HILARY. Sydney. Sydney, eh? My mother was Sydney. I like Sydney. I-- [_catching at his dignity_] I suppose we’re rather a shock to each other--Sydney. SYDNEY. No. You’re not a shock to me. But I’m afraid-- HILARY. [_Breaking in_] Is my--? Is your--? Where’s Margaret? SYDNEY. At church. HILARY. Back soon, eh? SYDNEY. Yes, that’s why I’m afraid-- HILARY. [_Unheeding_] I might go to meet her, eh? SYDNEY. [_Quickly_] Oh, I wouldn’t. Come and sit down and wait for her and talk. HILARY. [_Obediently_] Very well. [_He sits down beside her on the sofa. They look at each other. He says shyly_] I say, isn’t this queer? SYDNEY. It makes me want to cry. HILARY. Why? That’s all over. Laugh! Laugh! That’s the thing to do. What a lovely room this is! I can’t say I like the new paper--or the curtains! SYDNEY. [_Quickly_] Yes, I liked the old red ones, too. [_Then, with an effort_] Those--aren’t--the only changes. Everything changes-- HILARY. [_Swiftly_] Bet you Aunt Hester hasn’t, eh? [_They look at each other and laugh._] And I bet you--I say, is your mother such a darling still? SYDNEY. [_Recalled to the business before her, brusquely_] Look here--Father-- HILARY. [_Savouring it_] “Father!” “Father!” Well? SYDNEY. We’ve got to talk. We’ve got to get things straight before she comes back. HILARY. [_His eye and his attention beginning to wander_] Back soon, eh? Why has Meg moved the clock? It was much better where we put it. Must get it put back. Nearly one. She’s late, isn’t she? I--I really think, you know, I’ll go out and meet your mother. SYDNEY. [_Authoritatively_] You’re to stay here. HILARY. [_Beginning obediently_] Very well-- [_He flares suddenly_] I’ll do as I like about that. SYDNEY. [_Passionately_] I’ll not have you frighten her. HILARY. I? [_He smiles securely._] SYDNEY. Can’t you realise what the shock--? HILARY. [_Blissfully_] Never known anyone die of joy yet! SYDNEY. Father, you don’t understand! You and mother-- HILARY. [_Getting irritated_] Look here, this is nothing to do with you-- SYDNEY. But you mustn’t-- HILARY [_Violently_] Now I tell you I’m not going to be hectored. I won’t stand it. I’ve had enough of it. D’you hear? I’ve had enough of it. SYDNEY. If you talk to my mother like this-- HILARY. [_Softening_] Meg understands. SYDNEY [_Jealously_] So do I understand. HILARY. I believe you do. You got wild all in a moment. That’s my way, too. It means nothing. Meg can’t see that it means nothing. But it makes a man wild, you know, to be dragooned when he’s as sane as--my God, I _am_ sane! That’s all over, isn’t it? I am sane. Daughter! SYDNEY. [_Watching him_] Father? HILARY. Don’t let me get--that way. It’s bad. Help me to go slow. I’m as well as you are, you know. But it’s new. It only happened to-day--like a curtain lifting. [_Confidentially_] You see I was standing in the garden-- SYDNEY. I can’t conceive how you got away.