MRS. GRIGGS.
Did you ring, sir?
BASIL.
Yes. I expect a lady to tea. And there"s a cake that I bought on my way in.
MRS. GRIGGS.
Very well, sir.
[_She goes out, and immediately comes in with a tray on which are two cups, sugar, milk, &c._
BASIL.
Oh, Mrs. Griggs, I want to give up these rooms this day week. I"m going to be married. I"m sorry to leave you. You"ve made me very comfortable.
MRS. GRIGGS.
[_With a sigh of resignation._] Ah, well, sir, that"s lodgers all over.
If they"re gents they get married; and if they"re ladies they ain"t respectable.
[_A ring is heard._
BASIL.
There"s the bell, Mrs. Griggs. I dare say it"s the lady I expect. If any one else comes, I"m not at home.
MRS. GRIGGS.
Very well, sir.
[_She goes out, and_ BASIL _occupies himself for a moment in putting things in order_. MRS.
GRIGGS, _opening the door, ushers in the new-comers_.
MRS. GRIGGS.
If you please, sir.
[_She goes out again, and during the next few speeches brings two more cups and the tea._
[MABEL _and_ HILDA _enter, followed by_ JOHN HALLIWELL. BASIL _going towards them very cordially, half stops when he notices who they are; and a slight expression of embarra.s.sment pa.s.ses over his face. But he immediately recovers himself and is extremely gracious._ HILDA MURRAY _is a tall, handsome woman, self-possessed and admirably gowned_. MABEL HALLIWELL _is smaller, pretty rather than beautiful, younger than her sister, vivacious, very talkative, and somewhat irresponsible_.
JOHN _is of the same age as_ BASIL, _good-humoured, neither handsome nor plain blunt of speech and open_.
BASIL.
[_Shaking hands._] How d"you do?
MABEL.
Look pleased to see us, Mr. Kent.
BASIL.
I"m perfectly enchanted.
HILDA.
You _did_ ask us to come and have tea with you, didn"t you?
BASIL.
I"ve asked you fifty times. Hulloa, John! I didn"t see you.
JOHN.
I"m the discreet husband, I keep in the background.
MABEL.
Why don"t you praise me instead of praising yourself? People would think it so much nicer.
JOHN.
On the contrary, they"d be convinced that when we were alone I beat you.
Besides, I couldn"t honestly say that you kept in the background.
HILDA.
[_To_ BASIL.] I feel rather ashamed at taking you unawares.
BASIL.
I was only slacking. I was cutting a book.
MABEL.
That"s ever so much more fun than reading it, isn"t it? [_She catches sight of the tea things._] Oh, what a beautiful cake--and two cups!
[_She looks at him, questioning._]
BASIL.
[_A little awkwardly._] Oh--I always have an extra cup in case some one turns up, you know.
MABEL.
How unselfish! And do you always have such expensive cake?
HILDA.