MRS. BATHOLOMMEY. [Enters—­evidently highly wrought up by the events of the evening.] Who was that?  Who knocked?

DR. MACPHERSON.  Telegram.

MRS. BATHOLOMMEY.  I thought perhaps Frederik had come back.  Don’t you consider William much better?

DR. MACPHERSON.  Mm ...

MRS. BATHOLOMMEY.  Dear, dear!  The scene that took place to-night has completely upset me. [The DOCTOR takes up his pen and reads to himself.] Well, Doctor:  [She pushes forward a chair and sits at the other side of the table—­facing him.] the breaking off of the engagement is rather sudden, isn’t it?  We’ve been talking it over in the front parlour, Mr. Batholommey and I. James has finished his work and has just joined us.  I suggest sending out a card—­a neat card—­saying that, owing to the bereavement in the family, the wedding has been indefinitely postponed.  Of course, it isn’t exactly true.

DR. MACPHERSON.  Won’t take place at all. [Goes on reading.

MRS. BATHOLOMMEY.  Evidently not; but if the whole matter looks very strange to me—­how is it going to look to other people; especially when we haven’t any—­any rational explanation—­as yet?  We must get out of it in some fashion.

DR. MACPHERSON.  Whose business is it?

MRS. BATHOLOMMEY.  Nobody’s, of course.  But Catherine’s position is certainly unusual; and the strangest part of it all is—­she doesn’t seem to feel her situation.  She’s sitting alone in the library, seemingly placid and happy.  What I really wish to consult you about is this:  shouldn’t the card we’re going to send out have a narrow black border? [The DOCTOR is now writing.] Doctor, you don’t appear to be interested.  You might at least answer my question.

DR. MACPHERSON.  What chance have I had to answer?  You’ve done all the talking.

MRS. BATHOLOMMEY. [Rising—­annoyed.] Oh, of course, all these little matters sound trivial to you; but men like you couldn’t look after the workings of the next world if other people didn’t attend to this.  Some one has to do it.

DR. MACPHERSON.  I fully appreciate the fact, Mistress Batholommey, that other people are making it possible for me to be myself.  I’ll admit that; and now if I might have a few moments in peace to attend to something really important—­

The REV.  MR. BATHOLOMMEY has entered with his hat in his hand.

REV.  MR. BATHOLOMMEY.  Doctor, I’ve been thinking things over.  I ran in for a moment to suggest that we suspend judgment until the information William has volunteered can be verified.  I can scarcely believe that—­

DR. MACPHERSON.  Ump! [Rises and goes to the telephone on the desk.] Four-red.

REV.  MR. BATHOLOMMEY.  I regret that Frederik left the house without offering some explanation.

DR. MACPHERSON. [At the ’phone.] Marget, I’m at Peter’s.  I mean—­I’m at the Grimms’.  Send me my bag.  I’ll stay the night with William.  Bye. [Seats himself at the table.