The general [jumping up] What right had he to be made room for?  Are you in your senses?  What right?

Reginald.  The right of being a young man, suitable to a young woman.  I had no right at my age to marry Leo:  she knew no more about life than a child.

Leo.  I knew a great deal more about it than a great baby like you.  I’m sure I dont know how youll get on with no one to take care of you:  I often lie awake at night thinking about it.  And now youve made me thoroughly miserable.

Reginald.  Serve you right! [She weeps].  There:  dont get into a tantrum, Leo.

Lesbia.  May one ask who is the mushroom-faced serpent?

Leo.  He isnt.

Reginald.  Sinjon Hotchkiss, of course.

Mrs Bridgenorth.  Sinjon Hotchkiss!  Why, he’s coming to the wedding!

Reginald.  What!  In that case I’m off [he makes for the tower].

Leo } { [seizing him] No you shant. 
                                 You promised to be nice to
                 (all four him. 
The general } rushing { No, dont go, old chap.  Not
                  after him from Edith’s wedding.
                  and capturing
                  him on the
Mrs. Bridge- threshold)
north } { Oh, do stay, Benjjy.  I shall
                                 really be hurt if you desert
                                 us. 
Lesbia } { Better stay, Reginald.  You must
                                 meet him sooner or later.

Reginald.  A moment ago, when I wanted to stay, you were all shoving me out of the house.  Now that I want to go, you wont let me.

Mrs Bridgenorth.  I shall send a note to Mr Hotchkiss not to come.

Leo [weeping again] Oh, Alice! [She comes back to her chair, heartbroken].

Reginald [out of patience] Oh well, let her have her way.  Let her have her mushroom.  Let him come.  Let them all come.

He crosses the kitchen to the oak chest and sits sulkily on it.  Mrs Bridgenorth shrugs her shoulders and sits at the table in Reginald’s neighborhood listening in placid helplessness.  Lesbia, out of patience with Leo’s tears, goes into the garden and sits there near the door, snuffing up the open air in her relief from the domestic stuffness of Reginald’s affairs.

Leo.  It’s so cruel of you to go on pretending that I dont care for you, Rejjy.

Reginald [bitterly] She explained to me that it was only that she had exhausted my conversation.

The general [coming paternally to Leo] My dear girl:  all the conversation in the world has been exhausted long ago.  Heaven knows I have exhausted the conversation of the British Army these thirty years; but I dont leave it on that account.