DRINKWATER (deprecatingly). Nime giv huz pore thortless leds baw
a gent on the Dily Chrornicle, lidy. (Rankin returns. Drinkwater
immediately withdraws, stopping the missionary for a moment near
the threshold to say, touching his forelock) Awll eng abaht
within ile, gavner, hin kice aw should be wornted. (He goes into
the house with soft steps.)

Lady Cicely sits down on the bench under the tamarisk. Rankin
takes his stool from the flowerbed and sits down on her left, Sir
Howard being on her right.

LADY CICELY. What a pleasant face your sailor friend has, Mr.
Rankin! He has been so frank and truthful with us. You know I
don't think anybody can pay me a greater compliment than to be
quite sincere with me at first sight. It's the perfection of
natural good manners.

SIR HOWARD. You must not suppose, Mr. Rankin, that my
sister-in-law talks nonsense on purpose. She will continue to
believe in your friend until he steals her watch; and even then
she will find excuses for him.

RANKIN (drily changing the subject). And how have ye been, Sir
Howrrd, since our last meeting that morning nigh forty year ago
down at the docks in London?

SIR HOWARD (greatly surprised, pulling himself together) Our last
meeting! Mr. Rankin: have I been unfortunate enough to forget an
old acquaintance?