MELISANDE (carelessly).  It sounds rather like Bobby.

JANE (confused).  It isn’t like Bobby, or any one else particularly.  It’s just anybody.  It wasn’t any particular person.  I was just describing the sort of man without thinking of any one in——­

MELISANDE.  All right, dear, all right.

JANE.  Besides, we all know Bobby’s devoted to you.

MELISANDE (firmly).  Now, look here, Jane, I warn you solemnly that if you think you are going to leave me and Bobby alone together this evening——­ (Voices are heard outside.) Well, I warn you.

JANE (in a whisper).  Of course not, darling. (With perfect tact) And, as I was saying, Melisande, it was quite the most——­Ah, here you are at last!  We wondered what had happened to you!

(Enter BOBBY and MR. KNOWLE.  JANE has already described BOBBY for us.  MR. KNOWLE is a pleasant, middle-aged man with a sense of humour, which he cultivates for his own amusement entirely.)

BOBBY.  Were you very miserable without us? (He goes towards them.)

JANE (laughing).  Very.

(MELISANDE gets up as BOBBY comes, and moves away.)

MR. KNOWLE.  Where’s your Mother, Sandy?

MELISANDE.  In the dining-room, I think, Father.

MR. KNOWLE.  Ah!  Resting, no doubt.  By the way, you won’t forget what I said about the bread-sauce, will you?

MELISANDE.  You don’t want it remembered, Father, do you?  What you said?

MR. KNOWLE.  Not the actual words.  All I want, my dear, is that you should endeavour to explain to the cook the difference between bread-sauce and a bread-poultice.  Make it clear to her that there is no need to provide a bread-poultice with an obviously healthy chicken, such as we had to-night, but that a properly made bread-sauce is a necessity, if the full flavour of the bird is to be obtained.

MELISANDE.  “Full flavour of the bird is to be obtained.”  Yes, Father.

MR. KNOWLE.  That’s right, my dear.  Bring it home to her.  A little quiet talk will do wonders.  Well, and so it’s Midsummer Night.  Why aren’t you two out in the garden looking for fairies?

BOBBY.  I say, it’s a topping night, you know.  We ought to be out.  D’you feel like a stroll, Sandy?

MELISANDE.  No, thank you, Bobby, I don’t think I’ll go out.

BOBBY.  Oh, I say, it’s awfully warm.

MR. KNOWLE.  Well, Jane, I shall take you out.  If we meet any of
Sandy’s fairy friends, you can introduce me.

MELISANDE (looking across warningly at her).  Jane——­

JANE (awkwardly).  I’m afraid, Uncle Henry, that Melisande and I—­I promised Sandy—­we——­

MR. KNOWLE (putting her arm firmly through his).  Nonsense.  I’m not going to have my niece taken away from me, when she is only staying with us for such a short time.  Besides I insist upon being introduced to Titania.  I want to complain about the rings on the tennis-lawn.  They must dance somewhere else.