BOBBIE. Don"t perjure yourself, uncle, I know perfectly well that it"s the worst thing that has ever been written.
SYLVIA. It"s your most successful.
BOBBIE. Of course--I"ve made literally hundreds out of it--the public wallow in it--roses and pa.s.sion, and wine, and eyes of blue--it makes me absolutely sick every time I hear it, but still one must write down in this world if one wants to get up.
MRS. DERMOTT. Speaking of roses, let"s go out into the garden and talk--it"s so stuffy in here--you can tell me some more of your adventures, Danny.
SYLVIA (_looking at him_). I"m sure he"d love to.
(_Every one gets up and drifts out on to the lawn talking._ BOBBIE _hangs behind for a moment with_ FAITH.)
BOBBIE (_anxiously_). What did she say? (_Catching her hand as she is going out._)
FAITH. She said she"ll see--wait until to-night....
BOBBIE. Oh, Faith darling....
FAITH. Come out now, quick, or they"ll miss us.
BOBBIE (_grumbling_). It doesn"t matter if they do.
FAITH. Oh, yes, it does--I don"t want to be talked about.
(_They go out and bang into_ DANIEL, _who is coming in._)
BOBBIE. Hallo, aren"t you going to tell us things?
DANIEL (_comes_ C.). No, not now--I must unpack--I"m feeling rather tired--I have to change--I must send a wire.... The truth of the matter is, I just want a little peace.
BOBBIE. All right, we"ll leave you to it.
(_Exit_ BOBBIE _and_ FAITH. DANIEL _comes slowly down stage--lights a cigar and settles himself in Chesterfield._)
(_Re-enter_ SYLVIA, _quickly touches_ DANIEL _on face--he jumps._)
SYLVIA. Uncle dear, why did you slip away?
DANIEL. I explained to your brother--because I felt a little tired and wanted a rest.
SYLVIA. You"re not too tired to talk to me though, are you? (_Quite quietly._)
DANIEL (_without conviction_). No. (_Lies full length._)
SYLVIA. Well, I"ll sit down then. (_To side of Chesterfield._)
DANIEL. Do. (_Sees she wants to sit down. He takes his legs off Chesterfield._)
SYLVIA. So you really are better? (_Sitting_ L. _of Chesterfield._)
DANIEL. Of course I"m better--I feel splendid.
SYLVIA. And you _still_ believe what the doctor said?
DANIEL. I always believe what every one says, I"m a most trusting person.
SYLVIA. Oh, is that how you made your money--by being trusting?
DANIEL. Certainly. I trusted other people to lose it and they did.
SYLVIA. How d"you mean--lose it?
DANIEL. Well, you see--look here, Sylvia, are you cross-examining me?
SYLVIA. Nothing could be further from my thoughts, uncle dear, I only wondered, that"s all.
DANIEL. Well, don"t wonder any more--it"s most embarra.s.sing--what have you been doing with yourself lately?...
SYLVIA. You know perfectly well, uncle, because you sat next to me in the car and I told you everything.
DANIEL. Well, tell me some more. Have you had any love affairs--girls always like to confide their love affairs.
SYLVIA. Only when they haven"t got any--but I don"t, anyhow. The only one of the family who has got it in the least badly is Bobbie; he"s mad on Faith Crombie.
DANIEL. So I gathered--why, do you suppose?
SYLVIA. We can"t think--she"s the most irritating girl I"ve met for years--and her mother"s hateful, too.
DANIEL. Why are they here?
SYLVIA. Oh, Bobbie wanted them asked, and mother"s much too sweet to deny us anything in reason.
DANIEL. I shouldn"t call Mrs. Crombie in reason--she"s trying to pump me.
SYLVIA. You are rather a mysterious person you know, uncle, I should like to know lots more about you.
DANIEL. Everything about me is absolutely honourable and above board.
SYLVIA. I don"t know that it is.
DANIEL. My dear Sylvia--you wound me, you grieve me--I feel deeply pained. I----
SYLVIA (_laughing_). It"s no use trying to bl.u.s.ter out of it, uncle, you know as well as I do that it wasn"t honourable of you to single me out for your money without letting the others know anything about it.
DANIEL (_quickly_). You haven"t told them, have you? (_Puts his feet down._)
SYLVIA. No--I don"t break _my_ word.
DANIEL. And I don"t break mine, so you needn"t be so sniffy.