Joan.  Oh!  John, but I don’t think it’s meant that you should——­

Dot.  Shut up!  Go back, John!  Blow the milk!  Begin, begin, begin!  Bill!

Latter. [Turning round and again advancing] But I think you underrate the importance of my entrance altogether.

Mabel.  Oh! no, Mr. Latter!

Latter.  I don’t in the least want to destroy the balance of the scene, but I do want to be clear about the spirit.  What is the spirit?

Dot. [With gloom] Rollicking!

Latter.  Well, I don’t think so.  We shall run a great risk, with this play, if we rollick.

Dot.  Shall we?  Now look here——!

Mabel. [Softly to Bill] Mr. Cheshire!

Bill. [Desperately] Let’s get on!

Dot. [Waving latter back] Begin, begin!  At last!
     [But Jackson has came in.]

Jackson. [To Christine] Studdenham says, Mm, if the young ladies want to see the spaniel pups, he’s brought ’em round.

Joan. [Starting up] Oh! come ’on, John!
     [She flies towards the door, followed by latter.]

Dot. [Gesticulating with her book] Stop!  You——­
     [Christine and Harold also rush past.]

Dot. [Despairingly] First pick! [Tearing her hair] Pigs!  Devils!
     [She rushes after them.  Bill and Mabel are left alone.]

Mabel. [Mockingly] And don’t you want one of the spaniel pups?

Bill. [Painfully reserved and sullen, and conscious of the workroom door] Can’t keep a dog in town.  You can have one, if you like.  The breeding’s all right.

Mabel.  Sixth Pick?

Bill.  The girls’ll give you one of theirs.  They only fancy they want ’em.

Mann. [Moving nearer to him, with her hands clasped behind her] You know, you remind me awfully of your father.  Except that you’re not nearly so polite.  I don’t understand you English-lords of the soil.  The way you have of disposing of your females. [With a sudden change of voice] What was the matter with you last night? [Softly] Won’t you tell me?

Bill.  Nothing to tell.

Mabel.  Ah! no, Mr. Bill.

Bill. [Almost succumbing to her voice—­then sullenly] Worried, I suppose.

Mabel. [Returning to her mocking] Quite got over it?

Bill.  Don’t chaff me, please.

Mabel.  You really are rather formidable.

Bill.  Thanks.

Mabel, But, you know, I love to cross a field where there’s a bull.

Bill.  Really!  Very interesting.

Mabel.  The way of their only seeing one thing at a time. [She moves back as he advances] And overturning people on the journey.