Mrs. Hope.  Molly says she’ll be down by the eleven thirty. [In an injured voice.] She’ll be here in half an hour! [Reading with disapproval from the letter.] “Maurice lever is coming down by the same train to see Mr. Henty about the Tocopala Gold Mine.  Could you give him a bed for the night?”

     [Silence, slight but ominous.]

Colonel. [Calling into his aid his sacred hospitality.] Of course we must give him a bed!

Mrs. Hope.  Just like a man!  What room I should like to know!

Colonel.  Pink.

Mrs. Hope.  As if Molly wouldn’t have the pink!

Colonel. [Ruefully.] I thought she’d have the blue!

Mrs. Hope.  You know perfectly well it’s full of earwigs, Tom.  I killed ten there yesterday morning.

Miss beech.  Poor creatures!

Mrs. Hope.  I don’t know that I approve of this Mr. Lever’s dancing attendance.  Molly’s only thirty-six.

Colonel. [In a high voice.] You can’t refuse him a bed; I never heard of such a thing.

Mrs. Hope. [Reading from the letter.] “This gold mine seems to be a splendid chance. [She glances at the colonel.] I’ve put all my spare cash into it.  They’re issuing some Preference shares now; if Uncle Tom wants an investment”—­[She pauses, then in a changed, decided voice ]—­Well, I suppose I shall have to screw him in somehow.

Colonel.  What’s that about gold mines?  Gambling nonsense!  Molly ought to know my views.

Mrs. Hope. [Folding the letter away out of her consciousness.] Oh! your views!  This may be a specially good chance.

Miss beech.  Ahem!  Special case!

Mrs. Hope. [Paying no attention.] I ’m sick of these 3 per cent. dividends.  When you’ve only got so little money, to put it all into that India Stock, when it might be earning 6 per cent. at least, quite safely!  There are ever so many things I want.

Colonel.  There you go!

Mrs. Hope.  As to Molly, I think it’s high time her husband came home to look after her, instead of sticking out there in that hot place.  In fact

     [Miss beech looks up at the tree and exhibits cerebral
     excitement]

I don’t know what Geoff’s about; why doesn’t he find something in England, where they could live together.

Colonel.  Don’t say anything against Molly, Nell!

Mrs. Hope.  Well, I don’t believe in husband and wife being separated.  That’s not my idea of married life.

     [The colonel whistles quizzically.]

Ah, yes, she’s your niece, not mime!  Molly’s very——­

Miss beech.  Ouch! [She sucks her finger.]