DEVENISH. Your daughter! I say, how ripping!
(BELINDA _gives him an understanding look_.)
BAXTER. Your daughter!
BELINDA. Yes.
BAXTER. But--but you aren"t old enough to have a daughter of that age.
BELINDA (_apologetically_). Well, there she is.
BAXTER. But--but she"s grown up.
BELINDA. Quite.
BAXTER. Then in that case you must be----(_He hesitates, evidently working it out_.)
BELINDA (_hastily_). I"m afraid so, Mr. Baxter.
BAXTER. But this makes a great difference. I had no idea. Why, when I"m fifty you would be----
BELINDA (_sighing_). Yes, I suppose I should.
BAXTER. And when I"m sixty----
BELINDA (_pleadingly to_ DEVENISH). Can"t you stop him?
DEVENISH (_with a threatening gesture_). Look here, Baxter, another word from you and you"ll never _get_ to sixty.
BAXTER. And then there"s Miss--er--Delia. In the event of our marrying, Mrs. Tremayne, she, I take it, would be my step-daughter.
BELINDA. I don"t think she would trouble us much, Mr. Baxter. (_With a sly look at_ DEVENISH.) I have an idea that she will be getting married before long. (_She again glances at_ DEVENISH, _who returns her look gratefully_.)
BAXTER (_moving up_ L. _into the inner room_). None the less, the fact would be disturbing.
(DEVENISH _with a wink at_ BELINDA _crosses in front of her and warms his hands at the fire_. BELINDA _watches_ BAXTER _over the back of the Chesterfield_.)
I have never yet considered myself seriously as a step-father.
(_Moving round the refectory table_.) I don"t think I am going too far if I say that to some extent I have been deceived in this matter.
(_He comes down to behind the_ C. _table_.)
BELINDA (_reproachfully_). And so have I. I thought you loved me.
DEVENISH (_sympathetically_). Yes, yes.
BELINDA (_turning to him suddenly_). And Mr. Devenish too.
BAXTER (_moving to_ BELINDA). Er----
DEVENISH. Er----
(_They stand before her guiltily and have nothing to say_.)
BELINDA (_with a shrug_). Well, I shall have to marry somebody else, that"s all.
BAXTER (_moving to below table_). Who? Who?
BELINDA. I suppose Mr. Robinson. After all, if I am Delia"s mother, and Mr. Baxter says that Mr. Robinson"s her father, it"s about time we _were_ married.
DEVENISH (_eagerly_). Mrs. Tremayne, what fools we are! He _is_ your husband all the time!
BELINDA. Yes.
BAXTER (_moving up to the_ R. _of_ BELINDA). You"ve had a husband all the time?
BELINDA (_apologetically_). I lost him; it wasn"t my fault.
BAXTER. Really, this is very confusing. I don"t know where I am. I gather--I am to gather, it seems, that you are no longer eligible as a possible wife?
BELINDA. I am afraid not, Mr. Baxter.
BAXTER. But this is very confusing--(_moving towards the swing doors_)--this is very disturbing to a man of my age. For weeks past I have been regarding myself as a--a possible benedict. I have--ah--taken steps. (_Back to the_ L. _end of the_ C. _table_.) Only this morning, in writing to my housekeeper, I warned her that she might hear at any moment a most startling announcement.
DEVENISH (_cheerfully_). Oh, that"s all right. That might only mean that you were getting a new bowler-hat.
BAXTER (_dropping down_ L.C. _a few steps--suddenly_). Ah, and what about you, sir? How is it that you take this so lightly?
(_Triumphantly_.) I have it. It all becomes clear to me. You have transferred your affections to her daughter!
DEVENISH. Oh, I say, Baxter, this is very crude.
BELINDA. And why should he not, Mr. Baxter? (_Softly_.) He has made me very happy.
BAXTER (_staggered_). He has made you happy, Mrs. Tremayne!
BELINDA. Very happy.
BAXTER (_thoughtfully_). Oh! Oh ho! Oh ho! (_He takes a turn up the room into the inner room, muttering to himself_. BELINDA _kneels and watches him over the back of the Chesterfield. Then he comes down again to her_ R. _side_.) Mrs. Tremayne, I have taken a great resolve. (_Solemnly_.) I also will make you happy.
(_Thumping his heart_.) I also will woo Miss Delia.
BELINDA. Oh!
DEVENISH. Look here, Baxter--
BAXTER (_suddenly crossing and seizing_ DEVENISH"S _arm and pulling him towards the siding doors up_ R. _between the Chesterfield and the table_). Come, we will seek Miss Delia together.
(BELINDA _seizes_ DEVENISH"S _hand as he is pa.s.sing and he, clinging to it, nearly pulls her off the Chesterfield. She is very amused_.)
It may be that she will send us upon another quest in which I shall again be victorious.