Margery! [_MARGERY casts down her eyes._] You were rowing?

MARGERY.

Sometimes, my lady.

MRS. SYLVESTER.

Stroke. [_Looking at GERALD._]

[_LADY WARGRAVE, watching MRS. SYLVESTER, motions to MARGERY, who retires up._

COLONEL [_aside to LADY WARGRAVE_].

Caroline, you took the water very neatly.

LADY WARGRAVE [_aside to COLONEL_].

The higher morality has caught a crab.

MRS. SYLVESTER [_gathers up MS. into her portfolio_]_._

I will not trespa.s.s any longer, Mr. Cazenove. No doubt, your aunt has much to say to you.

GERALD.

But won't you stay to tea?

MRS. SYLVESTER.

Thanks. Captain Sylvester dines early.

COLONEL [_aside_].

At the club!

MRS. SYLVESTER.

Good day to you, Lady Wargrave. [_LADY WARGRAVE is about to rise._]

Pray don't rise. [_Bows to the COLONEL and goes to door in flat where GERALD is waiting for her._] Don't trouble; I know my way.

[_Exit._

LADY WARGRAVE.

Poor Sylvester! He was such a nice boy! [_GERALD comes down._] Gerald, can Margery wait in the next room?

[_GERALD opens door R. Exit MARGERY R._

GERALD [_returning_].

And how have you been, aunt? You never mentioned your health in your letters. Are you better?

LADY WARGRAVE.

I mustn't complain; but Providence is really most unjust. Here am I, who have lived a life of temperance, in my old age----

COLONEL.

Middle age, Caroline!

[_Bowing._

LADY WARGRAVE [_smiling_].

A chronic invalid; while this old transgressor who has denied himself nothing [_COLONEL grins_], and committed every sin in the Decalogue [_COLONEL chuckles_], is as hale and as hearty as I am infirm.

COLONEL.

Never felt better, never!

LADY WARGRAVE.

But how have _you_ been, Gerald? _We_ belong to the past----

COLONEL.

Caroline!

LADY WARGRAVE.

_You_ belong to the future, and the future belongs to you.

GERALD.

Oh, I've been all right!

[_A little recklessly._

LADY WARGRAVE.

Quite sure you suffer from nothing?

GERALD.

What do you mean?

LADY WARGRAVE.

Your letters have told me a great deal--more than perhaps you know; but I have read them very carefully; and when you asked me to come home----