JANE. Bobby and I were both very bad to-day.
MELISANDE. I think you will like Bobby, Mr. Mallory. He is staying with us just now. I expect you will have a good deal in common. He is on the Stock Exchange.
GERVASE (smiling). So am I.
MELISANDE (valiantly repressing a shudder). Jane, Mr. Mallory is on the Stock Exchange. Isn"t that curious? I felt sure that he must be directly I saw him.
(There is another awkward silence.)
JANE (getting up). Well, I"m afraid I must----
MELISANDE (pulling her down). Don"t go, Jane. I suppose there are a great many of you on the Stock Exchange, Mr. Mallory?
GERVASE. Oh, quite a lot.
MELISANDE. Quite a lot, Jane. . . . You don"t know Bobby--Mr. Coote?
GERVASE. N--no, I don"t think so.
MELISANDE. I suppose there are so many of you, and you dress so much alike, and look so much alike, that it"s difficult to be quite sure whom you do know.
GERVASE. Yes, of course, that makes it more difficult.
MELISANDE. Yes. You see that, don"t you, Jane? . . . You play billiards and bridge, of course, Mr. Mallory?
GERVASE. Oh yes.
MELISANDE. They are absolutely top-hole games, aren"t they? Are you--pretty rotten at them?
GERVASE. Well----
MELISANDE (getting up). Ah, here"s my father.
(Enter MR. KNOWLE)
MR. KNOWLE. Ah, Mr. Mallory, delighted to see you. And Sandy and Jane to entertain you. That"s right.
(They shake hands)
GERVASE. How do you do?
(ALICE comes in with tea)
MR. KNOWLE. I"ve been wasting my day at a sale. I hope you spent yours more profitably, (GERVASE laughs pleasantly) And what have you been doing, Sandy?
MELISANDE. Wasting mine, too, Father.
MR. KNOWLE. Dear, dear. Well, they say that the wasted hours are the best.
MELISANDE (moving to the door). I think I will go and---- (MRS. KNOWLE comes in with outstretched hands)
MR. KNOWLE. My dear, this is Mr. Mallory.
MRS. KNOWLE. My dear Mr. Mallory! (Turning round) Sandy, dear!
(MELISANDE comes slowly back) How do you do?
GERVASE (shaking hands). How do you do?
MRS. KNOWLE. Sandy, dear! (to GERVASE) My daughter, Melisande, Mr.
Mallory. My only child.
GERVASE. Oh--er--we----
MELISANDE. Mr. Mallory and I have met, Mother.
MRS. KNOWLE (indicating JANE). And our dear Jane.
My dear sister"s only daughter. But dear Jane has a brother. Dear Harold! In the Civil Service. Sandy, dear, will you pour out tea?
MELISANDE (resigned). Yes, Mother. (She goes to the tea-table.)
MRS. KNOWLE (going to the sofa). I am such an invalid now, Mr.
Mallory----
GERVASE (helping her). Oh, I"m so sorry. Can I----?
MRS. KNOWLE. Thank you. Dr. Anderson insists on my resting as much as possible. So my dear Melisande looks after the house for me. Such a comfort. You are not married yourself, Mr. Mallory?
GERVASE. No. Oh no.
MRS. KNOWLE (smiling to herself). Ah!
MELISANDE. Jane, Mother"s tea. (JANE takes it.)
GERVASE (coming forward). Oh, I beg your pardon. Let me----
JANE. It"s all right.
(GERVASE takes up a cake-stand.)
MR. KNOWLE. Where"s Bobby? Bobby is the real expert at this.
MELISANDE. I expect Mr. Mallory is an expert, too, Father. You enjoy tea-parties, I expect, Mr. Mallory?
GERVASE. I enjoy most things, Miss Knowle. (To MRS. KNOWLE) What will you have?
MRS. KNOWLE. Thank you. I have to be careful. Dr. Anderson insists on my being careful, Mr. Mallory. (Confidentially) Nothing organic, you understand. Both my husband and I--Melisande has an absolutely sound const.i.tution.
MELISANDE (indicating cup). Jane . . . Sugar and milk, Mr. Mallory?