GERVASE (enthusiastically). Oh, rather. Absolutely top-hole.
MELISANDE (to JANE). Absolutely top-hole weather, is it not, Jane?
MELISANDE. You play golf, I expect, Mr. Mallory?
GERVASE. Oh, rather. I've been playing this morning. (With a smile) Pretty rotten, too, I'm afraid.
MELISANDE. Jane plays golf. (to JANE) You're pretty rotten, too, aren't you, Jane?
JANE. Bobby and I were both very bad to-day.
MELISANDE. I think you will like Bobby, Mr. Mallory. He is staying with us just now. I expect you will have a good deal in common. He is on the Stock Exchange.
MELISANDE (valiantly repressing a shudder). Jane, Mr. Mallory is on the Stock Exchange. Isn't that curious? I felt sure that he must be directly I saw him.
JANE (getting up). Well, I'm afraid I must----
MELISANDE (pulling her down). Don't go, Jane. I suppose there are a great many of you on the Stock Exchange, Mr. Mallory?
MELISANDE. Quite a lot, Jane. . . . You don't know Bobby--Mr. Coote?
MELISANDE. I suppose there are so many of you, and you dress so much alike, and look so much alike, that it's difficult to be quite sure whom you do know.
GERVASE. Yes, of course, that makes it more difficult.
MELISANDE. Yes. You see that, don't you, Jane? . . . You play billiards and bridge, of course, Mr. Mallory?
MELISANDE. They are absolutely top-hole games, aren't they? Are you--pretty rotten at them?
MELISANDE (getting up). Ah, here's my father.
MR. KNOWLE. Ah, Mr. Mallory, delighted to see you. And Sandy and Jane to entertain you. That's right.
MR. KNOWLE. I've been wasting my day at a sale. I hope you spent yours more profitably, (GERVASE laughs pleasantly) And what have you been doing, Sandy?
MR. KNOWLE. Dear, dear. Well, they say that the wasted hours are the best.
MELISANDE (moving to the door). I think I will go and---- (MRS. KNOWLE comes in with outstretched hands)
MR. KNOWLE. My dear, this is Mr. Mallory.
MRS. KNOWLE. My dear Mr. Mallory! (Turning round) Sandy, dear! (MELISANDE comes slowly back) How do you do?
MRS. KNOWLE. Sandy, dear! (to GERVASE) My daughter, Melisande, Mr. Mallory. My only child.
MELISANDE. Mr. Mallory and I have met, Mother.
MRS. KNOWLE (indicating JANE). And our dear Jane.
My dear sister's only daughter. But dear Jane has a brother. Dear Harold! In the Civil Service. Sandy, dear, will you pour out tea?