MARGARET. [_Uncomfortably_] Sydney, _dear_! SYDNEY. Oh, Kit’s as keen as I am on eugenics. He’s doing a paper for his debating society. MARGARET. Well, I found you quite enough to manage. SYDNEY. [_Leaning over the back of the sofa_] I believe you were scared of me when I was little-- [_Margaret nods_] and even now-- MARGARET. [_Quickly_] What? SYDNEY. [_Quite good humoured about it_] Well, if you had to choose between me and Gray, it wouldn’t be Gray who’d lose you. MARGARET. [_Confronted with the idea_] I hope I’d do what’s right. SYDNEY. [_Airily_] There you are! MARGARET. [_As it goes home_] It’s not true. You’ve no right to make me out a heartless mother. But-- SYDNEY. [_Her arm round her mother’s neck_] Well--heartless Mother? MARGARET. [_Clutching at the arm_] Oh, Sydney--what should I do if Gray--if Gray-- SYDNEY. It’s all right, Mother! [_There is the sound of a motor driving up._] There is Gray. MARGARET. [_Jumping up hurriedly_] Oh, and I’m not dressed. Say I’ll be down in a minute. [_She runs upstairs._] SYDNEY. You’ve plenty of time. The bells haven’t begun yet. MARGARET. [_From the gallery_] Tell Bassett to clear away. SYDNEY _rings the bell. The elderly maid enters through the baize door._ BASSETT. Yes, Miss? SYDNEY. You can clear, Bassett! _While she is speaking_ GRAY MEREDITH _comes in through the hall door. He is about forty, tall, dark and quiet, very sure of himself and quite indifferent to the effect he makes on other people. As he is a man who never has room in his head for more than one idea at a time, and as for the last five years that idea has been_ MARGARET, _the rest of the world doesn’t get much out of him. But mention her and he behaves exactly like a fire being poked._ GRAY. [_Putting down a box he carries_] Where’s your mother? SYDNEY. [_Folding her hands_] Good morning, dear Sydney! A merry Christmas to you, and so many thanks for the tie that, with the help of your devoted aunt, you so thoughtfully-- GRAY. Stop it, there’s a good child! I haven’t missed her, have I? SYDNEY. Pray accept in return as a small token of esteem and total dependency-- GRAY. I asked you if your mother had started. SYDNEY. [_In her natural voice_] It’s true, you know. You simply daren’t cope with me yet. GRAY. [_Twinkling in spite of himself_] Hm! A time will come-- SYDNEY. Wouldn’t it warm the cockles of Aunt Hester’s heart to hear you! What are cockles, Gray? Gray, she says I ought to call you Uncle! Gray, d’you think you have brought me what I think you have for a Christmas present? GRAY. You’d better go and look. It’s in the motor with Kit. SYDNEY. It? GRAY. He. SYDNEY. By Viscount out of Vixen? GRAY. Really, Sydney! SYDNEY. Dear Uncle Hester! GRAY. Yes, but Sydney--? SYDNEY. [_At the door_] Oh, didn’t I tell you? Mother says she’ll be down in a minute. [_She lets in the sound of the church bells as she goes out._]