never　told　me；　least　of　all；　that　you　were　Lord　Bantockor　you　may　be　pretty　sure　I　should　have　come　out　with　the　truth；　if　only　for　my　own　sake。　　It　hasn't　been　any　joke　for　me；　coming　back　here。
  VERNON。　　Yes。　　I　can　see　they've　been　making　things　pretty　hard　for　you。
  FANNY。　　Oh；　they　thought　they　were　doing　their　duty。　　＇He　is　seated。　She　comes　up　behind　him；　puts　her　hands　on　his　shoulders。＇　　I　want　you　to　take　them　all　back　again。　　I　want　to　feel　I　have　made　as　little　commotion　in　your　life　as　possible。　　It　was　just　a　little　mistake。　　And　everybody　will　say　how　fortunate　it　was　that　she　took　herself　off　so　soon　with　that＇She　was　about　to　say　〃that　theatrical　Johnny；〃　thinking　of　Newte。　　She　checks　herself。＇　　And　you　will　marry　somebody　belonging　to　your　own　class。　　And　those　are　the　only　sensible　marriages　there　are。
  VERNON。　　Have　you　done　talking？
  FANNY。　　Yes！　　Yes；　I　think　that's　all。
  VERNON。　　Then　perhaps　you'll　let　me　get　in　a　word。　　You　think　me　a　snob？　　＇Fanny　makes　a　movement。＇　　As　a　matter　of　fact；　I　am。
  FANNY。　　No；　that's　not　fair。　　You　wouldn't　have　married　a　girl　off　the　music…hall　stage。
  VERNON。　　Niece　of　a　bishop；　cousin　to　a　judge。　　Whether　I　believed　it　or　not；　doesn't　matter。　　The　sham　that　isn't　likely　to　be　found　out　is　as　good　as　the　truth；　to　a　snob。　　If　he　had　told　me　your　uncle　was　a　butler；　I　should　have　hesitated。　　That's　where　the　mistake　began。　We'll　go　back　to　that。　　Won't　you　sit　down？　　＇Fanny　sits。＇　　I　want　you　to　stop。　　There'll　be　no　mistake　this　time。　　I'm　asking　my　butler's　niece　to　do　me　the　honour　to　be　my　wife。
  FANNY。　　That's　kind　of　you。
  VERNON。　　Oh；　I'm　not　thinking　of　you。　　I'm　thinking　of　myself。　　I　want　you。　　I　fell　in　love　with　you　because　you　were　pretty　and　charming。　　There's　something　else　a　man　wants　in　his　wife　besides　that。　　I've　found　it。　　＇He　jumps　up；　goes　over　to　her；　brushing　aside　things　in　his　way。＇　　I'm　not　claiming　it　as　a　right；　you　can　go　if　you　like。　　You　can　earn　your　own　living；　I　know。　　But　you　shan't　have　anybody　else。　　You'll　be　Lady　Bantock　and　nobody　elseas　long　as　I　live。　　＇He　has　grown　quite　savage。＇
  FANNY　＇she　bites　her　lip　to　keep　back　the　smile　that　wants　to　come＇。　That　cuts　both　ways；　you　know。
  VERNON。　　I　don't　want　anybody　else。
  FANNY　＇she　stretches　out　her　hand　and　lays　it　on　his＇。　　Won't　it　be　too　hard　for　you？　　You'll　have　to　tell　them　allyour　friends　everybody。
  VERNON。　　They've　got　to　be　told　in　any　case。　　If　you　are　here；　for　them　to　see；　they'll　be　able　to　understandthose　that　have　got　any　sense。
  Bennet　comes　in　with　breakfast；　for　two；　on　a　tray。　　He　places　it　on　a　table。
  FANNY　＇she　has　risen；　she　goes　over　to　him＇。　　Good　morning；　uncle。　＇She　puts　up　her　face。　　He　stares；　but　she　persists。　　Bennet　kisses　her。＇　　Lord　Bantock＇she　looks　at　Vernon＇has　a　request　to　make　to　you。　　He　wishes　me　to　remain　here　as　his　wife。　　I　am　willing　to　do　so；　provided　you　give　your　consent。
  VERNON。　　Quite　right；　Bennet。　　I　ought　to　have　asked　for　it　before。　I　apologise。　　Will　you　give　your　consent　to　my　marriage　with　your　niece？
  FANNY。　　One　minute。　　You　understand　what　it　means？　　From　the　moment　you　give　itif　you　do　give　itI　shall　be　Lady　Bantock；　your　mistress。
  BENNET。　　My　dear　Fanny！　　My　dear　Vernon！　　I　speak；　for　the　first　and　last　time；　as　your　uncle。　　I　am　an　old…fashioned　person；　and　my　ideas；　I　have　been　told；　are　those　of　my　class。　　But　observation　has　impressed　it　upon　me　that　success　in　any　scheme　depends　upon　each　person　being　fit　for　their　place。　　Yesterday；　in　the　interests　of　you　both；　I　should　have　refused　my　consent。　　To…day；　I　give　it　with　pleasure；　feeling　sure　I　am　handing　over　to　Lord　Bantock　a　wife　in　every　way　fit　for　her　position。　　＇Kissing　her；　he　gives　her　to　Vernon；　who　grips　his　hand。　　He　returns　to　the　table。＇　　Breakfast；　your　ladyship；　is　quite　ready。
  They　take　their　places　at　the　table。　　Fanny　takes　off　her　hat；　Bennet　takes　off　the　covers。
  ＇CURTAIN＇
  End