COLONEL. Put him in my dressing-room, I'll turn out. MRS. HOPE. Rubbish, Tom, I won't have you turned out, that's flat. He can have Joy's room, and she can sleep with the earwigs. JOY. [From her hiding-place upon a lower branch of the hollow tree.] I won't. [MRS. HOPE and the COLONEL jump.] COLONEL. God bless my soul! MRS. HOPE. You wretched girl! I told you never to climb that tree again. Did you know, Peachey? [Miss BEECH smiles.] She's always up there, spoiling all her frocks. Come down now, Joy; there's a good child! JOY. I don't want to sleep with earwigs, Aunt Nell. MISS BEECH. I'll sleep with the poor creatures. MRS. HOPE, [After a pause.] Well, it would be a mercy if you would for once, Peachey. COLONEL. Nonsense, I won't have Peachey---- MRS. HOPE. Well, who is to sleep there then? JOY. [Coaxingly.] Let me sleep with Mother, Aunt Nell, do! MRS. HOPE. Litter her up with a great girl like you, as if we'd only one spare room! Tom, see that she comes down--I can't stay here, I must manage something. [She goes away towards the house.] COLONEL. [Moving to the tree, and looking up.] You heard what your aunt said? JOY. [Softly.] Oh, Uncle Tom! COLONEL. I shall have to come up after you. JOY. Oh, do, and Peachey too! COLONEL. [Trying to restrain a smile.] Peachey, you talk to her. [Without waiting for MISS BEECH, however, he proceeds.] What'll your aunt say to me if I don't get you down? MISS BEECH. Poor creature! JOY. I don't want to be worried about my frock. COLONEL. [Scratching his bald head.] Well, I shall catch it. JOY. Oh, Uncle Tom, your head is so beautiful from here! [Leaning over, she fans it with a leafy twig.] MISS BEECH. Disrespectful little toad! COLONEL. [Quickly putting on his hat.] You'll fall out, and a pretty mess that'll make on--[he looks uneasily at the ground]--my lawn! [A voice is heard calling "Colonel! Colonel!]" JOY. There's Dick calling you, Uncle Tom. [She disappears.] DICK. [Appearing in the opening of the wall.] Ernie's waiting to play you that single, Colonel! [He disappears.] JOY. Quick, Uncle Tom! Oh! do go, before he finds I 'm up here. MISS. BEECH. Secret little creature! [The COLONEL picks up his racquet, shakes his fist, and goes away.] JOY. [Calmly.] I'm coming down now, Peachey. [Climbing down.] Look out! I'm dropping on your head. MISS BEECH. [Unmoved.] Don't hurt yourself! [Joy drops on the rustic seat and rubs her shin. Told you so!] [She hunts in a little bag for plaster.] Let's see! JOY. [Seeing the worms.] Ugh! MISS BEECH. What's the matter with the poor creatures? JOY. They're so wriggly! [She backs away and sits down in the swing. She is just seventeen, light and slim, brown-haired, fresh-coloured, and grey-eyed; her white frock reaches to her ankles, she wears a sunbonnet.] Peachey, how long were you Mother's governess.