Jane and Honoria stand
one each side of the table, rigid, with set faces. After a moment
Fanny goes to the open window. The voices of the girls below,
crowding into the van, come up into the room. She calls down to
them.] Good-bye. You've plenty of time. What? Yes, of course.
[Laughs.] All right. Good-bye. [She turns, comes slowly back. She
looks at Jane and Honoria, where they stand rigid. Honoria makes a
movement with her shoulders--takes a step towards the door.]
Honoria! [Honoria stops--slowly turns.] You can take away these
glasses. Jane will help you.
Bennet has reappeared.
HONORIA. It's not my place -
FANNY. Your place is to obey my orders.
BENNET [his coolness seems to have deserted him. His voice is
trembling]. Obey her ladyship's orders, both of you. Leave the rest
to me. [Honoria and Jane busy themselves, with Ernest setting the
room to rights.] May I speak with your ladyship?
FANNY. Certainly.
BENNET. Alone, I mean.
FANNY. I see no need.
BENNET [her firmness takes him aback. He expected to find her
defiance disappear with the cause of it. But pig-headed, as all
Bennets, her opposition only drives him on]. Your ladyship is not
forgetting the alternative?
The Misses Wetherell have been watching the argument much as the
babes in the wood might have watched the discussion between the two
robbers.
THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL [in terror]. Bennet! you're not going to
give notice!
BENNET.
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