"Wait a moment" "This is 99 Wiltshire Crescent." "You almost passed me." "No wonder... we all look alike." "You can only know what is that makes this house different if you stop." "You must go inside and spend a little time... see what the mirrors have seen know what the clocks know." "hear what the walls have heard." "Listen with your heart." "I am more than stone and wood." "Some things here are the same." "Common to all houses." "A doorbell echoes in the hall." "Footsteps run up and down the stairs." "A piano is played." "Windows opened and shut." "A tap runs and is silent." "A light goes on in a room at nignt and then goes off again" "But tnose are the pulse beats." "Not the heart." "I miss my people." "In me they lived." "The house is filled with voices." "Listen" "Rollo, what do you want out of life?" "Life?" "Don't you want to make something of yourself?" "Not necessarily." "What do you want out of life?" "Present tense." "What did you want out of life?" "Past tense." "What does tomorrow hold?" "Future tense." "Rollo, I'm so afraid of what will happen to us if you go away." "If I should have to go, promise me you'll wait." "We shall have seven children and a million pounds a year." "These are my people." "They grew up here and left in search of happiness." "None had seven children None made a million pounds." "And only one came back." "Not renew?" "What do you mean, not renew?" "Here is the one who came home." "The house is story." "Ninety-nine-year leases have a way of ending eventually, General." "Willoughby, Low, Paxton  Willoughby have always advised against them." "Will the owners sell the land?" "They intend to pull down the house eventually, sir." " Pull it down?" " So I've been advised." "How long have we got?" "The lease expires this coming December." "Mr. Willoughby, I have existed a considerable time most of it in the service with plenty of mud and stones, and... and I minded them and... and loneliness." "And now that I am back, I want to spend the rest of my days here undisturbed." "I can't offer much hope." "Do what you can to keep me here." "Yes, General." "Mr. Willoughby is leaving." "Good day, General." "Proutie, I don't want to be disturbed." "Yes, Sir Roland." "They're all alike, these retired generals... still giving orders, still expecting miracles." "Willoughby, Low, Paxton  Willoughby are not magicians." "No, sir." "Why should he want to stay in this great empty barracks alone?" "He would never set foot here while his sister was alive." "Is it our place to question his motives, sir?" "If you take my advice, you'll have the general all packed up, ready to leave for his club in December." "Lark..." "Where are you?" "I'm here." "Rollo." "I miss you very much." "Stay with me." "I'm so lonely." "I know." "I love you, Lark." "How much I love you." "And I you." "Let us go back together again." "Shall it be summer or winter?" "Let it be summer." "If you wish" "And Lark play for me." "Will you?" "Of course." "Yes, miss?" "I should like to see General Sir Roland Dane." "The general has asked not to be disturbed, miss." "Tell him it's Miss Dane." "Miss Dane?" "Yes." "Miss Grizel Dane." "If you'll come in, miss." "Was the general expecting you, miss?" "I'm not sure." "I've just arrived from America." "My grandfather said he'd write the general that I might call, but I'm not sure." "America?" "Then you must be Mr. Pelham's..." "Granddaughter." " Did you know him?" " Yes, indeed." "I grew up here with the Dane children." "I knew Mr. Pelham well." "I'm Proutie, miss." "How do you do, Proutie?" "Would you kindly wait here, Miss Dane?" "The general will be glad to see you, I'm sure." "Please don't go." "Lark, where are you?" "Where..." "Mr. Rollo." "Mr. Rollo." "I'm sorry, Mr. Rollo, you were dreaming." "What is it, Proutie?" "A Miss Dane is here to see you, sir." "I don't know any Miss Dane." "Tell her to go away." "But Mr. Rollo, she's Mr. Pelham's granddaughter." "I don't care who she is." "I don't want to be annoyed by relations." " Yeah, but sir..." " You heard what I said." "Don't stand about." "Send her away." "What am I to tell her, sir?" "Tell her anything, but I won't have this intrusion." "Get rid of her." "Relations!" "People walking in and out." "I'm Grizel Dane, Uncle Rollo." "I'm very pleased to see you." "In England, we usually wait until we are asked before we walk into people's private rooms." "In America, too." "Excuse me, miss." "You must forgive me for barging in on you this way, but we only arrived late last night." "There was no time to warn you." "What do you want?" "First, I should be pleased if you'd act a little civil." "And then what?" "Then I should like you to offer me a room that I can live in." "Aren't you in the army, or doesn't that uniform mean anything?" "Yes, it means something." "It means I'm an ambulance driver." "But I can't stay where I was billeted last night." "The room had fleas and there were stuffed owls on the walls..." "In the service, you take what billets you're given." "You don't go around turning up your nose at this and that." "Why, there must be dozens of empty rooms in this house." "I don't want to be disturbed." "I know you." "You'll go all over the house, poking into every corner, trying to piece things together." "I know you." "Let me stay." "There's no point in your coming." "We have to leave the house shortly, in any case." "Then let me stay till you have to leave." "We could keep each other from being lonely." "Come here." "You have Pelham's eyes but you have your own mouth." "That's a pretty mouth." "Thank you, Uncle Rollo." "You keep it pretty." "Don't be a shrew!" "My sister Selina was a shrew" "She started out with a pretty mouth." "And don't be too efficient." "You're a woman." "Then can I stay?" "Well, until I have to leave." "But you'll have to fit into your place." "You won't be alone." "But I thought that you..." "There's no such thing as an empty room." "Proutie, Miss Dane will be staying." "Yes, Mr. Rollo." "I've already prepared a room." "And which room did you prepare?" "Why, I thought she'd be happy in Miss Lark's old room, sir." "What a lovely name." "Lark." "Who was she?" "Miss Dane will stay in Miss Selina's room." "Who was Lark?" "You run along with Proutie now." "I'll show you your room, miss." "Thank you for letting me stay, Uncle Rollo." "This will be your room, miss." "You'll draw the blackout curtains if you turn the light on later, miss." "Yes, of course." "Proutie, who was Lark?" "She was Old Mr. Dane's ward, miss." " Uncle Rollo's ward?" " Oh, dear, no." "Miss Lark was Mr. Rollo's father's ward, miss." "She grew up here with Mr. Rollo and all the Dane children." " And you were here even then?" " Yes, miss." "My old auntie was in service with Mr. Rollo's father." "I remember Miss Lark well." "One doesn't forget Miss Lark." "Dinner will be at 7:00, miss." "The general likes to dress." "Good." "It'll be a pleasant change." "We're allowed to be feminine off-duty." "Proutie... you haven't told me what happened to Lark." "Nothing happened to her, miss." "You won't be alone." "There is no such thing as ar empty room." "Miss Selina." "Miss Selina." "Miss Selina!" " Who is it?" " It's Mrs. Sampson." "Come in." " You're not in bed yet." " Obviously I'm not." "What is it, Sampson?" "Well, it seems you're not going to be the only mistress in this house." " What are you talking about?" " Your father wants to see you." "Go down to the study and you'll find out." "I've woken the boys up." "They're waiting for you." "Is anything wrong?" "And why should anything be wrong?" "Selina, is anything wrong?" "And why should anything be wrong?" "Mrs. Sampson said you wanted to see us." "Yes." "Go into the study, please." "Who do you think she is, Selina?" "Gracious, Rollo." "How could I possibly know?" "She looked terribly frightened, didn't she?" "Yes." "Would you like some warm milk?" "Or some soup?" "All right." "You stay here then for a minute." "I'll go and get Selina to look after you." "Yes." "You won't cry, will you?" "No, sir." "Sit down, children." " Who's the little girl, father?" " Her name is Lark Ingoldsby." " Ingoldsby?" "Like in the legends?" " Don't joke, Rollo, because her mother and father have just been killed in an accident." " Killed?" " How?" "The Tay bridge gave way last night." "There was a train on it at the time." "Her parents were on that train." "Were they friends of yours, Father?" "Yes." "They were singers." "They were on their way to Dundee to give a concert." "I was bringing Lark on to them by a later train, or it might have been all of us." "How terrible, Father." "Her mother had a beautiful voice." "I was making this trip just to hear her sing once again." "When I learned what had happened, I brought Lark back here." "She has no relations." " No one?" " No one." "She is to live here as your sister." "But..." "What is it, Selina?" "Answer me." "I..." "I was thinking, how can sisters be invented?" "They have to be born." "I'm shocked at you, Selina." "Her mother is dead." "So is mine." "Lark?" "Come in here, my dear." "my son Pelham." "How do you do?" "And my son Rollo." "We're very sorry about... about..." "Thank you, Rollo." "And this is Selina." "She will take charge of you." "Selina, the child is exhausted." "Please put her to bed." "Let her sleep in your room." "You can move into the old nursery." " I'm too old to sleep in the nursery." " It's just for tonight." "I wish Lark to be near me, in case she is frightened." "Why can't she sleep in the nursery?" "I'll hear her if she cries." "I want you to." "I am master in this house, and I intend to be obeyed." "Yes, Father." "I'll show you your room." "Go with Selina now." "Take your things." "Come along." "You'll sleep here tonight." "This is my room, you know." "Where are your night things?" "I haven't any." "You have nothing to sleep in?" "I won't get cold." "There's some old clothes I've outgrown stored in here." "We can make them do very nicely." "There." "Is this your mother?" "Please don't touch anything of mine." "Good night." "Good morning, Mrs. Sampson." "How are your veins?" "Bad, Master Rollo." " And your sister's kidneys?" " Poorly." "Thank you, Master Rollo." "Did you hear?" "We got a new sister last night." "Yes." "I've seen her." "She just whisked past me like a frightened squirrel." "What's the matter?" "No one's going to hurt you." "There's a cat up in the tree out there." "The housecats are always getting caught in that old tree." "Have you had breakfast?" "Good morning." "Good morning." "We're hungry." "Aren't we?" "I get up in time to have breakfast before Father leaves." "Sit there, Lark." "Sit down, Rollo." "Sit up, Rollo." "Why is it when I'm told to sit down I'm told to sit up?" "Soldiers sit up straight." "Selina wants Rollo to be a general." "But I'm going to be a tailor." "Father's tailor says I have the finest chest in London." "I like that tailor." "And I'm going to America." "Selina wants Pelham to be a bishop." "She's in love with the new curate." "Eat your breakfast." "I talked to Father about you this morning, Lark." "The boys will be off to school soon, and you're to have lessons here." "What would you like to study?" "I would like to study music." "I think sewing lessons would be better." "I would like to sing." "Like my mother." "Music lessons are expensive" "Don't mind her, Lark." "Ask Father." "He'll let you." "I shouldn't begin by asking any favors, Lark." "Father says your parents didn't leave you anything." "You haven't even any clothes." "Don't you think you should be grateful and study what will earn you a living one day?" "As a governess or a companion?" "Really, Selina!" " Where are you going?" " I'm going to bring her back." "You'll do no such thing." "Rollo!" "Didn't you want any breakfast?" "Don't mind Selina." "Father lets her run the house." "But he'll let you be a singer like your mother if you want to." "Would you like to see a rabbit?" "I think it looks like a rabbit." "Well, do you want to see a spider?" "No." "Don't you think it looks like a rabbit?" "Yes." " You rang, miss?" " Yes, some time ago." "You may remove her silver." "She won't be taking breakfast." "She won't be taking breakfast." "Who won't be taking breakfast?" "What are you talking about?" "The young lady who arrived last night, sir..." "Miss Grizel." "She said she had to report for duty and would be back tonight." "Yes, thank you, Proutie." "There you are, sir." "RTO here." "Traubshaw speaking." "Right you are." " Transport's on the way, sir." " Thank you, corporal." "Of course, these new drivers are American girls, sir." "London seems to confuse the darlings." "It seems to confuse me." " I'm from the American Volunteer..." " And half an hour late." "It's a sad way to treat our poor wounded heroes." " I'm sorry, but..." " Here's your transport, sir." " Are you Lieu..." " Yes." "I'll get my..." " Corporal, could you find..." " Don't bother." "I'll take it." " I'm afraid it's rather heavy." " I can manage." "Transport to Captain Gordon Hales." " Could I sit up there beside you?" " I don't think you're supposed to." "That's just why I want to." "Made it." " May I smoke?" " Sure." "Would you mind getting them out of my pocket for me?" "Here, take mine." "It's easier." "What you need is a copilot." " Here you are." " Thank you." " Are your hands badly wounded?" " No." "My plane fell in the drink." "I got a few burns." "I was lucky." "Lucky?" "You call that being lucky?" "It's lucky someone saw me and fished me out." "After a bit of grafting, I'll be as good as new." "Safely delivered." "Didn't take long enough." " Thank you, indeed." " You're welcome." "Will I see you again?" "L..." "I don't know, I..." "Could I call when I get out?" "I have to go." "We're holding up the war." "Good-bye." "Good luck." "This way, sir." "Hello." "Hello." "What are you doing here?" "I belong here." "I'm Grizel Dane." " What are you doing here?" " Waiting." "Did you follow me?" "No, I didn't follow you." "So you're a Dane?" "An American side." "Of course." "The dining room is there, isn't it?" "Up there is Selina's room." "Two steps up, the nursery." " Who are you?" " I'm called Pax." "You're not by any chance the owner of the land?" "No." "I never set foot here before this minute." "Then would you mind telling me just why you're here?" "Not at all." "I called on the general, but he's out." " Then can I do anything for you?" " No, thank you." "May I ask how you happen to know so much about this house?" "Certainly." "M ay smoke?" "Please do." "It's empty." "I suppose I can smoke my own this time." "There's some in my pocket." "Would you mind?" "No." "Inside pocket." "Thank you." "Now, would you mind explaining?" "In your own good time, of course." "Of course." "You see, I used to play hide and seek in these rooms." "How interesting." "Since you never set foot here before." "Imaginary hide and seek." "When I was little, my aunt taught me where every room was." "She wanted me to know this house as she remembered it." "She grew up here." "Was your aunt by any chance called Lark?" "Yes." "Lark Ingoldsby." "I was brought up by her." "She made me promise to visit this house if I ever got to London." "You begin to make sense." "I don't know when Uncle Rollo will be home, but if you like, you can see the rest of the house now." "Allow me to show you." "Now, let me see" "First, the study is there." "The walls are lined with books, and there's a window overlooking the garden." "You were going to show me." "There should be a copy of Matthew Arnold's poems in a certain place." "That wouldn't surprise me, in a good English library." "There." "Can you reach it?" "The pages should fall open at "Dover Beach. "" "Witchcraft." "Isn't there a line underscored?" ""Ah, love, let us be true to one another. "" "How absurdly sentimental." "Is it absurd to be sentimental?" "Not then." "It is now." "And you're a realist?" "Let's say honest." "The romantic stops short of the truth." "Because the following lines are..." ""The world, which seems to lie before us like a land of dreams..." ""so various, so beautiful, so new..." ""hath really neither joy, nor love, nor light, nor certitude, nor peace, nor help for pain. "" " See?" " No." "For Lark was growing." "Her world was a land of dreams." "There's something I almost forgot." "This way, please." "Now let us take the piano." "A concerto with bandaged hands?" "One note." "Listen." "Did you know there's a crystal in the chandelier that vibrates to a C sharp?" "Have you finished your lesson, Lark?" "Yes, Selina." "Agnes is out, and I need some more silk thread." "Would you run out and get it for me?" " Do you have a sample I could take?" " Yes, I have." "Try at Dillingham's first." "And please hurry." "And Lark, for heaven's sake, don't go out in the street with a flower in your hair." " Rollo!" " Hello, Selina." "Why, Rollo, whatever are you doing home?" "Just back." "Few days, short leave." "I must say, you look fine." " But you're a bit damp." " I know." "Have you noticed how I always clear up the fog when I come home with my... my natural sunshine?" "You're a vain rogue." "Go and dry yourself." "There's a fire in the drawing room." "Come and have a glass of sherry with me." "Yes." "I'll join you in a few minutes." "First, I'll see that your room's got ready." "I suppose you'll want to get into your own clothes for a change." "I will indeed." "I couldn't get the silk, Selina." " Rollo!" " Hello, Lark." " I thought Selina was here." " She's gone upstairs." " When did you come home?" " Just now." " How have you been?" " All right." " You're soaking." " I know." "Come over by the fire and get warm." "May I?" "My dear child, you're wringing wet." "Do you mind if I kneel down?" "It's warmer." "Crawl right in, if you'd like." "You ought to have a glass of sherry." " But won't Selina mind?" " It doesn't matter if she does." " Are your shoes wet?" " They're old ones." " Take them off." " Yes, Rollo." "It's fun when you come home." "I wish it were for longer." "This isn't very dignified." "Neither is a cold." "Drink your sherry." "I..." "I couldn't find your silk, Selina." "I couldn't find the way." "It was dreadful out." "A policeman took me part of the way and then told me I'd better go home." "I was frightened." "I suppose I should've gone myself." "And now, Rollo, that I've taken care of your clothes," "I'll have that glass of sherry with you." "Lark." "You've taken my glass." "I'm sorry, Selina." "I'll get you another." "No, never mind." "Lark will fetch it." "Yes, Selina." "And take your things." "Yes, Lark?" "I'm too old to be dismissed like a schoolgirl." "Really, Lark, you behave like a schoolgirl." "Look at your hair." "Haven't you a brush?" "And those shoes and that disgraceful old dress." "It is old." "All my things were yours." "If I were in your place, I should try to repay something of what I had received." "I should try to appear more sensitively bred." "Really, Selina." "There was no need for that." "The child has pride." "I'm going to bring her back." "Wait a moment, please." "I'm not unkind." "I simply know what's best for her." "When Father died, he left Lark in my care." "And she hasn't good blood." "And if I'm not strict with her, we may all regret it one day." " It isn't easy." " What nonsense." " I won't have it." " Rollo!" "I'm the one who has to run this house." "It isn't fair for you to come in and take charge." "Let's not quarrel, Rollo." "I'm sorry I was cross." "Come." "Drink your sherry." "There's so many things I want to hear about." " How long are you back for?" " Just a few days." " I suppose you need money, as usual." " No, I..." " How much do you need?" " You don't understand." "You had better tell me before Pelham comes in." "He thinks you ought to sell your horse." "Sell the best horse in the regiment?" "Is he out of his mind?" "Will 20 pounds help?" " I love you dearly." " Then don't tell Pelham." "Word of ho..." " Well, Rollo." " Hello, Pelham." "Proutie told me you were here." "I must say, army life seems to agree with you." "It's not bad." "I think I'll just go up and get my shawl." "My elbows are cold." "It seems to me my elbows have been cold all my life." "Perhaps your blood's too thin." "I suppose you're without funds, as usual." "Who, me?" "You're much too extravagant on your pay." "I can let you have, say, 10, but no more." "I wouldn't hear of it." "Not a penny." "Good night, ladies." "Good night, ladies." "Young Dane." "Good night, ladies." "Good night." "Morning, sir." "Good morning, Proutie." " I'm not drunk." " Heaven forbid, Mr. Rollo." " Proutie." " Yes, sir." " Has Miss Selina gone to church?" " I believe she left some time ago, sir." "That's good." "...As pretty Polly Oliver sat musing,'tis said" "A comical fancy came into her head" "Nor father nor mother shall make me false prove" "I'll list for a soldier" "And follow my love" "Now I know why they call you Lark." "Were you there?" "Listening all the time?" " You've grown up." " A little." "I didn't know you could sing like that." "You didn't know I was growing up either." "Do you know what's happened to this room?" "No." "It's full of light and sunshine and flowers." "It's like any other Sunday morning." "It's different." "Lark, you don't think I'm saying this because I..." "Does my breath smell of spirits?" "It smells of raisins." "I like it." "Because I'm perfectly all right." "Now sing some more." "The sergeant he sent for the parson to come" "And couple the lovers who'd followed the drum" "And Polly res..." "Have you forgotten this is Sunday?" "I could hear you shouting that song halfway across the Crescent." "I thought you were at church." "Is this how you behave as soon as my back is turned?" "What will everyone think hearing such noises on Sunday?" "They might think Wiltshire Crescent had lost a little of its gloom." "Are you going out dressed like that?" "I'm not going out, I'm coming in." "I'm on my way to bed." "At this time in the morning?" " You smell of spirits." " I've been drinking them." " Did anyone see you come in?" " Everyone." "But don't worry, I bowed to all your friends." " Don't laugh at him, Lark." " Don't fuss, Selina." "Rollo, what do you want out of life?" "Life?" "Don't you want to make something of yourself?" "Not necessarily." "I suppose there's no use being cross with you." " No use?" " You make haste to change." "You must come with me to church and show everyone you're quite all right." "I'll wait." "You'll be late." "The bells have stopped already." " I won't come." " Rollo, please." "To please me." " All right, Selina." " Dear naughty Rollo." "I'll tell Proutie to lay your things out for you while I get my handkerchief." "I went off without one." "Not much use defying Selina, is there?" "Why not?" " You're free." " I wish I were." "She's always helped me, and I feel I owe her so much." "When you love someone, you... you do everything and don't expect payment." "My pride wouldn't let me do that... take everything and give nothing in return." "I have no pride, then." "I'd let someone do everything for me if... if it made whoever it was happy." "You're much too sweet to be so serious." "Still, it would be nice to be a free agent." "Once, I tried to borrow 500 from Pelham." "I thought I'd go away and never come back." "If I had the money, I'd give you $500." " If I promised never to come back?" " I should want you to come back." "Then I'd come back." "Mind you don't fall." "I thought you went out." "I did." "I made an appointment." "A friend of mine is dropping in... a chap we do some business with in Italy." "Did Selina go to church?" "With Rollo." "Well..." "What are you reading?" "Poetry." "Pelham..." "I wish I were beautiful." "My dear, you are" "What's the matter, Lark?" "Are you unhappy?" "I'm not anything yet." "Pelham, would you think I were terribly ungrateful if... if I ask permission to buy some new dresses?" "Do you need them?" "No, but I hate wearing what Selina's outgrown." "Of course." "I never really thought about it." "What exactly do you want?" "Well, a lovely new dress of my own." "Do you think we could afford it?" "I think we might manage." " Pelham, I may?" "When?" " Tomorrow, if you'd like." " Will this do?" " Yes." "I'll be very shrewd and careful." "Thank you." "Thank you." " May I buy my dress in the morning?" " If you like." " Early?" " Well, not before the shops open." "And if you buy a party dress, you should go to a party." "Mrs. Charles has invited us to a dance tomorrow night." "Would you like to go with me?" " Pelham, you don't mean it." " I do." "You're growing up, and you should go to parties." "I think this is the best day of my life." " Really?" " Yes." "I'm sorry, miss." "The Marchese Del Laudi, sir." "Delighted to see you, Del Laudi." "This is my sister Lark." " How do you do?" " Lark?" "What a lovely name." "Will you excuse me, please?" "I was just leaving." "Thank you, Pelham." "Pelham, I'm so awkward." "You're doing splendidly." "Couldn't we sit and watch the others for a while?" " Do you really want to?" " Yes." "I can't dance and watch, too." "All right, come on." "It is absurd to drink two cups of punch, and I seem to have been deserted." " Would you care for one?" " Thank you." " May I sit?" " Please do." " Good morning, Lark." " Good morning." "Has everyone finished breakfast but me?" " I thought I was early." " It seems we were up earlier." "I had a talk with Pelham about you this morning, Lark." "I told him if you were to start going to parties, you should have an adequate wardrobe." "But I just got a new dress." "We can't afford more." "We can't afford not to have you as attractive and popular as possible." "Perhaps you'd like to have me go shopping with you." " Yes, Selina, if you wouldn't mind." " Of course not." "Do you think Rollo might enjoy going with us?" "Rollo left about dawn." "Where did he go?" "My dear child, leave doesn't last forever." "He had to report back to his regiment." "But I thought he wasn't going back until tonight." "Yes, I know." "Rollo wanted to wait until the last moment, but I convinced him he'd be foolish to risk being late." "So we saw him off this morning." "He's gone?" "I just told you." "Did he... did he leave any word for me?" "I don't think so." "Will he have leave again soon?" "It's unlikely." "There's talk of sending his regiment to India... for two years." "Two years?" "I must say, you don't seem very pleased for Rollo." "It's a wonderful opportunity for promotion." "Oh, I am glad." "I..." "I just wish I could've said good-bye to him." "Oh, Rollo... two years." "Now are you convinced I know this house better than you?" " Even if I never set foot here before?" " Quite convinced." "I seem to have stayed longer that I planned." "I'm sorry I can't wait to see your uncle." "But I must report back to the hospital." "Uncle Rollo will be disappointed." " You'll come again, won't you?" " It's a little awkward at the moment." "Tomorrow they're going to do a bit of surgery on my hands." "I don't know how long I'll be." " A few weeks, perhaps." " Well, we'll be here." "Would you mind putting this on for me?" " There." "Is that rakish enough?" " Quite." "I can get my cap on, but I wanted to see how it felt to have you do it for me." "You are a rogue." "I knew it the first moment I saw you." "From the first moment I saw you, I wanted you to put my cap on." " Well, good night, Grizel Dane." " Good night." "Good luck." " Uncle Rollo, you just missed..." " So you have a young man, have you?" "You just missed him, Uncle Rollo." "He..." "No, I haven't a young man." "Then might I inquire who was the young officer who just dashed out of here three steps at a time, left on the back of a lorry at risk of life and limb?" "He must be somebody's young man." "He came to see you, Uncle Rollo." "He was sent to you by Lark." " Did you say Lark?" " Yes." "She sent her nephew to see you." "Pilot Officer Masterson." "He waited as long as he could." " Was it a message?" " No." "It seems he promised her he'd come to this house if he ever got to London." " Then he'll be back?" " Not for a few weeks." "A few weeks?" "He had to report for an operation on his hands." "They've been burned." "This nephew of Lark's, is he a nice boy?" "He seems so." " And you like him?" " I just met him." "I've only known him for a few hours." "A few hours are enough to settle a lifetime." "I'm not looking for romance, Uncle Rollo." "It's important to be loved." "I've been in love." "And I've been hurt." "And I have no intention of ever being hurt again." "Indeed." "So as you grow old, your heart will run dry, and you will fill it with bitterness." "You'll become Selina all over again." "Don't growl." "This isn't the Romantic age, you know, Uncle Rollo." "I don't want to belong to anyone." "I'm myself." "And I'm doing something useful." "Lark... did you hear that foolish child?" "She wants to belong to herself." " We're leaving now, Selina." " Lark, just a moment." " Have you seen this?" " Yes, I did." "Do you think it's wise to see so much of this marchese that it gets into the social notes?" "It only says we've been to dances." "We have." "Pelham's usually with us." "Of course, if you don't think it's in bad taste, then I won't say anything." " Is that all, Selina?" " Yes." "Please put the latch on when you come in." "I want to finish my letter to Rollo." "Are you still annoyed with me?" "If you prefer to have all your dances with Del Laudi, it's quite all right with me." "You'll wake Selina." "Aren't you ashamed?" "I danced with him only twice when I couldn't find you." "You've always been a darling to me, Pelham." "I wouldn't slight you for the world." "Good night." "I do thank you." "You make me angry in a way that I've never been angry." " Pelham, what is the matter?" " You have a way of dismissing me." "I don't dismiss you." "What foolish thing have I done without knowing?" "Perhaps it's I who am being foolish." "I'm off early tomorrow and won't see you at breakfast, so I'd like to give you your birthday present now." "Thank you." "It's lovely." "Pelham, dearest." "I couldn't love you more if you were my real brother." "Thank you." "It's late." "Good night, Lark." " Yes?" " A package, Lark." "I brought it up myself." "Come in, Selina." "It came early this morning, but I didn't want to wake you." "For me?" "I wonder what it is." "A present from Pelham?" "No." "Marchese Del Laudi." "Isn't it lovely!" ""With fondest love and devotion." "Guido. "" "Of course, you'll return these." " Why?" " No lady would accept such a present." "You must remember how ill-bred I am, Selina." "You've always reminded me of it." "You owe something to us." "I think I have offended you." "But how?" "The ermine." "I should not have sent it." "I suppose I have been wondering if Selina was right." "She thinks I should return your gift." "She always makes me feel wrong." "All my life I have been driven by a restlessness that gave me no peace." "Always I have fled from loneliness." "Now for the first time, I do not want to run away." "I am quiet." "These are your gifts to me." "Please, do not make me return them." "I knew if I returned your present, it would hurt you." "Then you know that I love you." "It is a pity that one cannot love without hurting someone." "My mother and I must sail for Italy soon." "I should like to go knowing that when I return," "I do not return to only England, I return to you." "I can't say that I'm fond of you." "I'm more than fond of you." "I know that if I ever needed help," "I would turn to you with complete faith but I don't think that's quite love." "It is enough to sail on." "We are glad to see you, sir." "Quite a surprise, Captain Rollo." "We didn't expect you, sir." "I didn't expect to be here." "Where's the family?" "Mr. Pelham is at his office as usual, sir." "Miss Lark is out driving with the Marchese, as usual, and Miss Selina is taking a nap, sir." "Proutie, does Miss Lark see much of this Marchese?" "Miss Lark's a very popular young lady since she came out, sir." "She's invited everywhere, sir." "She is?" "I'm glad you're here, Proutie." "I'm always here, sir." "Nice you got home in time for the dance, Mr. Rollo." "Miss Lark will be so pleased." " What dance?" " Miss Lark's birthday, sir." " Had you forgotten?" " Of course!" " Mrs. Kingdon Charles is giving a party." "Then I must invite myself." "I'll write a note, and you can take it round." " Yes, sir." " Then I'll wake up Miss Selina." "Yes, sir." "Just a minute, Proutie." "Hello, Rollo." "We didn't expect you until next month." "I managed to catch the mail boat." "I'm my own letter." "You look most impressive." "Most impressive." "I've been away longer than I thought." " Happy birthday, Lark." " Thank you." "Look, I was just inviting myself to Mrs. Charles' tonight." "How nice!" "You're an unexpected birthday present." " I could've planned all this." " I didn't expect you to remember." " Did Pelham remember?" " Yes." "This." "Isn't it lovely?" "It's very small." "Of course, poor old Pelham." "He never was much of a judge of jewelry." "It's lovely." "Now, this Marchese that I've heard so much about, did he send you anything?" "Not eve n a flowe?" "He sent me the ermine." "Do you think I should've returned them?" "Good heavens." "Heavens, I've got no right to tell you what to do." "Is he serious about you?" "Yes." "I suppose he wants to take you off to Italy to spend the rest of your life in some dilapidated villa listening to him singing opera off-key." "He may." "I shall if I want to." "I shouldn't." "They eat larks in Italy." "I'd better go change." "See you at dinner." "Hello, Selina." "You look tired." "I always look tired after I've rested." " Who do you think is downstairs?" " No games." " Rollo is back." " Rollo!" " Why didn't someone tell me?" " Hello, darling." " Why didn't you warn us?" " I didn't know till the last moment." "Good-bye." " Where are you going?" " I have to go." "I'll be back directly." " You just came in!" " And now I'm just going out." "Up there!" "Come out!" "Jones!" "Bond Street Limited!" "I say, up there, you have a customer!" "Opportunity knocks!" "Business is at hand!" "Come out!" "Come down!" " What do you want?" " I want to buy a present." " Tomorrow." "I'm closed." " Tomorrow won't do." "I'm closed." "Look, I'm throwing pennies now." "Pretty soon, I shall start throwing rocks." "You better come down before I bring up a cannon." "Lord, spare me from drunkards and soldiers in love." "No." "I want something rare, magnificent, and inexpensive." "A Spanish comb." "No." "A golden ring..." "two hands clasped over the heart." "That's very original." "Pins, brooches, earrings?" "Let me see that." "Fine enough for the queen herself." "Yes." "It's expensive." "I sold my horse, not my soul." "Here's something charming and cheap." "Do you like it?" "Would you do that again?" "No." "Do you know what you want?" "I want that." "Solomon could not have made a wiser choice." "Solomon had a kingdom." " Hello." " Well, hello." "I told you I'd be back as soon as I got mended." "I was afraid you might be out." "I was wondering what had happened to you." "Did they give you all your fingers back?" " As good as new." " I'm so glad." " Chocolates." " Thank you." "They're hard to find." " Not if one is willing to sell one's soul." "Proutie just fixed some tea." "Will you join me?" "I should be delighted." " Is the general in?" " No, but he should be back shortly." "I trust he'll be reasonably delayed." "Does this mean you'll be sent back in to fight again?" "A pilot's a pilot, patched or new." "Does Lark know that you've been wounded?" "No." "I find myself thinking more and more of Lark lately." "You had something to do with it." "How could I possibly have influenced how you think?" "You made me believe Lark sent me to this house." "Because she meant us to meet." "That's a charming idea, but she didn't know I existed." "I think she sent me to meet you." "Even if she didn't know." "Uncle Rollo." " This is Pilot Officer Masterson." " I know." "How do you do, sir?" "So you've come from Lark?" "Not directly." "I left her almost two years ago." "Couldn't you have come before?" "I'm afraid I got caught up in the war." "And this is the first time he's been to London." "Sit down, sit down." "Tell me about her." "When you saw her last, was she happy?" "I think she was contented." "She had a garden, and a Saint Bernard dog that adored her." "She was alone, except for an ancient maid who was jealous of the Saint Bernard." "And Volpi, the old gardener." "She grew flowers." "I used to think she preferred flowers to people." "Did she send any word?" "There was no message, sir." "She made me promise to visit this house." "What is she like?" "Well, let me see if I can make you see her." "Her hair is white, and she wears it high on her head with combs." "She wears earrings that set off her eyes and the bones of her face." "Her eyes are not true blue, but half violet, as I recall." "She's old, of course, but her figure is young." "And she wears high collars with a little bow at the side." "I suspect her of being a bit vain." "She walks slowly through her garden and..." "Her hair is golden brown." "It touches her neck like a caress." "She is young, her eyes are blue and they betray her." "She must close them to hide her heart." "Life lies before her." "She runs to meet it, eagerly." "Hurry, Lark." "The carriage is waiting." "Rollo!" "Pelham says we have to hurry." "You go on ahead." "It'll take me at least an hour to get all my medals on." "I'll join you." "All right." "I should look out of place in uniform." "There will be quite a number of officers at the dance, Mr. Rollo." " Very handsome, if I may say so, sir." " Yes, you may, indeed." "There's only one thing that's missing..." "my pearl necklace." "Your necklace, sir?" "Regulations in India." "We always wear a necklace." "I'll carry mine." " You're young Dane, aren't you?" " Yes, sir." "Yes, thought so." "I never forget a face." "I saw you playing polo in India last year, didn't I?" " For the 16th." " Yes, I remember it very well." "I shall never forget the excellent way you fellows were mounted." "Uncle Bunny, wasn't Lord Fitzgerald at school with you?" "Old Fitz." "Yes, rather." " Is he here tonight?" " Yes." "He's up there with Rollo." "Didn't I read something about his taking out a military mission somewhere?" "Yes, Afghanistan, or some such place." "Very important man..." "Fitzgerald." "Then I suppose the War Office will let him choose his own staff." "I should say so." "As I was saying to your uncle Bunny only the other day..." "He's here tonight, sir." " Is he really?" " Yes." "He's over there." " I must go and speak to him." " Yes, good idea." "Nice to have seen you." "Enjoy yourself." "I told you I wouldn't be long." "Rollo, this is the Marchese Del Laudi." " I've heard about you." " And I have heard of you." "I am a good friend of Pelham's." "As a good friend of Pelham's, would you excuse us?" "Certainly." "You were rude." "Why does a uniform make one rude?" "It doesn't." "It makes time precious." "Sit, darling." "Happy birthday." "I'm suddenly afraid that you won't like it." "No matter what happens to me the rest of my life, nothing will ever be lovelier than this." "Wear it for me." "We've never danced together." "I know." " I want to dance with you." " And I with you." "Lark, let's get away from here." "I want to talk to you." "Where?" "If you didn't feel well, I'd have to take you home, wouldn't I?" "You're sure you're not pained?" "I'm not sure of anything tonight." "Let's puff up the fire a little, shall we?" "Yes, I..." "I should like the firelight." "There, that's more cheerful." "I haven't really had a chance to be with you alone, have I?" " You've been busy." " Yes." " Are you sure you're not tired?" " No, I'm not tired." "You don't want to go back to that dance?" "Do you?" "No" " Pelham was tired." " Yes." "He was tired last night, too." "He seemed upset when I kissed him good night." "Do you always kiss Pelham good night?" "When I kiss Pelham, he's my brother." "And when you kiss me?" "And when you kiss me?" "I've never kissed you." "How much I love you, Lark." "How much I love you." " Is this true?" " It's true." "We'll have seven children and a million pounds a year." "What was that?" "I was thinking of when we were children." "You've forgotten." "Shouldn't I share all your thoughts?" " We shall always be in love, won't we?" " Always." " Even when we're old?" " Even when we're old." "Who is it?" "It's Proutie, Mr. Rollo." "Miss Selina is waiting in the drawing room and would like to speak to you alone." "It's urgent, sir." "Rollo, I have the most wonderful news for you." "I just came back to congratulate you." " To congratulate us?" " To congratulate you." "It's all settled." "What's all settled?" "Uncle Bunny talked to Lord Fitzgerald, and he's taking you on his staff." "You are the envy of every young officer in London tonight." " Is that definite?" " Definite." "What does she mean, Rollo?" "Rollo is being appointed to a special mission with Lord Fitzgerald." "He leaves for Afghanistan next week." "Selina, Lark and I love each other." "We're going to be married." "Well, you can be married, of course." "If Lark loves you, I'm sure she wouldn't mind waiting five years." "Five years?" "Why?" "Why five years?" "Lark, my dear, his appointment is for five years." "And they don't allow wives with the staff." "What is there to do but wait?" "Rollo, how can I wait five years and never see you?" "I shall refuse the appointment." "You can't refuse an appointment once it's requested." " You're an officer." " I shall refuse to go." "And throw away your career?" "Is that what you demand for a wedding present, Lark?" "We want to be together." "Then wait until he can come back and support you." "Just think, Rollo." "You'll come back a major." "And five years isn't forever." "It's the opportunity of a lifetime, and you mustn't be cheated out of it." "Lark... darling, I love you." "Then what will you do?" "Don't be selfish, Lark." "Think of Rollo's future instead of your own disappointment." "We mustn't be unhappy." "We don't have to decide now, this minute." "I'll think of something." "Rollo, I'm so afraid of what will happen to us if you go away." "If I should have to go, promise me you'll wait." "For a girl who professes to be in love with Rollo, you're making it very difficult for him." " Selina, be quiet!" " No, I will not." "And I will not let you disgrace yourself." "If you're ordered to go, you'll go." "Will you, Rollo?" "We could be married before I sail." " Could we?" " You could not." "What would you leave your wife to live on?" "You can't manage on your pay now." "Do you think you could live in Afghanistan for five years on half allotment?" "You'll listen to reason and not to me." "The Danes have always listened to reason instead of their hearts." "Now, let's not get angry." "I'm not angry, I'm lost." "Pelham is in love with me." "I can't stay here and hurt him." "Pelham?" "Selina knows if you go without me, I must leave this house, too." "I can't wait for you, Rollo!" "Young girls in love are always melodramatic, and you mustn't be annoyed at her selfishness." "I'll manage my own life, Selina." "Then manage it." "Don't throw it away." "You'll be Chief of Staff one day." "We'll be so proud of you." "General Sir Roland Dane." "No." "If I have to choose between my army career and Lark," "I know which I want." "I want Lark." " You can't mean that." " Believe me, I do." "Rollo, let me say one last thing." "I love you dearly." "If I didn't, what happens to you wouldn't concern me so much." "Then be concerned about my happiness instead of what you want me to be." "I can't believe that you're so frivolous as to place personal happiness above duty to your name and your country." "I'm not." "But since I never asked for this appointment," " I'm free to ask Fitzgerald to cancel it." "It's too late." "No." "There's a very fair chance he'll listen to me." "Are you out of your mind?" "He left hours ago!" "He's gone to the country." "It's too late, Rollo." " I don't want to talk to you." " But I want to talk to you." "You've no right to come into my room like this." "Please leave." "Let's not make this any more vulgar than necessary." "You're determined to marry Rollo, aren't you?" "In spite of everything." "If you mean will I marry him in spite of you, yes." "You'd sacrifice his career for your own..." "I won't even discuss it with you." "It's none of your business." "How dare you interfere?" "Who gives you the right?" "I'm no longer a child you can dismiss and humiliate." "I'll do as I please." "Do you understand?" "I'll never allow you to marry Rollo." "Make up your mind to it." " You'll have nothing to say about it." " Don't you speak to me like that." "Have you forgotten that you were brought into this house?" "No, and I haven't forgotten that you hated me from that first night." "Nor have I forgotten how you began even then, by taking my room from me and then my father's love and my brother's loyalty." "Well, you'll not put me out of my own house." "Rollo is all I want, and he doesn't belong to you!" "Don't pretend with me, Lark." "I know you too well." "From the first, you refused to study or train yourself to earn a living." "You wouldn't be a governess or a ladies' companion... you aimed higher." "Do you think I haven't watched you deliberately play Pelham against Rollo and Rollo against this Italian?" "What have you ever done to deserve being mistress of this house?" "As long as I am in this house, this is my room." "Get out of it!" "This is the last advice I shall ever give you." "If I were you, I wouldn't wait for Rollo." "Because he's already made his choice." "He's left this house." "He's not coming back." "Oh, no!" "Did I say something that upset him?" "I don't think so." "Shouldn't you see if he's all right?" "I'll go to him in a moment." "I'd better be pushing on." "Do you know how long you'll be here?" "I shouldn't ask that, should I?" "That's all right, because I don't know." "The mended hands have a drawback." "I have no excuse for getting you to put my cap on." "Bend down." "Pax, please." "Why?" "I don't want to be attached or concerned now." " Is there somebody in America?" " There was." "It's no longer important." "You'll be going away in a few days." "I don't want to be hurt again." "I don't want you to be hurt." " Do you want to be safe?" " I want to be sensible." "Call it a Dane vice if you wish..." "I can't change it." "I'm in love with you." "There's no sense to that, but I am." "I can't change it either." "Good-bye, Grizel." "You seem unhappy, my dear." "I've had a bad day." "I am so sorry." "I've had a very good day." "That fellow Willoughby called and the owners have agreed to sell me the land." " I'm so glad, for your sake." " Thank you, my dear." "So if anything happens to me, this house will be yours." " I told Willoughby." " Nothing's going to happen to you." "Well, when it does, I I don't want this house to be empty." "But Uncle Rollo, I may be sent away any day now." "You'll come back." "I did." "And I opened the windows but... the house was full of shadows." " When I die, I want to know..." " Must you say such things?" "I want to set my house in order." "Here's something else I want you to have." "Oh, Uncle Rollo." "I gave that to Lark many years ago, and I kept it because I..." "Well, I want you to have it now." "She wore it for one night." "You wear it a lifetime." "I hope you were dearly loved." " Mr. Rollo, I've been waiting for you, sir." "Good morning, Proutie." "I had to go down to the country last night, and I missed the last train back." "Now, Proutie, go up and wake Miss Lark." "Go very quietly and ask her to come down to the study." " Tell her it's very urgent." " Miss Lark isn't in her room, sir." " Where is she?" " I don't know, sir." "She woke me up some hours ago and asked me to see that you got this note if you came in." "She packed a few things, sir, and she seemed very upset." "I hope nothing's wrong, sir." "What is it?" "What's wrong?" "Where is Lark?" "Where is she?" "!" "Stop shouting." "She's in her room, I imagine." "She's gone." "She left this note." "What did you say to her?" "What did you say to her?" "!" "Let go of me!" "Are you out of your mind?" ""Selina is right. " What does she mean?" "!" "How do I know what she means?" "You said something that drove Lark out of this house." " Where did she go?" "!" " I don't know where she went." "But if she runs true to her blood, she went to that Italian." "And she'll not come back." "I'll bring her back." "And you thought she'd wait five years." "She wouldn't wait an hour!" "If I've lost Lark because of you, Selina," "I'll not come back to this house for as long as you live." "Where are you going, Rollo?" "Lark's gone." "I know." "I went to see her." " Where is she?" " With Del Laudi." "She's gonna marry him, Rollo." "Then they're sailing for Italy." "Lock them out... if you can." "Miss Dane, the young flying officer is here again." "He's waiting for you in the study." "It's most urgent, he said." "Thank you." " Grizel." " Hello, Pax." "Where have you been?" "I had about given you up." "I stayed away deliberately." "I got my orders today." "Grizel, I love you." "Marry me before I go." "Pax, we must be sensible." "Listen." "We don't even know what the next ten minutes will do to us." "It's too uncertain." "You have no faith, have you?" " I think I have." "It's..." " No." "You're afraid of the future." "I should be afraid of the future, too, if it made any of us safer, but it doesn't." "It's an act of faith to love and be loved, to hope and to plan, no matter what happens." "Of course the future is uncertain, but I intend to go on for ten minutes or a lifetime as if I'll have all the things I want most." "No, Pax." "We must wait." "Till the war is over." "The war might last another five years." "I... but... we'd be sure of the future." "Then I'll go because I can't promise you anything." "The only thing I can be sure of is that I'll love you always." "Good-bye, Grizel." "Pax, I've been wondering where to reach you." "Good evening, sir." " You're not leaving, are you?" " I must, sir." "I looked in to say good-bye." "I'm being posted." "What a pity." "We were just getting to know you." "Have you seen Grizel?" "We just said good-bye." "I see." "Pax, this telegram came for you today." " But nobody knows I'm here." " Somebody must... it's for you." "It's from my cousin." "It came through Switzerland, from Geneva." "I'm sorry, sir." "Lark?" "She died last month." "She was dead before I came here." "Yes, I knew." "You knew?" "I wrote her I'd seen you." "She never got it." "I think she knew, too." "When this is all over, come back." "Yes, sir." "God bless you." "You've been crying." "Yes." "Pax?" "I love him." "I don't want to love him." "Now I'll never know a moment's peace, day or night." "Don't be so old for your age." "You shouldn't want any peace yet." "I was horrid to him." "I hurt him." "Well, I don't doubt that." "I told you you were a shrew." "I was afraid." "I wanted to wait." "You asked him to wait." "Good heavens, must you cry?" "I sent him away." "Then if I were you, I'd go and find him." "Don't cheat yourself of love, the way I did." "Listen to me!" "Don't stop to bargain for happiness, for in one wasted moment, a door may close, a ship may sail, a train may leave, a man may die." "Go after him." "Or make up your mind you'll never see him again." "Never see him a..." "Bring him back." "Sorry, miss." "Name's Albert." "Better take cover, miss." "They're getting closer." "They'll be overhead in a minute." "We shall always be in love, won't we?" "Always." "Even when we're old?" "Even when we're old." "No story really ends." "It only links the past and future." "In me." "The young will live again with a heart's lease on life."