Enter Alice.

Alice.  You are wanted, Jane, a moment.

Jane.  Will you excuse me, Mr Bootle? [Exit.

Bootle (to Alice, as she follows her sister out).  Don’t go!

Alice (wanly—­if she knows how).  Am I to stay and congratulate you?

Bootle.  Alice! (They approach the footlights, while Jane, having finished her business, comes in unobserved and watches from the back.) It is all a mistake!  I didn’t know your Christian name—­I didn’t know you had a sister.  The letter I addressed to Miss Prendergast I meant for Miss Alice Prendergast.

Alice.  James!  My love!  But what can we do?

Bootle (gloomily).  Nothing.  As a man of honour I cannot withdraw.  So two lives are ruined!

Alice.  You are right, James.  Jane must never know.  Good-bye!

[They give each other a farewell embrace.

Jane (aside).  They love. (Fiercely.) But he is mine; I will hold him to his promise! (Picking up a photograph of Alice as a small child from an occasional table.) Little Alice!  And I promised to take care of her—­to protect her from the cruel world Baby Alice! (She puts her handkerchief to her eyes.) No!  I will not spoil two lives!  (Aloud.) Why “Good-bye,” Alice?

[Bootle and Alice, who have been embracing all this time—­unless they can think of something else to do—­break away in surprise.

Alice.  Jane—­we—­I—­

Jane (calmly).  Dear Alice!  I understand perfectly.  Mr Bootle said in his letter to you that he was coming for his answer, and I see what answer you have given him. (To Bootle.) You remember I told you it would be “Yes.”  I know my little sister, you see.

Bootle (tactlessly).  But—­you told me I could kiss you!

Jane (smiling).  And I tell you again now.  I believe it is usual for men to kiss their sisters-in-law? (She offers her cheek.  Bootle, whose day it is, salutes her respectfully.) And now (gaily) perhaps I had better leave you young people alone!

[Exit, with a backward look at the audience expressive of the fact that she has been wearing the mask.

Bootle.  Alice, then you are mine, after all.

Alice.  James! (They k—­No, perhaps better not.  There has been quite enough for one evening.) And to think that she knew all the time!  Now I am quite, quite happy.  And James—­you will remember in future that I am Miss Alice Prendergast?

Bootle (gaily).  My dear, I shall only be able to remember that you are The Future Mrs Bootle!

Curtain.

“At dead of night”

The stage is in semi-darkness as Dick Trayle throws open the window from outside, puts his knee on the sill, and falls carefully into the drawing-room of Beeste Hall.  He is dressed in a knickerbocker suit with arrows on it (such as can always be borrowed from a friend), and, to judge from the noises which he emits, is not in the best of training.  The lights go on suddenly; and, he should seize this moment to stagger to the door and turn on the switch.  This done, he sinks into the nearest chair and closes his eyes.