BELINDA (_looking anxiously from the door to him_). Mr. Baxter, I'm going to throw myself on your mercy. BAXTER. My dear Mrs. Tremayne-- BELINDA (_looking at her watch again, rising and moving up_ L.C., _looking at door_). A strange man will be here directly. He must not find you with me. BAXTER (_rising, jealously_). A man? BELINDA (_excitedly_). Yes, yes, a man! He is pursuing me with his attentions. If he found you here, there would be a terrible scene. BAXTER. I will defend you from him. BELINDA (_crossing down to_ R. _of Chesterfield_). No, no. He is a big man. He will--he will overpower you. (_Moving_ L. _a little and looking out of windows_.) BAXTER. But you----! BELINDA. I can defend myself. I will send him away. But he must not find you here. You must hide before he overpowers you. BAXTER (_with dignity, crossing below table to_ R.). I will withdraw if you wish it. BELINDA (_following to_ R. _at back of table_ C.). No, not withdraw, hide. He might see you withdrawing. (_Leading the way to the cupboard door_.) Quick, in here. BAXTER (_embarrassed at the thought that this sort of thing really only happens in a bedroom farce and moving towards her_). I don't think I quite---- BELINDA (_reassuring him_). It's perfectly respectable; it's where we keep the umbrellas. (_She takes him by the hand_.) BAXTER (_resisting and looking nervously into the cupboard_). I'm not at all sure that I---- BELINDA (_earnestly_). Oh, but don't you see what _trust_ I'm putting in you? (_To herself_.) Some people are so nervous about their umbrellas. BAXTER. Well, of course, if you--but I don't see why I shouldn't just slip out of the door before he comes. BELINDA (_reproachfully_). Of course, if you grudge me every little pleasure----(_Crossing in front of_ BAXTER _towards swing doors and seeing_ TREMAYNE _coming_.) Quick! Here he is. (_She bundles him through the cupboard door and closes it and with a sign of happiness crosses down to_ C. _table. She sees _BAXTER'S _bowler hat on the arm-chair below the fireplace. She fetches and carries it over to the cupboard door, knocks and hands it to him, saying, _"Your hat!") BAXTER (_expostulating and nearly knocking her over as he comes out_). Well, really I---- BELINDA (_bundling him into the cupboard and closing the door_). Hush! (BELINDA _straightens her hair, takes up her book from_ L. _of_ C. _table and sits, stroking the head of the toy dog and pretending to read_. TREMAYNE _enters from garden up_ R. _and through the swing doors up_ R.C. BELINDA _gives an assumed cry of surprise_.) TREMAYNE (_at the swing doors_). It's no good your pretending to be surprised, because you said I could come. (_Coming down to the back of the table_ C. _and putting down his hat_.) BELINDA (_rising, shaking hands and welcoming him_). But I can still be surprised that you wanted to come. TREMAYNE Oh no, you aren't. BELINDA (_marking it off on her fingers_). Just a little bit--that much.