Vernon, seeing that Bennet is occupied, kisses the unresponsive Fanny
and goes out.]
At the sound of the closing of the door, Fanny looks up. She goes to
the door through which Vernon has just passed, listens a moment, then
returns. Bennet calmly finishes the drawing of the curtains. Then
he, too, crosses slowly till he and Fanny are facing one another
across the centre of the room.
FANNY. Well, what are you going to do?
BENNET. My duty!
FANNY. What's that? Something unpleasant, I know. I can bet my
bottom dollar.
BENNET. That, my girl, will depend upon you.
FANNY. How upon me?
BENNET. Whether you prove an easy or a difficult subject. To fit
you for your position, a certain amount of training will, I fancy, be
necessary.
FANNY. Training! I'm to be--[She draws herself up.] Are you aware
who I am?
BENNET. Oh yes. AND who you were. His lordship, I take it, would
hardly relish the discovery that he had married his butler's niece.
He might consider the situation awkward.
FANNY. And who's going to train me?
BENNET. I am. With the assistance of your aunt and such other
members of your family as I consider can be trusted.
FANNY [for a moment she is speechless, then she bursts out]. That
ends it! I shall tell him! I shall tell him this very moment. [She
sweeps towards the door.]
BENNET. At this moment you will most likely find his lordship in his
bath.
FANNY. I don't care! Do you think--do you think for a moment that
I'm going to allow myself--I, Lady Bantock, to be--[Her hand upon the
door.
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