SILVIA
Joe.
JOE
Um.
SILVIA
Joe!
JOE
Um—um! (She walks over, draws his watch from his pocket and shows him the time)
SILVIA
It’s nearly four o’clock.
JOE
Just a minute—the light’s fine, and I want to finish.
SILVIA
Yes, I know, but he may be here any minute.
JOE
Tea on?
SILVIA
Yes.
JOE
Well, that’ll keep him while I get ready. That’s mostly what they came for, anyhow.
SILVIA
But he’s different. He isn’t a Cook’s tourist—
JOE
No, he’s a relative!
SILVIA
You wouldn’t say that if one of your family dropped in. Besides, I’ve never even seen him. And he’s something of a collector, Joe. He buys pictures.
JOE
So I hear. The last thing he bought was a Bougereau!
SILVIA
Well, he’s a relative ... and when he sees your last things!
JOE
Um.... There, it’s all done.
SILVIA
I’m crazy to see it, Joe, but run up and get ready. Sh! (A knock at the door. Joe runs upstairs to the balcony. Silvia opens the door and admits Mr. Wentworth, rather stout and with gold spectacles)
MR. WENTWORTH
Mrs. Carson?
SILVIA
Yes. This is Mr. Wentworth? Joe and I have been expecting you. Let me take your coat. The studio’s rather upset just now—
MR. WENTWORTH
Delightful! How I love the atmosphere of work in a studio! I used to paint a bit myself, you know.
SILVIA
Did you? Father never mentioned that.
MR. WENTWORTH
Oh, I guess everybody has forgotten it by now. An early adventure with life! Goodness only knows what might have happened, though, if the business hadn’t fallen on me to look out for. I might have been a great artist. Ha!