MRS. KNOWLE. You have a car, Mr. Mallory?
MRS. KNOWLE. Ah! (to MELISANDE) Won't Mr. Mallory have some more tea, Sandy?
MELISANDE. Will you have some more tea, Mr. Mallory?
GERVASE. Thank you. (to MRS. KNOWLE) Won't you----
MRS. KNOWLE. _Please_ don't trouble. I never have more than one cup. Dr. Anderson is very firm about that. Only one cup, Mrs. Knowle.
BOBBY (to MELISANDE). Sandwich? Oh, you're busy. Sandwich, Jane?
MR. KNOWLE. Thank you, Bobby. Fortunately nobody minds what _I_ eat or drink.
BOBBY (to himself). Sandwich, Mr. Coote? Thank you. (He takes one.)
MRS. KNOWLE (to GERVASE). Being such an invalid, Mr. Mallory, it is a great comfort to me to have Melisande to look after the house.
MRS. KNOWLE. Of course, I can't expect to keep her for ever.
MRS. KNOWLE. It's extraordinary how she has taken to it. I must say that I do like a girl to be a good housekeeper. Don't you agree, Mr. Mallory?
GERVASE. Well, of course, all that sort of thing _is_ rather important.
MRS. KNOWLE. That's what I always tell Sandy. "Happiness begins in the kitchen, Sandy."
MELISANDE. I'm sure Mr. Mallory agrees with you, Mother.
BOBBY (passing plate). Have another sandwich?
MRS. KNOWLE. Do you live in the neighbourhood, Mr. Mallory?
GERVASE. About twenty miles away. Little Malling.
MRS. KNOWLE. Well, I hope we shall see you here again.
GERVASE. That's very kind of you indeed. I shall love to come.
MR. KNOWLE (getting up). I don't want to hurry you, Mr. Mallory, but if you have really finished----
MRS. KNOWLE. You won't go without seeing the garden, Mr. Mallory? Sandy, when your father has finished with Mr. Mallory, you must show him the garden. We are very proud of our roses, Mr. Mallory. Melisande takes a great interest in the roses.
GERVASE. I should like very much to see the garden. (Going to her) Shall I see you again, Mrs. Knowle. . . . Don't get up, _please_.
MRS. KNOWLE (getting up). In case we don't--(she holds out her hand).
GERVASE (shaking it). Good-bye. And thank you so much.
GERVASE (smiling). Thank you. (With a bow to JANE and BOBBY) Good-bye, in case----
MR. KNOWLE. Well, come along. (As they go out) It is curious how much time one has to spend in saying "How do you do" and "Good-bye." I once calculated that a man of seventy. . . .