[Lucas enters the room.  He is a handsome, intellectual-looking young man of about eight-and-twenty.]

Lucas. [To Agnes, excitedly.] Have you heard what they say of me?

Agnes. [Smiling.] Yes.

Lucas.  How good of you, Sir George, to break up your little holiday for the sake of an anxious, fidgety fellow. [To Agnes.] Isn’t it?

Agnes.  Sir George has rendered us a great service.

Lucas. [Going to Kirke, brightly.] Yes, and proved how ungrateful I’ve been to you, doctor.

Kirke.  Don’t apologise.  People who don’t know when they’re well are the mainstay of my profession. [Offering snuff-box.] Here—­[Lucas takes a pinch of snuff, laughingly.]

Agnes. [In a low voice to sir George.] He has been terribly hipped at times. [Taking up the vase of flowers from the table.] Your visit will have made him another man. [She goes to a table, puts down the vase upon the tray, and commences to cut and arrange the fresh flowers she finds there.]

Lucas. [Seeing that Agnes is out of hearing.] Excuse me, Kirke—­just for one moment. [To sir George.] Sir George—­[Kirke joins Agnes.] You still go frequently to Great Cumberland Place?

Sir George.  Your mother’s gout has been rather stubborn lately.

Lucas.  Very likely she and my brother Sandford will get to hear of your visit to me here; in that case you’ll be questioned pretty closely, naturally.

Sir George.  My position is certainly a little delicate.

Lucas.  Oh you may be perfectly open with my people as to my present mode of life.  Only—­[He motions sir George to be seated; they sit facing each other.] Only I want you hear me declare again plainly [looking towards Agnes] that but for the care and devotion of that good woman over there, but for the solace of that woman’s companionship, I should have been dead months ago—­I should have died raving in my awful bedroom on the ground