It--it was an unpardonable liberty to
force me into the society of that class of person--unpardonable, Sir!
[_He goes._
_Podb._ Didn't take much _forcing_, after he once heard me call him
"Lord UPPERSOLE"! Where are all the others, eh? Thought we were going
up to the Villa Serbelloni this afternoon.
_Culch._ I--er--have not been consulted. Are they--er--_all_ going?
[_With a shade of anxiety._
_Podb._ I believe so. You needn't be afraid, you know. HYPATIA won't
have the chance of ragging you now--she and Miss TROTTER have had a
bit of a breeze.
_Culch._ I rather gathered as much. I think I could guess the--
_Podb._ Yes, HYPATIA's rather uneasy about poor old BOB; thinks Miss
TROTTER is--well, carrying on, you know. She is no end of a little
flirt--_you_ know that well enough!--(_C. disclaims impatiently._)
Here you all are, eh?--(_To Miss P., Miss T., and BOB._)--Well, who
knows the way up to the villa?
_Miss T._ It's through the town, and up some steps by the church--you
cann't miss it. But Mr. PRENDERGAST is going to show me a short cut up
behind the hotel--aren't you, Mr. PRENDERGAST?
_Miss P._ (_icily_). I really think, dear, it would be better if we
all kept together--for so _many_ reasons!
_Culch.
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